Doctorate

The requirement for a promotion at a university is a good degree that has been passed in Germany or would be accepted in Germany. Doctoral studies are only possible at universities, not at universities of applied sciences.

In principle it is possible to transfer to the university after studies at a universitie of applied sciences for promotion. But not all universities of applied sciences graduates are being permitted. If you want to doctorate after your studies, it’s therefore better to begin a study at the university right away.

At the Ruhr-University there are Graduate Colleges and Graduate Schools in numerous study courses, for all other study courses you will have to find a tutor for the doctorate on your own.

• General information:
  http://www.daad.de/deutschland/forschung/promotion/04670.en.html
• Promotion for graduates of universities of applied sciences:
  http://www.promotion-fh.de
• The main research of all professorships at the Ruhr-University is available at:
  http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/uni-profil/forschung/index_en.htm

Graduate Colleges

The graduate colleges are special support foundations of the universities. Here the post graduates are being engaged in the research of the involved facilities, receive intensive consulting and are being supported by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - DFG).  The support is usually limited to 3-4 years.

• You can find all graduate colleges at the Ruhr-University Bochum at:
  http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ueberblick/einrichtungen/graduierten_en.htm
• All graduate colleges in NRW:
  http://www.mwf.nrw.de/StudierenInNRW/Graduiertenkollegs/index.html

Graduate Schools

Graduate Schools are facilities at the universities that offer promotion study courses in various departments. They are very similar to the Graduate Colleges, but are not limited but rather on a continuing basis. The course offering is in English. The support at the Graduate Schools usually lasts 3-4 years too.

• You can find all Graduate Schools of the Ruhr-University Bochum at:
  http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ueberblick/einrichtungen/graduierten_en.htm

Promotion on personal charge

Every department has its own doctoral regulations in which the requirements for a promotion are regulated. You can get the current doctoral regulations at the deanship of your faculty. The promotion-committee of the respective faculty will decide about your admission.

Before you apply, you have to find a professor who will supervise your project. As a postgraduate you can, after having agreed with your Ph.D. supervisor, decide on which subject you are going to work on. Most of the time there is no defined schedule for doctoral studies.

To some extent the doctoral regulations stipulate that the doctoral thesis has to be written in German, in some cases English or other languages are possible (e.g. in philological subjects). If the supervisor agrees there can be an exception requested with the promotion-committee of the faculty.

You should clarify your funding during your stay in Germany at an early stage. Of course you can also request scholarships with governmental, churchly or political foundations.

International Postgraduate Center

The International Postgraduate Center takes care of all non-professional concerns of the graduates. It advises foreign postgraduates and is responsible for the arrangement of subject spanning methods and competencies.

International Postgraduate Center
Ms. Petra Henseler
buliding FNO, room 01/142
Ruhr-University
44780 Bochum
Phone 0234/32-27880
Fax 0234/32-14912
E-Mail:

Further information

• Postgraduate-network  http://www.thesis.de
• European postgraduate-network http://www.eurodoc.net
• Scientific facilities in Europe http://www.scienceineurope.net
• Tips for the promotion http://www.doktorandenforum.de
• Postgraduate-market http://www.doktorandenboerse.info
• Job market for natural scientists and medics http://www.DrArbeit.de
• Database for recognition of degrees http://www.anabin.de