Doctorate and doctoral title: basics

In short: A doctorate is the highest academic degree in Germany and leads to the title of doctor. It usually requires a completed master’s degree or a comparable state examination.

In more detail: At its centre is an independent piece of scientific research, the dissertation.

In detail

• Supervision: A doctoral supervisor accompanies the work over several years.
• Dissertation: An extensive written research work on a narrowly defined topic.
• Doctoral process: Usually includes the written work and an oral defence (disputation).
• Structured doctorate: Alternative to classic individual supervision, organised in doctoral colleges or graduate schools.
• Duration: On average several years, depending on subject and research topic.
• Funding: Positions as research assistants, scholarships or self-funding are common.
• Use of the title: The doctoral title may be used with the name after successful completion (staatsexamen-und-bachelor-master-unterschiede).