Stipends and scholarships
In Germany, numerous funding providers offer financing opportunities for both German and foreign doctoral researchers. There are local and national funding providers, the ones with links to specific political parties and denominations, as well as subject-specific funding providers.
Doctoral researchers usually receive funding of 1,000 € to 1,350 € plus a fixed sum of 100 € per month to cover research costs (e.g. stipends by DAAD or political foundations). In addition, a family allowance of 155 € per month is available when there is a child in the family or the net annual income of the doctoral researcher’s partner is less than 15,340 €. Some scholarships also include a travel allowance.
Funding is generally provided for a period of two years. If necessary, up to two six-month extensions are possible. Scholarship holders who care for a child or must suspend their studies due to a disability or illness, can be funded for up to four years.
Universität Hamburg supports young researchers with the Landesgraduiertenstipendium (state graduate funding program). Further, international doctoral researchers can apply for a short-term stipend of the MIN graduate school or a merit scholarship of the International Dept for a twelve-month period.
For university alumni who are considering to take up their doctoral studies but have not been accepted and enrolled yet, the Dissertation Plus scholarship from Claussen-Simon Stiftung may be worth looking into.
last but not least we have an open call:
Call for Applications for Doctoral Degree Program Funding under the Fast-Track Program at Universität Hamburg
(see below for details)
An overview of further funding options you will find in the UHH Guide to doctoral funding and on the HRA website.
The DAAD scholarship database provides details of the scholarships available to finance your doctoral studies (including conferences and expeditions) offered by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and selected other funding organizations. You are required to enter your discipline, country of origin, and status to find the appropriate funding line. DAAD is the leading provider of scholarships, particularly for international doctoral researchers. In 2018 alone, DAAD provided funding for more than 2,800 international doctoral researchers and about 1,900 German doctoral researchers.
The scholarship guide of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) also facilitates transparent and comprehensive searches for suitable scholarships (in German only).
Here you will find information on special funding programs for doctoral researchers summarized by the Research in Germany website (in English only).
Notification about additional gainful work
Part-time employment alongside a doctorate must be discussed with and approved by the funding provider in advance. Most allow part-time employment (in terms of the hours and remuneration), though this depends on the contract agreed for the main professional activities. The individual funding providers are responsible for informing doctoral researchers of the conditions for part-time employment.
If you are financing your doctorate through employment at Universität Hamburg (salaried doctoral researchers), the information on part-time work provided here is applicable.