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Doctoral Degree Studies and Admission (according to the old Doctoral Degree Reg. 2008)

  deutsche Version   Diese Seite auf Deutsch
 

1. Basic Information
2. Five Steps leading to your doctoral degree studies
2.1. The search for a supervisor
2.2. Equivalency check:  for graduates with a degree from outside of Germany
2.3. Enrolment or Employment at the University of Stuttgart
2.4. Application for admission
2.5. Doctoral degree studies
3. Information
4. Scholarships and grants

This information is based on the old Doctoral Degree Regulations, valid until 30 September 2011. In English information on the new Doctoral Degree Regulations, which will apply from October 2011, is published here:
vorDoctoral Degree Studies and Admission (according to the Doctoral Degree Regulations 2011)

1. Basic Information

On 16 October 2008 the University of Stuttgart has passed new Doctoral Degree Regulations (PromO), which apply retroactively from 1 January 2008. For already admitted doctoral students and for already enrolled PhD students transitional provisions exist. 

The Doctoral Degree Regulations are the legal basis for your doctoral degree and form the basis for this information. We strongly recommend that you print these. 

M.Sc., M.A. or Dipl. graduates can take a doctorate (equivalent to PhD) in any subject offered at the University of Stuttgart. 
In Germany PhD work is generally research-based. Basically, the doctoral degree is awarded for a piece of research, the completion of a dissertation and, after this has all been completed, an oral examination. During doctoral studies, students are expected to work independently. There is no fixed timetable and, generally, no regular meetings with the supervisor. It takes between three and five years to complete a doctorate, sometimes even longer, depending upon the subject area, the topic of your dissertation and how well prepared your really are.

The following is regulated by § 2 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations (PromO § 2):
1. The dissertation must satisfy scientific demands, contribute to progress in science and, at the same time, be a piece of individual work by the candidate.
2. The dissertation must cover a field which is sufficiently represented at the University of Stuttgart in both research and teaching. These fields can be taken from the list of institutes.

Five steps are leading to your doctoral degree studies: 

  • Step 1: that a supervisor can be found – usually a professor - who is willing to oversee your dissertation.
  • Step 2: Equivalency check: for graduates with a degree from outside of Germany.
  • Step 3: registration for at least one year at the University of Stuttgart or a similar period of employment as a member of the academic staff of this university. This requirement can be met whilst you are completing the dissertation. 
  • Step 4: Application for admission and Admission
  • Step 5: Doctoral degree studies

Doctoral Degree Programs and Graduate Schools

The University of Stuttgart offers several Doctoral Degree Programs as well as several Graduate Schools. You may find them on the following website:

vorDoctoral Degree Programs and Graduate School [de]

These Doctoral Degree Programs and Graduate Schools have different regulations for the admission as doctoral student. Please consult the relevant program or Graduate School for further details.

 

2. Five steps leading to your doctoral degree studies

Step 1: The search for a supervisor

The supervisor is described in PromO  § 3,1 as follows:
"In general, one of the prerequisites for registration for doctoral studies is that you find a professor, reader or lecturer from the University of Stuttgart, who has been given the right as "reporter" and, who has either proposed or agreed to the topic of the planned dissertation. This person must also be willing to supervise the research that is associated with the thesis."

To establish contact with a professor, 

  • you can look for the research field in the internet and contact the head of this field or department. You should look at that faculty which is responsible for the area of your dissertation topic. 
  • you can look for the research field in the Brochure Research – Development – Consulting [de].
  • you might know the professor’s name from a publication relevant to your research interest and look for his/her contact details by help of a search engine. 
  • The Deans (Dekane) in each faculty can help you find a suitable supervisor if you state your research interests clearly (look for “Dekanat” one or two clicks down from Faculties and Institutes). The Office of International Affairs or the Student Counselling Center will NOT be able to help you find a supervisor.

Please provide a detailed C.V. as well as a description of the content of the relevant subject areas that you have studied. You will also need to submit a description of your proposed dissertation project which needs to be as detailed as possible.
In general, the final decision of a potential supervisor to supervise your dissertation will not be taken before you have met. This means that it will be necessary for you to travel to Stuttgart. Should you come from a country where it is compulsory to have a visa to enter Germany, please apply for an application visa (Studienbewerber/innen-Visum). Travelling to Stuttgart will also enhance the processing of your application. For more information see also the regulations for foreign citizens, which apply for doctoral students as well.

All graduates who have degrees from outside of Germany, will need to clarify whether their degree is equivalent to one in Germany. This should be done prior to commencing your thesis (see step 2).

Step 2. Equivalency check: for students with a degree from outside Germany  

General Requirements are (PromO § 3):

  • a  Master degree or a university degree of at least 4 years of study.
  • that the focus of the planned doctoral project is in accord with the subject studied. (For graduates with a Magister or a State Examination, this must be one of the subjects that were studied as the main subject).
  • a good final grade that indicates that the candidate is capable of further scientific research.

All graduates, however, who have degrees from outside of Germany, will need to clarify whether their degree is equivalent to one in Germany. Furthermore you will need to have a good command of German. If German is not your mother-tongue, you will usually be required to demonstrate your competence in German with the TestDaF (or an equivalent language certificate). Should your supervisor agree, then it is possible to be exempted from the presentation of the results of a language examination.

Your university degree has to be recognised as equivalent to a German degree. In general, you will only be allowed to study for a doctoral degree in Germany if your degree qualifies you to undertake doctoral studies in your own country. Your degree will usually be considered to be equivalent if

  • it is a degree of a research university
  • a thesis was an integral part of your degree
  • you are allowed to undertake doctoral studies in your own country.

The Admissions Office for Foreign Citizens and EU-Citizens evaluates your degree to be equivalent of a German one. 

vorEquivalence of foreign degrees

Even if your degree is evaluated as equal, you will in general need to pass an assessment test.

Should you not hold a degree such as a M.Sc. or M.A. in the Anglo-American education system, which is considered equivalent to a German one, you will be expected to obtain a German degree (Diploma, Magister, M.A. or M.Sc.). After submission of all the required documents, the relevant Examination Committee will decide on which credit can be awarded for your previous studies.
vorApplication Information    

Assessment test

Should your degree not be considered to be equivalent, the following regulations apply which must be met before you can be registered for doctoral studies:

  • a larger scientific piece of work which is similar in size to a German “Diplom” thesis (between 50 and 100 pages)
  • two oral examinations, each of 30 minutes, in two disciplines that are related to the dissertation that your are planning

In exceptional circumstances, the Doctoral Committee can exempt you from meeting these requirements. For further information and assistance, please contact your supervisor or the Dean’s Office of the relevant faculty.   

Step 3: Enrolment or Employment at the University of Stuttgart

The admission as doctoral student generally affords enrolment for at least one year at the University of Stuttgart or a similar period of employment as a member of the academic staff of this university. This requirement can be met whilst you are completing the dissertation.

There are no tuition fees for doctoral students.

vor  Enrolment as Doctoral Student [de]

According to the Doctoral Degree Regulations (PromO) your enrolment as doctoral student is restricted on six semesters (PromO § 4,7). In exceptions the Rektor can extend this restriction to 10 semesters if your supervisor declares the necessitiy for it.

In exceptional circumstances the Dean can exempt you from meeting these enrolment or employment requirements.  

Step 4: Application for admission

The majority of doctoral students begin their dissertation once they have received confirmation from their supervisor. The dissertation itself is usually registered at a later date, namely, towards the end of the doctoral studies. It is completely acceptable to register your doctorate at a later date. In the new Doctoral Degree Regulations the admission as doctoral student is restricted on 5 years, in exceptional cases on 7 years (PromO § 4,8).

The following documents are required:

  • An informal letter from your supervisor indicating that he or she is willing to perform this function together with the title of the topic of your doctoral thesis 
  • A personal data sheet 
  • Certified copies of your degree. Graduates with a degree from outside of Germany need a certified copy of the degree in the original language of issue together with a German translation unless the original language is either English or French. 
  • Proof that you have studied for at least eight semesters. In addition, you must have studied at the University of Stuttgart for at least two semesters. You can meet the latter requirement during your doctoral studies by registering as a doctoral student or by being employed for one year as part of the scientific staff. 
  • Completion of the Statistical Information Sheet which is available from the Examination Office
  • Graduates with a degree from outside of Germany normally are required to present written confirmation from the Dean of the appropriate faculty on equivalency.

Should you not possess any certified copies of your documents, please present the originals together with one copy to the Examination Office.

Please send your documents to the Examination Office. For further information please contact Ms Walz.

Once your documents are checked, you will receive a letter saying that you have been accepted as a doctoral student.

Step 5: Doctoral degree studies

The dissertation should be written in German. A summary, usually in English, is to be attached. The dissertation can also be written in English. It can also be produced in any other language providing that this has been approved by the Doctoral Committee upon proposal by the Examination Committee. A summary in German has to be attached to all dissertations which are in a foreign language.

Once you have completed your dissertation, you must register for the oral examination (see PromO § 5). Providing the Examination Committee is in agreement, this examination, which may last for between one and two hours, can be taken in a foreign language (PromO § 10). Once the oral examination is over, you will have to submit a prescribed number of copies of your doctoral thesis (see PromO § 12). Please read the Information for doctoral students on the form and submission of the dissertation ("Merkblatt für Doktoranden über die äußere Form der Dissertation" [de]) which can be found at the end of the Doctoral Degree Regulations.

A previous publication of the thesis, or even parts of it can result in failure of the doctoral project.

Upon successful completion of your doctorate and submission of the required number of copies of your thesis, you will receive your doctoral degree (PromO § 13).
The following doctoral degrees are awarded by the University of Stuttgart:

  • Doktor-Ingenieur/in (Dr.-Ing.): in the faculties of Architecture and Urban Planning; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy; Mechanical Engineering 
  • Dokor/in der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat,): in the faculties of Chemistry; Geological and Biological Sciences: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; Mathematics; Physics 
  • Doktor/in der Philosophie (Dr. phil.): in the faculty of Philosophy and History; Economics and Social Sciences 
  • Doktor/in der Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften (Dr. rer. pol.): in the faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

3. Information

Further information about Studying for a Doctoral Degree you will obtain from the Dean of the relevant faculty. Foreign citizens can also contact Ms Habel at the Office of International Affairs.

4. Scholarships and grants

A number of organisations offer scholarships and grants for doctoral students.
vorScholarships and funding opportunities

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