PhD and Research in Germany

Germany offers excellent research opportunities for EU/international PhD students and researchers.

The following types of German institutions offer research opportunities: Higher education institutions; public- and private-sector non-university research institutions; large research funding organisations support international researchers with postdoctoral jobs and fellowships. Interesting development opportunities for international researchers also exist in research-intensive fields of the industry and with small and medium-sized enterprises. Many companies also work closely with universities and research institutions in application-oriented research and development.

Information for PhD Students

Doing a PhD in Germany

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

Information for Junior Researchers

Research

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 with technical equipment in the test lab.

Information for Senior Researchers

International Experience

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

Three researchers view content on a laptop in the test lab.

Research Institutes

Finding the Right Institute

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

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

Research Funding

Financing

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