Funding Opportunities

DAAD

How much does it cost to get a doctorate in Germany?

No tuition fees are charged for doctoral study at public universities in Germany – at least not for the first six semesters. However, when you apply for a study visa in Germany, the authori-ties will ask to see whether you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of living – approximately 8,000 euros a year. According to statistics published by the German Studentenwerk, the average student in Germany needs about 820 euros per month to cover living expenses, which include rent, food, clothing, transportation, working materials, recreation, etc. Students enrolled at university are also required to pay a “semester contribution” every semester. This fee covers the cost of a student ID card, which serves as a semester ticket (for inexpensive or free use of public transportation) and entitles the holder to concession rates at the student cafeteria and numerous cultural venues, such as swimming pools, museums, cinemas, etc.

Scholarships and funding programmes

There are numerous funding opportunities for foreign doctoral candidates in Germany. The DAAD is Germany’s largest scholarship provider – especially to doctoral candidates from abroad. Just last year, the DAAD awarded scholarships to more than 2,900 international PhD students in Germany. There are numerous foundations and other funding and research or-ganisations which also support and finance highly-qualified foreign doctoral candidates.

More information on funding opportunities for doctoral candidates:

• DAAD scholarship database: www.funding-guide.de
• Other funding databases: www.research-in-germany.org/funding_databases
• Selected funding programmes for PhD Students: www.research-in-germany.org/funding_phd

Financing doctoral studies through scientific work and research
In addition to scholarships and funding programmes, there are many other ways to finance a PhD in Germany. To find out more about employment opportunities at universities, in industry and non-university research organisations please visit the website "Research in Germany": www.research-in-germany.org/phd-financing