Financing the doctorate

The financing of the doctorate depends on the way in which the doctorate is obtained. In the case of a doctorate at a chair, doctoral candidates are usually employed as research assistants. In co-operation projects between companies and universities, doctoral candidates are given an employment contract with the company in question.

In addition, doctoral candidates who are completing a doctoral degree programme or are part of a research training group, for example, can participate in scholarship programmes.

For doctoral degree programmes in particular, it should be noted that in addition to the cost of living, the semester fee (but no tuition fees in the first six semesters) and health insurance are additional expenses.

Scholarships and funding programmes

Germany offers numerous funding opportunities for foreign doctoral candidates: The largest scholarship donor, especially for international doctoral candidates, is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). A number of foundations and other funding and research organisations also support highly qualified foreign doctoral candidates.

More information on funding opportunities for doctoral candidates:

• DAAD scholarship database
• Selected funding programmes: www.research-in-germany.de
• Further funding databases: www.research-in-germany.de/funding_databases
• Funding opportunities at the University of Oldenburg
• Scholarships at the University of Oldenburg
• Scholarships service centre at the University of Oldenburg