Doctoral Studies at Goethe University

The path to a PhD is a significant step in an academic career, and Goethe University is here to support you along the way. On this page, you’ll find all the essential information about application, enrolment, and support during your PhD journey. Whether you already have a topic and supervision in place or are just getting started, we’re here to help you take the next steps confidently and in a structured manner.

To begin doctoral studies, you need to have completed academic education (e.g., a master’s degree, Diplom, Magister, or State Examination). Special regulations apply to applicants with a bachelor’s degree (from a university or university of applied sciences) or the first State Examination in teacher training, as outlined in the doctoral degree regulations.

We recommend visiting the website of the Graduate Academy GRADE, especially if you are in the early stages of planning your doctorate. The Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers (GRADE) provides extensive support for doctoral candidates, postdocs, and R3-level researchers through a wide range of qualification and counselling services.

What GRADE offers:

• Individual counselling: Guidance before starting your doctorate and support with challenges during the doctoral process
• Structured qualification: Workshops and training sessions tailored to the doctoral phase, along with assistance in career planning and research organization
• Networking and career planning: Insights into academic and non-academic career paths and access to a robust network

Your first steps toward a doctorate:

• Clarify formal requirements: Contact the deans’ offices or doctoral offices of the respective departments. Additional information can be found on the departments’ websites. The doctoral committee of the relevant department can provide further details about the doctoral procedure.
• Academic guidance: Schedule a meeting with an academic advisor from the department where you intend to pursue your doctorate.
• Find supervision: You will need a supervisor for your doctorate.

On the GRADE website, you will find a practical three-step guide to help you prepare and choose your topic. Feel free to check it out!

Information for international prospective doctoral candidates: If you wish to write your dissertation in a language other than German, you must submit a request to the relevant faculty. The doctoral committee will then indicate on the doctoral admission letter which language you will be using. In this case, you can enroll as a doctoral candidate later without providing proof of DSH2.

Exception: Doctoral researchers in Faculty 16 Medicine first go through a decentralized process and only register electronically as doctoral researchers via Goethe Campus afterward. Further details can be found on the Faculty 16 website.

Important to know: A prerequisite for registration is the certificate of acceptance as a doctoral candidate from the responsible doctoral committee (or panel) of the department.

Language proficiency: International candidates whose working language is German must present a certified DSH-2 certificate (or equivalent) at the time of enrolment (more information here).

Recommended registration deadlines: April 30 for the summer semester, October 31 for the winter semester.

These deadlines are guidelines. If enrolment during an ongoing semester is desired, this is also possible. Please note that re-enrollment for the next semester begins in January/July, which means the next semester fee payment will also be due at that time.

Registration takes place in two steps: