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PhD and Research in Germany

Researcher working with goggles in laboratory.
© DAAD/Volker Lannert
Germany offers excellent research opportunities for EU/international PhD students and researchers. Universities and other higher education institutions as well as public- and private-sector non-university research institutions and large research funding organisations support international researchers with postdoctoral jobs and fellowships. Interesting development opportunities for international researchers also exist in research-intensive 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
International researchers work in the laboratory with test tubes.
copyright DAAD/Hofmann

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.
copyright DAAD/Volker Lannert

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.
copyright DAAD/Volker Lannert

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.
copyright DAAD/Volker Lannert

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
Researcher tests new glass solar panels
copyright DAAD/Volker Lannert

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