Your central point of contact for questions about the doctorate
- Would you like to do a doctorate at the University of Konstanz?
- Do you have any questions about your application?
- Are you looking for advice or financial support for your doctorate?
Please contact our Service Desk PhD!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on a doctorate at the University of Konstanz
What are the admission requirements for a doctorate at the University of Konstanz?
Basically, graduates who have completed their studies can pursue a doctorte in all departments at the University of Konstanz and can do so as an individual doctorate or as part of a structured doctoral programme. The legal basis for dotoral studies is the University of Konstanz's doctoral degree regulations.
The admission requirements for doctoral studies at the University of Konstanz are regulated in the doctoral degree regulations of the University of Konstanz.
Overview:
To be admitted to doctoral studies, you will need to have successfully completed:
- a master's programme at a German university,
- a study programme at a university, a Pädagogische Hochschule (teacher training college) or art academy lasting at least four years or
- or a postgraduate degree programme based on an undergraduate degree programme at a university or comparable higher education institution with the right to award doctorates.
Additional requirements such as specific examination results, a subject-specific examination, admission to a doctoral deree programme or admission to a graduate school may be specified in the subject-specific regulations of the doctoral degree regulations.
Degrees from abroad are recognised if they provide comparable skills to those acquired in Germany. The doctoral committee decides on recognition.
Please note: As a rule, the admission requirements will only be checked once you have received confirmation of supervision from a professor or another person authorised to conduct examinations at the University of Konstanz.
Particularly qualified graduates from universities of applied sciences, vocational academies or the Baden-Württemberg Academy of Notaries can be admitted to doctoral studies under certain conditions. This requires a successful aptitude assessment procedure and the support of a supervising professor or lecturer.
Particularly qualified graduates of three-year Bachelor's degree programmes can also be admitted to doctoral studies under certain conditions. The exact requirements are set out in the subject-specific regulations of the doctoral degree regulations.
Another prerequisite for a doctorate at the University of Konstanz is the confirmation of supervision by a professor or another person authorised to supervise doctoral candidates at the University of Konstanz.
You can find out about the admission requirements that apply in your case in the doctoral degree regulations, contact the departmental advisor for the subject relevant to you or contact the PhD Service Desk.
How do I find a suitable supervisor for my doctorate?
As a first step, think about the subject and topic area you are interested in and define your desired research direction based on this. Find out about eligible researchers (professors, junior or tenure professors, junior research group leaders) who are authorised to conduct examinations and whose research profile matches your project. The contacts of your current professors can be helpful here.
Once you have identified a potential supervisor, you can ask them directly for an initial discussion about your interest in a doctorate.
It also makes sense to look for suitable structured doctoral programmes (e.g. research training groups or graduate schools) and apply for the calls for applications there. You will also find advertisements for doctoral positions at the University of Konstanz here (positions as a research assistant with the possibility of a doctorate).
If you have reached an agreement with your future supervisor or have been accepted into a structured doctoral programme (Research Training Group or Graduate School), you can apply for accetance as a doctoral candidate in the relevant university department.
For more information, visit our page on doctoral research.
I'm thinking about doing a doctorate, but I'm not sure yet. Who can advise me on this decision?
You are welcome to use the Konstanz Research School's counselling service to help you decide on your doctorate and answer any questions you may have.
Contact:
for doctoral candidates and doctoral students in the early phase:
Barbara Stark, Konstanz Research School
You can find information on how to decide on a doctorate on the page Starting your doctorate.
I'm aiming for a scientific career. Where can I find out more?
For career counselling, you can contact your advisors at the Konstanz Research School and Academic Staff Development. There you will receive counselling, support and coaching on all questions relating to your doctorate, your career development and your academic tasks in research and teaching. Topics may include development, applying for academic positions, alternative career paths or the compatibility of academia and family. Depending on the issue at hand, this can take the form of individual counselling, longer-term individual coaching or peer coaching by our trained academic coaches.
Contact:
for doctoral candidates and doctoral students in the early phase:
Barbara Stark, Konstanz Research School
for advanced doctoral students and coaching:
Silke Hell, Konstanz Research School
I'm aiming for a career outside academia. Where can I find out more?
We offer various in-house counselling an coaching options to provide you with targeted guidance and support with regard to alternative career paths. Be it with regard to determining your current position, your personal goals and your decision-making process, or to support you in taking concrete steps - we provide you with targeted and resource-oriented support.
Counselling "Career Paths after Academia"
We provide you with strategic advice on possible career paths in Switzerland and abroad, on your application and on suitable further training and additional qualifications. If you require further advice, we will be happy to provide you with information about the relevant contact persons.
Coaching offered by Academic Staff Development
As part of the in-house coaching programme offered by Academic Staff Development, topics can be addressed that are relevant in connection with your alternative career paths. We support you in developing the right solution for you in a resource-orientated manner and accompany you in your professional decision-making and change processes.
Contact:
Melanie Moosbuchner, Academic Staff Development
Information on non-university career opportunities can be found on the career paths after academia.
I find myself in a challenging situation in my doctorate and would like to take advantage of counselling or coaching
You can take advantage of the independent and confidential counselling and coaching services offered by the Konstanz Research School for all questions relating to your doctorate ad for overcoming all kinds of challenges during your doctorate. Depending on the issue at hand, this can take the form of individual counselling, longer-term individual coaching or peer coaching by our trained academic coaches.
Contact:
for advanced doctoral students and coaching:
Silke Hell, Konstanz Research School
Where can I find help with conflicts or crises during my doctorate?
In the event of conflicts or crises in your doctorate, there are several support services available to you:
- Independent coaching service offered by the Konstanz Research School: You can take advantage of this free and confidential service in the event of crises and conflicts. Please contact Mrs. Silke Hell.
- Ombudspersons for doctoral studies: This independent and neutral institution of the University of Konstanz offers you counselling, mediation and support in cases of conflict.
- Psychotherapeutic Counselling Centre of the Studierendenwerk Seezeit: This supports both students and doctoral students with personal and academic problems.
- Additional contact points and information can be found on the page Counselling and help with conflicts and discrimination - doctoral students.
How can I finance my doctorate?
Financing through employment
About two thirds of all doctorates at the University of Konstanz are financed through employment as a research assistant.
Job advertisements for academic staff at the University of Konstanz can be found on the page Working at the University of Konstanz. You can also find academic job offers on academics or via mailing lists of your desired department.
Doctoral scholarships
Instead of an employee position, a doctorate can also be financed by a scholarship from state or private institutions and foundations.
Doctoral students at the University of Konstanz can apply for the University of Konstanz scholarship programme in accordance with the Landesgraduiertenförderungsgesetz (LGFG). However, this programme is only advertised approximately every three years.
Numerous other foundations and scholarship programmes offer doctoral scholarships. You can find an overview of scholarship portals and funding opportunities on our funding page.
How do I finance conference trips, meetings, summer schools or retreats?
If you belong to a doctoral programme (Graduate School, Research Training Group, Marie Curie Programme, etc.) or a cluster, it is advisable to ask for funding there first.
The Doctoral Fund supports doctoral students at the University of Konstanz in establishing academic networks. Several times a year, applications can be made for grants to conference trips, research stays, data collection and the organisation of workshops. All doctoral students at the University of Konstanz who have been accepted for a doctorate are eligible to apply.
Important: The Doctoral Fund is a competitive procedure for limited funds. Success is to be regarded as an honour in the sense of selecting the best and will be certified accordingly. There is no entitlement to funding!
The International Office offers the Programm Erasmus+ Short-Term Mobility for PhD Students.
In addition, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers grants for congress and lecture trips (website available in german only).
On the DAAD website you will also find a scholarship database for international students and researchers as well as offers from other selected funding organisations.
On our Funding page you will find an overview of funding for doctoral students.
How is the Doctoral Fund awarded?
The Doctoral Fund supports doctoral students at the University of Konstanz in establishing academic networks. Several times a year, applications can be made for grants to conference trips, research stays, data collection and the organisation of workshops. All doctoral students at the University of Konstanz who have been accepted for a doctorate are eligible to apply.
Important: The Doctoral Fund is a competitive procedure for limited funds. Success is to be regarded as an honour in the sense of selecting the best and will be certified accordingly. There is no entitlement to funding!
Funding is awarded through a structured and competitive procedure, which is carried out by an independent awarding committee based on defined criteria. This committee is made up of representatives of the departments who are doctoral students or who already hold doctorates and who have been appointed by the Senate. The reviewers prepare independent reviews for each application, and on this basis the awarding committee makes the decision with the greatest endeavour to ensure transparency and fairness.