PhD system in Germany

The PhD system in Germany is actually rather simple and there are many different ways to be employed. The majority of students are settled at the universities. Second option are positions at research institutes like Max Planck or Fraunhofer. The last option is a job at a company.

Since in Germany only universities are entitled to issue a PhD degree, for the last two options you/your supervisor should arrange a university professor to collaborate and carry you through the process. Good alternatives exist in frames of Max-Planck research schools, where the collaboration is already structured and one or more universities are involved.

Usually in such research schools there is a curriculum you have to attend and pass. Most of the time they have a mixed-field profile and these courses help to provide the students a similar background and language. This approach helps to overcome the following problem: Depending on your former degree and the field you are willing to work on, departments at the universities may require extra courses/credits before allowing you to be "officially" enrolled as a PhD candidate. This is also an issue that you have to keep in mind when accepting a position in the industry.

At research institutes or industry you'll usually have one or more projects to work on. At the universities you may have to assist courses or labs in addition to your project work. Even though this may sound like extra work, you can rate it as a positive academic experience. It also looks good in the CV.

The German system allows you to perform a PhD study without being actually enrolled at a university. No matter what kind of institution you are enrolled at, your Diploma/Master degree has to be acknowledged by the respective departmental commissions as a Germany-equivalent degree. This step is the official green light. After this, the next time you'll actually have to contact this commission is when you've submitted your thesis. It is again up to them whether your thesis is adequate for issuing you the PhD title. Your supervisor has to write a recommendation letter to them that he is suggesting you as a candidate and will mention in his letter the "grade" that he/she thinks you should get. After the second green light from the commission you will have to organize the day of your defense. Whether the defense will be open or closed to public depends on the university or even the department rules. In case of a positive evaluation you will have to submit official copies to the university library and can be proud of your well earned title :)

1 comment:

  1. Sir, I need some advice regarding PhD in Bioprocess Engineering.

    My grades have staggered to an average of 2.7. Is it possible for me to get a PhD or am I wasting time? I want to do research.

    I would be grateful if you can post in an e-mail to me at bioter@live.com

    Thanks and Regards,
    Vicky.

    ReplyDelete