PhD and Research in Germany

Germany offers excellent research opportunities for EU/international PhD students and researchers. Universities and other higher education institutions as well as public- and private-sector non-university research institutions and large research funding organisations support international researchers with postdoctoral jobs and fellowships. Interesting development opportunities for international researchers also exist in research-intensive industry and with small and medium-sized enterprises. Many companies also work closely with universities and research institutions in application-oriented research and development.

PhD Level

Scholarship offers for Ghana I Cameroon I Nigeria

The DAAD offers a variety of research grants for postgraduate students aiming for PhD /doctoral studies. Some are of specific relevance to Ghanaians/applicants from sub-Saharan Africa.

Information for PhD Students

Doing a PhD in Germany

Read more about the different ways of doing a PhD in Germany, your funding opportunities and some practical advice to prepare for your doctoral visit.

More at research-in-germany.org

Information for Junior Researchers

Research

Germany offers many opportunities for Postdocs: You can become eligible for appointment to a professorship by completing the habilitation process, work as a junior professor or lead a junior research group. Industry also offers alternative career opportunities.

More at research-in-germany.org

Three researchers with technical equipment in the test lab.

Information for Senior Researchers

International Experience

Germany offers international researchers a diverse research-oriented higher education landscape, globally recognised research institutions and a research-intensive industry that leads the world in many areas.

More at research-in-germany.de

Three researchers view content on a laptop in the test lab.

Research Institutes

Finding the Right Institute

Find out about Germany’s different types of research institutions: universities, universities of applied sciences, non-university research institutes, companies and federal as well as state (Länder) institutions. Profiles of each type of research organisation can be found here.

More at research-in-germany.org

Researcher tests investigative device at the German Aerospace Centre in Cologne.

Research Funding

Financing

Research funding in Germany is provided by government bodies, various organisations, including many of the large non-university research institutions, and industry. Here you find a wide selection of funding programmes for international PhD students and researchers.

More at research-in-germany.org

How to apply for a PhD in Germany

Online course

The course informs international scientists interested in a PhD stay in Germany about the formal application requirements and familiarizes them with the German research landscape. It is purely online-based and includes six modules. Participation in the course is free of charge.