Doctoral studies

General information about the doctoral degree

The doctorate is the highest academic degree a university may award. Each university has regulations for awarding a doctorate. The formal criteria and regulations for acceptance as a doctoral candidate are set down in the faculties’ doctoral degree regulations.

In Germany, the process for earning a doctorate is different from that in many other countries. The doctoral phase (depending on the topic and subject area between three and six years) is primarily characterized by scientific research and includes only a limited number of courses (depending on the subject area). Using the research findings, at the end the doctoral thesis (dissertation) is written and published. This means that doctoral candidates are usually included in a research project and supervised by a professor responsible for the project. The decision about whether an applicant will be accepted as a doctoral candidate is therefore first in the hands of the respective professor.

The usual way of applying for a doctorate is to find a professor who will accept the supervision of the research project. Applicants should contact a professor in the respective area on their own initiative and discuss with him/her whether he/she is willing to accept them as a doctoral candidate. As the professors in Hohenheim receive a lot of requests of that kind, it is of utmost importance that in the run-up the applicants have carefully considered the field in which they would like to do their doctorate and can present a detailed proposal the first time they meet with the professor.
You will find detailed information about the University of Hohenheim, the faculties, and the professors as well as the research areas on the following website.

www.uni-hohenheim.de/researchprofile

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences offers a structured doctoral program with currently 9 doctoral schools. The purpose of the implementation of the doctoral study programs is to structure the doctoral education, to improve its quality, and to guarantee good supervision. However, doctoral studies can still be undertaken without participation in a doctoral study program.

Detailed information about the University of Hohenheim, the faculties, and the professors as well as the research areas can be found at:

• https://agrar.uni-hohenheim.de
• https://wiso.uni-hohenheim.de
• www.natur.uni-hohenheim.de/

If the professor and the prospective doctoral candidate have agreed on a research topic to be undertaken and the professor is willing to supervise the doctoral candidate, an application for admission to pursue a doctorate can be submitted to the Graduate Academy. The International Office first checks the applicant’s certificates and documents and draws up a statement as to whether the foreign degree presented and the average grade achieved formally entitles the applicant to do a doctorate at the University of Hohenheim. However, the faculty is ultimately responsible for officially accepting the applicant.

• Above-average university degree equivalent to a German diploma or master's degree (e.g. proof of master's degree with thesis).
• Acceptance from a professor of the Universität Hohenheim.
• Proof of German or English language proficiency (according to the regulations of the faculty in question).
• Sufficient private means to cover minimum living expenses or a scholarship.

Acceptance as a doctoral candidate does not automatically mean that you will receive funding. However, you can only apply for funding from foundations and institutions once it is clear which professor will supervise you and what your topic will be. The question about which foundations and organizations you should turn to is dependent on the research topic, the doctoral candidate’s individual position, and the professor’s relevant contacts, e.g. to private companies.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), e.g., gives scholarships to highly qualified foreign applicants. You can find further information at www.daad.de.

Prospective doctoral students who do not come from an EU country need a corresponding visa. Please do not enter Germany with a tourist visa. This cannot be changed later and you would have to return to your home country.

In Germany, you will subsequently apply for a residence permit at the respective Immigration Agency (Ausländerbehörde).

According to the regulations of the Housing Department, doctoral students or prospective doctoral students are not entitled to live in the student residences. You have to look for accommodation on the private housing sector.

Further information and tips for the search of accommodation can be found here.

In Germany, health insurance is mandatory until you have reached your 30th birthday.

Students and doctoral candidates who are over 30 do not have to show proof of health insurance upon enrollment, but the Foreigners’ Agency will only give a residence permit if you can show proof of health insurance.

Students and non-degree students (to prepare for acceptance as a doctoral candidate) can get either statutory or private health insurance until they have turned 30. Doctoral candidates may not be insured as students but have to get private health insurance. You can find general information on health insurance in Germany as well as an overview of the statutory and private health insurance providers on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
You can get additional information directly from the Office of International Affairs.