Doctoral Researchers

The MIN Graduate Center is an umbrella institution for all doctoral researchers at the MIN faculty, no matter whether you are doing your doctorate in a structured program or individually. There are numerous support possibilities, about which we inform in our newsletter or on Twitter.

• Gain excellent research experience at northern Germany’s largest and leading center of research, a University of Excellence (four Clusters of Excellence)
• Earn an internationally recognized qualification at a faculty with a strong international reputation. Our international focus allows you to do your doctorate in English (no German knowledge required).
• Carry out research in a highly supportive environment: Career development opportunities, travel grants and conference participation support, PhD mentoring, academic tutor consultations and networking activities are offered by the MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ) as well as by the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA), and UHH HR Career Development.
• Take advantage of the Welcome Buddy Service for prospective and new international doctoral researchers at the MIN Faculty, helping them out to get a good start with their everyday life in Hamburg.
• Live and do research in one of the most attractive international destination cities in the world: Hamburg is a major European science, research, and education hub with mind-broadening culture, as well as a popular tourist destination.

Find a supervisor and agree on a topic for your doctoral dissertation. An application for admission to doctoral procedures must be submitted to the responsible subject doctoral committee before work on the doctoral dissertation project commences. This website will guide you through the steps to take.

In brief: In a structured doctoral program, you are part of a graduate school, you have more than one supervisor and have a certain amount of required coursework. For an individual doctorate, conditions depend on agreements with your supervisor(s). Having a single supervisor is possible, but adding more supervisors is recommendable. Supervision by more than one person can enrich the doctoral project professionally and methodically and contribute to quality assurance. Please read here for more information on the differences and see here for our structured programs.

Positions are advertised on the websites of the structured programs as well as on the university job portal.

Check the websites of the structured programs as well as the university job portal for open positions. If you would like to submit a speculative application, try to identify specific research areas you are particularly interested in on the websites of the respective program, institution or department. Look at recent publications of professors who work in your area of interest. Write a tailored email to the potential supervisor in which you briefly introduce yourself, your previous degrees and research, and state how your research interests overlap. Ask whether the professor has any doctoral positions to offer.

Yes, a doctorate with more than one supervisor is possible. For a structured doctorate in a graduate school, at least two supervisors or a supervisory commission panel are required. Supervision by more than one person can enrich the doctoral project professionally and methodically and contribute to quality assurance. Multiple supervision is a suitable means of ensuring optimal supervision at all times, including in difficult and conflictual situations or when one supervisor is unavailable.

The first step is to think of which research are you want to work in and find a supervisor matching your topic. If you are not sure who could be a prospective supervisor, we recommend contacting our academic tutors at the MIN graduate center. If you are interested in a structured program, you should check the respective websites for open positions and get in contact with either the potential supervisor or the program coordinator.

Yes, once you are admitted to a structured program, you should ask for the signatures in this formular.

If the topic is interesting to you and you meet the requirements, you could email or call the supervisor and check whether your expectations are met. Things to check upon the start can be found here.

If you apply for an advertised position, the topic may already be specified. In most cases, your topic will be specified and refined in collaboration with your supervisor(s).

It could be beneficial for your application to show the potential supervisor(s) that you are familiar with the research topic. However, it is also crucial that you choose a project that really interests you since you will be working on it for approximately 3 years.

Being active in the scientific community is always a beneficial for an application for a doctoral position. However, each professor has their own preferences regarding to what they seek in a candidate, e.g., good grades, research experience, publications etc. For the application for admission to doctoral procedures, the curriculum vitae and if available, a publication list must be submitted.

The doctoral dissertation should generally be completed within three years. Admission to doctoral procedures is valid for an initial period of four years. The doctoral dissertation should be submitted to the subject doctoral committee within this period. Upon the submission of a request stating the reasons for the delay, the time period may be extended.

Dr. rer. nat. is the traditional degree awarded for a doctorate in the natural sciences in Germany. For structured programs, the Ph.D. title is becoming more common. At the MIN Faculty it is possible to apply for the award of the Ph.D. degree instead of Dr. rer. nat. only if you are a member of these graduate schools and you have successfully completed your doctoral studies. The application for the award of the Ph.D. degree can be submitted at the earliest within the application to open the doctorate proceedings (i.e., when the dissertation is submitted), but at the latest up until the oral defense (disputation).

If you are thinking of starting a doctorate at the MIN faculty, you are welcome to check our MIN PhD Gateway for information or contact our academic tutors. A practical guide for new and prospective doctoral researchers at the MIN Faculty can be found here. If you have already been admitted, the most important support will probably be given through your graduate school (if applicable) or supervisor (if you do an individual doctorate). Further support can be given through our MIN Welcome Buddies, the UHH Welcome Service, and the Hamburg Welcome Center.

Yes, our “New in Hamburg” guide offers information and points of contact regarding family affairs, including information on childcare as well as residence and work permits for spouses.

As a general rule, Non-EU nationals require visas for stays of more than three months or stays leading to gainful employment before entering Germany. Non-EU citizens who want to work as a researcher should not enter Germany on a tourist or Schengen visa. The decision on a visa application may take several weeks. Applications should therefore be submitted in good time at the German Embassy or German Consulate in your home country prior to departure. Check here for more information on coming to Germany as a scientist. EU nationals and nationals of those countries for which the European Community (EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) just need a valid passport to enter Germany. A practical guide for new and prospective international doctoral researchers at the MIN Faculty can be found here. For an individual consultation, please contact the UHH Welcome Service.

After graduating from a German higher-education establishment and working in a job matching your qualifications for at least two years, you can be issued with an open-ended residence title in Germany. Check here for further information. For an individual consultation, please contact UHH Welcome Service.

Yes, in general they do. However, the issuing of permanent residence permits is dependent on numerous factors. For an individual consultation, please contact the UHH Welcome Service.

The successful completion of a degree program from a higher education institution (e.g., Master’s degree, Diplom, Magister) as well as a supervision agreement with at least one supervisor at the UHH MIN Faculty are required for a successful application for admission to doctoral procedures. A list of requirements for admission (including admission documents) can be found on the websites of the relevant MIN department.

Doctoral admission is granted in the six departments of the MIN Faculty. A list of documents needed for admission (including admission documents) can be found on the websites of your relevant MIN department.

Yes, you can apply with a degree from a University of Applied Sciences if the completed degree program is relevant to the doctoral dissertation project (for example Master’s degree or Diplom).

No, there is no age limit. You can start the doctorate at any age.

No, you can apply for admission to doctoral procedures at any time (for requirements see above). The responsible subject doctoral committees decide on applications for admission promptly after receipt of the application. However, if you need to apply for funding it is worth having the deadlines of the big funding agencies in mind. Please note: An application for admission to doctoral procedures must be submitted to the responsible subject doctoral committee before work on the doctoral dissertation project commences.

No, you don’t need any language certificates before starting your doctoral studies. However, it is of advantage to gain some German language skills before or during your doctorate. English language skills are probably even more necessary in most groups as English is often the main language for communication. German and English courses are provided by the university.

In the frame of the application for admission to doctoral procedures, copies of your degree certificates (e.g. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree) such as certificate of academic degree, transcript of records, diploma supplement (if issued) must be submitted. If your degree certificates are issued in another language than German or English, you must submit a certified translation (in German or English) of your degree certificates. Doctoral candidates with degrees from outside Germany should always submit a transcript of records and diploma supplement; in some cases further documents are also required. You can find all admission documents on the websites of the relevant MIN department.

Transcripts of records are needed for degrees completed outside Germany.

As a rule, no. However, admission to the fast track doctoral procedure is an exception to this rule (see further details in Section 4, subsection 3 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations MIN Faculty (2018)). Universität Hamburg annually announces stipends for fast-track doctoral procedures.

As a rule, no. Admission to the fast track doctoral procedure is an exception to this rule. An applicant may be eligible for fast track admission upon obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in a degree program that is materially relevant to the doctoral dissertation project, provided that the degree corresponds to the criteria established by the subject doctoral committee and an assessment review has been successfully conducted. Admission to a fast track doctoral procedure is subject to the condition that the applicant acquires a Master’s degree in a subject relevant to the doctoral dissertation project within the framework of the doctoral procedure. Universität Hamburg annually announces stipends for fast-track doctoral procedures.

As a rule, you can’t apply for admission to doctoral procedures before you graduate from your Master’s program. The Master’s degree certificates are mandatory application documents. If you are about to complete your Master’s program, all exams have already been successfully passed and you are only waiting for the issuance of the degree certificates, you could contact the responsible Academic Office (Biology, Chemistry, Earth System Sciences, Informatics or Mathematics) or the Doctoral Office Physics and ask how to proceed. Furthermore, you may certainly search for doctoral positions and try to find a supervisor while waiting for your degree certificates.

As a rule, you can’t apply for admission to doctoral procedures before you graduate from your previous degree program (see further details in Section 4, subsection 2 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations MIN Faculty (2018)) The degree certificates are mandatory application documents. If you are about to complete your degree program and all exams have already been successfully passed and you are waiting for the issuance of the degree certificates, you could contact the responsible Academic Office (Biology, Chemistry, Earth System Sciences, Informatics or Mathematics) or the Doctoral Office Physics and ask how to proceed. However, you may certainly search for doctoral positions and try to find a supervisor while waiting for your degree certificates.

No, internships are not required.

Yes, upon agreement with your supervisor(s).

You need to contact the responsible Academic Office (Biology, Chemistry, Earth System Sciences, Informatics or Mathematics) or the Doctoral Office Physics.

Yes, enrollment must take place no later than the semester following admission. Further information will be given in your admission letter.

While there are no tuition fees at Universität Hamburg, students and doctoral researchers need to cover a semester contributions, which includes a public transport pass. More information on the costs that may arise can be found here.

While we recommend at least monthly (ideally weekly) meetings in the early phase of the doctoral project, the frequency of meetings needs to be agreed upon with your supervisor(s). Further, we recommend that at least once per year the development of your career should be discussed with your supervisor(s) based on an Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP, developed by the MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ) is available as a printed booklet or can be downloaded here. It consists of specific standardized questions and tasks structuring the documentation, first, of your achievements, skills and goals; and, second, of future actions that you define to improve your development. You may use the IDP to foster the communication with your supervisor(s), to identify and to reflect on your competencies as well as capabilities by working through its subjects.

A cumulative dissertation (dissertation by publication) usually requires a certain number of first-author publications, while a monography requires the writing of a “conventional” dissertation/thesis. The subject doctoral committees specify the requirements for a cumulative dissertation. You can find information on the requirements for submission of a cumulative dissertation and further information on the websites of the relevant MIN department.

 The doctoral dissertation may be written in German, English, or upon request to the subject doctoral committee in another research language.

See further information on the websites of the relevant MIN department and/or in the Doctoral Degree Regulations MIN Faculty (2018).

An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a career-development tool that may help you to assess your skills, interests, and values, make a plan for achieving your academic and professional goals, and communicate with your mentors about your evolving plan and needs. For most doctoral researchers, the implementation of an IDP is voluntary but recommended. Find out more about it here.

Yes, it is possible and often even encouraged to go abroad for a period of time. You can apply for financial support for research stays and conference stays abroad at the MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ) and search the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) database for stipends.

Yes, once you are admitted to a structured program, you should ask for the signatures in this formular.

Doctoral dissertation projects in the MIN fields usually require being present in person. Remote work may be possible under certain circumstances if the supervisor(s) agree(s).

Yes, interdisciplinary doctoral thesis are not unusual and may certainly be interesting. However, you need to choose one department at the MIN Faculty to apply for admission and submit your thesis to. This would be a topic to discuss with your supervisor(s).

If you have a paid doctoral position, your job may include tasks that are not strictly related to your research project such as teaching, lab courses, working on applications for funding etc. Whether it is possible to have a job beyond that needs to be clarified with your employer/foundation. For some stipends, side jobs with more than 5 work hours/week are not permitted. Doctoral dissertation projects in MIN fields usually require a full-time commitment. The doctoral dissertation should generally be completed within three years. Admission to doctoral procedures is valid for an initial period of four years. The doctoral dissertation should be submitted to the subject doctoral committee within this period. However, the time period may be extended upon the submission of a request stating the reasons for the delay.

No, they are not. Additional tasks like teaching and supervision should be discussed and agreed upon at the start of the doctorate. There are many factors influencing the amount of teaching and supervision such as funding (teaching obligations are more likely for employed candidates) or the type of institution (teaching is less common at non-university institutions).

It is recommended to address good scientific practice at the beginning of the doctoral studies. You can find the Bylaws for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice and Avoiding Scientific Misconduct at Universität Hamburg here. The MIN Graduate Center supports the adherence to good scientific practice through workshops, which cover many questions from the daily scientific routine.

Funding options are explained in the MIN PhD Portal and on the website of the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA). You may also search for doctoral and postdoctoral research funding/open positions at job opportunities at Universität Hamburg. Search for open positions after different criteria such as type of position, institution, salary level, supervisor etc.

Advertised positions are usually paid. The salary level should be included in the advertisement. If you arrange an individual doctorate with a professor, you need to clarify whether and to what extent funding is available. More information on funding can be found here.

There are no tuition fees at Universität Hamburg. Students and doctoral researchers only need to cover a semester contributions, which includes a public transport pass. More information on the costs that may arise can be found here.

Yes, there are. You can find a summary on funding of the doctorate here. We recommend checking the DAAD database for specific programs. You may want to look out for the Hilde Domin Stipend (if applicable).

Formally seen, there is no part-time doctorate at the MIN Faculty. Doctoral dissertation projects in MIN fields usually require a full-time commitment. The doctoral dissertation should generally be completed within three years. Admission to doctoral procedures is valid for an initial period of four years. The doctoral dissertation should be submitted to the subject doctoral committee within this period. However, the time period may be extended upon the submission of a request stating the reasons for the delay.

If you are employed as a doctoral researcher (and live in Germany), you have to pay taxes. On a stipend no taxes are paid.

Yes, health insurance is mandatory. It is also advisable to take out a (family) liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) for the duration of your research stay. The third-party insurance will protect you against claims resulting from damage caused unintentionally.

Yes, you can apply for financial support for research stays and conference stays abroad at the MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ).

If you are a part of a structured doctoral program, some classes are usually required. Taking classes is also possible, but usually not mandatory, for individual doctorates. Check here for a summary of providers.

It is absolutely recommended to make use of the great training opportunities given at Universität Hamburg and its partner institutions. Check here for a summary of providers. As a doctoral researcher at the MIN faculty, you are automatically part of the MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ). In addition, those at the participating graduate schools are part of MIND, the MIN Doctoral Program, which offers further qualifications in scholarship and research.

The MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ) regularly informs about opportunities to network and socialize with other doctoral researchers in a monthly newsletter and on the MINGZ Twitter channel. Regular MINGZ events include the PhD Club and PhD Walking Tours to explore the city. Further networking events are offered by the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA) and by PIASTA, a program run by the UHH Department of International Affairs.

There are numerous possibilities to get involved, for example as doctoral representatives at the MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ), doit at Campus Bahrenfeld or in the doctoral council of the Hamburg Research Academy (HRA).

It is possible to extend the admission period under certain circumstances. Please check here for the regulations of extension.

They are allowed to supervise for another four years after leaving the university. Under special circumstances, it is also possible to change your supervisor.

If problems or uncomfortable situations arise, you may contact the MIN Graduate Center for our first level support, which is given online or in person on short notice. We will help you reflect on the situation and learn more about further support that is possible at the faculty or university level. Under special circumstances, it is still possible to change your supervisor.

Find out more on Bylaws for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice and Avoiding Scientific Misconduct at Universität Hamburg here. You may reach out to the MIN Graduate Center for a first level support, which is given online or in person on short notice. Further, the members of the Ombuds Committee at Universität Hamburg can serve as confidential contact persons for all questions relating to good scientific practice or the possession of evidence of scientific misconduct. All queries and evidence are treated confidentially. The MIN Graduate Center also supports the adherence to good scientific practice through workshops, which cover many questions from the daily scientific routine.

You can apply for the opening of doctorate proceedings after your dissertation is ready to be submitted for evaluation. Requirements (including documents) and useful information can be found on the websites of the relevant MIN department.

We recommend that you agree with your supervisor(s) on criteria for the completion of your dissertation early in your doctoral research phase, and continue to discuss the subject regularly, for example as part of your IDP meetings.

See the websites of the relevant MIN department for further information.

The examination commission for your doctoral procedure is appointed by the responsible subject doctoral committee once you have submitted your dissertation (see requirements on the composition of the examination commission on the websites of the relevant MIN department). You are entitled to recommend members for the examination commission. The examination commission evaluates the dissertation based on the submitted assessments, conducts and evaluates the oral defense, and assigns an overall final grade.

In most cases, your supervisor can suggest suitable committee members. If this is not the case, we recommend checking the website of your department for a scientist in a relevant research field. The responsible Academic Office (Biology, Chemistry, Earth System Sciences, Informatics or Mathematics) or the Doctoral Office Physics will advise on the legally compliant composition of the examination commission.

When you submit your dissertation, you will be asked to submit suggestions for assessors. Generally, one supervisor or one co-supervisor of your dissertation project should be suggested and appointed. See the websites of the relevant MIN department for further information.

Assessments must be submitted within six weeks of the request.

You should present the results of the dissertation and their significance in the broader context of the subject in a presentation lasting approximately half an hour. After your presentation, you will defend the doctoral dissertation and answer questions posed by members of the examination commission. Questions should also relate to the relevance of the problems of the dissertation in larger scholarly contexts. Subsequently, the chair of the examination commission can allow questions from the university public on the topic of the oral defense. Questioning should last a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 90 minutes.

The oral defense is open to the university public. Examination commission members must attend the oral defense.

As a rule, no (see information in this form and this instruction sheet).

You may only start using the doctor title after receiving the signed and sealed doctoral degree certificate: The doctoral degree certificate conferring the doctorate entitles the person to use the doctor title.

No. You may only use your title in the form it is stated on your doctoral degree certificate. If you are graduating from one of these graduate schools and you have successfully completed your doctoral studies, you may apply for the award of the Ph.D. degree instead of the Dr. rer. nat. up. The application can be submitted up until the oral defense (disputation).

The use of data from your doctoral project for future academic work should only be denied for valid reasons. Usually, research is publicly funded, and resulting data should therefore be publicly accessible. You should discuss and agree on the accessibility and storage of your data early on in your doctoral research phase with your supervisor(s).

Yes, Universität Hamburg has an alumni association that is open to all graduates. The MIN Graduate Center (MINGZ) regularly invites past doctoral candidates to networking events and encourages the exchange of experiences with current candidates. Please contact the MINGZ if you would like to find out more.