Funding your doctorate

There are several possible ways to fund your PhD in Germany. Generally, costs you should anticipate are: Fees or "semester contribution" for the university's student union (Studierendenwerk) and general university services or some tuition costs (depending on the federal state in Germany) in addition to living expenses such as rent, food, clothing, transport, work materials, etc. 

Possible ways to finance your PhD: 

Job as an early-career scientist/doctoral candidate

Universities and other research organizations in Germany are offering employment opportunities directly to PhD candidates. The private sector might also offer an opportunity to pursue a PhD project funded by a German company. These job offers are usually posted on the university or research organization websites directly. 

Find an overview of job offers and fellowship opportunities on the EURAXESS Germany database.

Scholarships and funding programmes

Funding a PhD project might also be possible through scholarships or funding programmes outside of the university or research organization e.g. funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) or other public and private bodies such as foundations. 

Find a list of foundations with PhD scholarship programmes here:

• Avicenna Studienwerk
• Cusanuswerk e.V.
• Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk (ELES)
• Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. Villigst
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
• Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF)
• Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSS)
• Hans Böckler Foundation (HBS)
• Heinrich Böll Foundation 
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS)
• Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw)
• Studienstifung des deutschen Volkes e.V.

Find here the DAAD scholarship database