Pursuing a PhD whilst working in Germany.
Germany does not have a central doctoral authority. All the key details are set out in the doctoral regulations of the faculty at which you wish to pursue your doctorate, and these vary from institution to institution.
In Germany, universities award doctoral degrees, whilst universities of applied sciences generally do so only through collaborative programmes or, in certain federal states, under their own doctoral authority subject to certain conditions. The faculty’s doctoral regulations are decisive: they govern admission, acceptance, supervision, deadlines, examination and publication. Once the degree has been awarded, it may be used and entered on official identification documents.
Who is authorised to award doctoral degrees
The right to award doctoral degrees lies with universities and higher education institutions of equivalent status. Universities of applied sciences do not traditionally possess this right; in several federal states, however, they can now obtain it, subject to certain conditions, for research-intensive fields. Private higher education institutions possess this right only if it has been expressly granted to them.
For those in employment, the cooperative doctoral programme is therefore an important route: academically supervised by a professor at the university of applied sciences, but formally administered and awarded by the university. Whether an institution is authorised to award degrees is not a matter of interpretation, but is laid down in the state’s higher education legislation and can be verified via anabin.
The federal landscape
Higher education law is a matter for the federal states. This leads to differences that are of practical relevance to your planning: regarding admission regulations for Bachelor’s graduates, the right of universities of applied sciences to award doctoral degrees, deadlines, and the question of which foreign degrees may be listed and how.
What has a uniform effect nationwide are the resolutions of the Kultusministerkonferenz regarding the recognition of foreign higher education qualifications. Formally, these are recommendations to the federal states, but they are implemented in the state higher education laws and are therefore the benchmark in practice.
What the doctoral regulations govern
These regulations are the binding document – not the university’s website, nor the information provided by a course provider. Read the current version, including any amending statutes, and pay attention to the transitional provisions if a new version has recently come into force.
Use of the title and entry on your identity card
After the degree has been awarded, you must use the degree in the form awarded by the university, for example Dr. rer. pol., Dr. iur. or Dr.-Ing.. It may be entered on your identity card and passport as soon as the certificate is available. It appears in a separate field on the document and is expressly not part of your name.
The following applies to foreign degrees: degrees from EU and EEA countries may be listed as “Dr.” without a subject suffix or indication of origin, provided they were obtained through an academic doctoral programme. Separate regulations apply to degrees from other countries; classification in individual cases is handled via anabin and the Central Office for Foreign Education.
What working professionals should clarify first
Three questions determine whether a project will be viable in Germany, and all three can be answered before you write a research proposal: Does the faculty accept external candidates? What requirements apply to your previous degree? And when does the deadline start?
The last point is regularly underestimated. In most regulations, the standard processing time begins with acceptance, not with the topic proposal. Anyone who first seeks approval and then spends months negotiating details is using up the deadline without making progress.
Frequently asked questions.
Who is authorised to award doctoral degrees in Germany?+
Universities and higher education institutions of equivalent status with the right to award doctorates. Universities of applied sciences generally only do so in partnership with other institutions; in some federal states, they may also do so independently, subject to certain conditions.
Do I need a Master’s degree to do a PhD?+
Generally speaking, yes, or an equivalent qualification such as a ‘Diplom’ or ‘Staatsexamen’. In certain cases, there are pathways available for Bachelor’s graduates via an aptitude assessment subject to certain conditions.
Can I have my doctoral degree entered on my identity card?+
Yes, if you are entitled to use it. The degree is entered in a separate field and is not part of your name.
Is a foreign doctoral degree recognised in Germany?+
Degrees from EU and EEA countries can generally be used with the title ‘Dr.’ without any further qualification, provided they result from an academic doctoral programme. Separate regulations apply for other countries.
Where can I find the doctoral regulations?+
On the websites of the respective faculties, usually in the university’s official gazette. Make sure you check the current version, including any amendments.
Do the rules differ from one federal state to another?+
Yes. Higher education law is a matter for the federal states; this applies, amongst other things, to entry requirements for Bachelor’s programmes, the right of universities of applied sciences to award doctorates, and details regarding the use of academic titles.
When does the processing period begin?+
In most regulations, it begins upon acceptance as a doctoral candidate. Please clarify this before submitting your application.
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