Over 1400 doctoral candidates are currently conducting research at the University of Oldenburg. This is an exciting and intensive time for the often young researchers, who receive the best possible support from various university institutions in the form of advice, training, networking opportunities and funding formats. On this and the following pages you will therefore find all the key information about doctoral studies in one place.

The counselling services offered by the Study and Career Counselling Service (ZSKB) are open to all prospective doctoral candidates and doctoral candidates at the University of Oldenburg. If you are looking for guidance with professional questions or information on career prospects, the doctoral counselling service is available to you free of charge and confidentially. In case, you require support in challenging situations during your doctorate, the counselling for employees is available.

You can find subject-related advice, for example on funding and qualifications in structured doctoral programs, on the pages of the graduate schools 3GO (for Schools I - IV) and OLTECH (for Schools V and VI, as well as the Institute of Computer Science).

Counselling to international doctoral candidates is offered by the Welcome Service of the International Office.

At the start of the doctoral phase, formal issues such as acceptance and admission to doctoral studies, as well as questions about funding or specific doctoral programs are at the forefront. At an advanced stage, you may ask yourself how you can combine your doctorate and family responsibilities, what interest groups, qualification opportunities and international funding options are available. The following FAQ provides an overview of all key topics during the doctoral process.

As a doctoral candidate, you will be admitted to doctoral studies at one of the six Schools of the University of Oldenburg. The respective doctoral regulations of the School regulate all details of the doctoral process; for the Dr. rer. nat. degree, for example, there are joint doctoral degree regulations for several Schools. You can find an overview of the doctoral degree regulations here.

The University of Oldenburg has three graduate institutions that offer an interdisciplinary or subject-related qualification programme for doctoral candidates. The Graduate Academy is a service unit in the Department for Research and Transfer that offers an interdisciplinary qualification programme in the form of workshops and mentoring programmes for all early career researchers of all Schools. In the workshop programme you will regularly find offers e.g. for career development to familiarize yourself with various career options during your doctorate.
The Graduate School for Social Sciences and Humanities 3GO is a joint institution of Schools I - IV and offers doctoral candidates subject-related workshops and summer schools as well as advice on funding and qualification issues. Both individual doctoral candidates and doctoral candidates involved in structured programs can participate in the 3GO program. The OLTECH Graduate School offers a subject-related course programme for doctoral candidates in the doctoral degree programs of the Schools of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Institute of Computer Science.