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.

International researchers work in the laboratory with test tubes.

Doing a PhD in Germany

Information for PhD Students

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

Research

Information for Junior Researchers

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 view content on a laptop in the test lab.

International Experience

Information for Senior Researchers

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

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

Finding the Right Institute

Research Institutes

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

Financing

Research Funding

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

A garden gnome holds up a sign with the word Welcome.

Online course

How to apply for a PhD in Germany

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.