Orientation phase

Your doctoral studies in Hamburg

Hamburg offers a wide variety of disciplines for your doctoral studies. In addition to the conventional doctorate at the universities, the cooperative doctorate is a doctoral procedure involving cooperation between a university or a higher education institution entitled to confer doctorates and a university of applied sciences.

In addition, you have to option to earn your doctorate in cooperation with a non-university research institution. In this case, you are enrolled at a university with the right to award doctorates while completing your doctoral work at the non-university research institution. Several higher education institutions moreover confer a doctorate for artistic work or a combination of academic and artistic work HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) [in German only], Hamburg University of Music and Theater (HFMT) [in German only], University of Fine Arts Hamburg (HFBK)) or within the scope of a joint PhD program.

Finding a supervisor

You have found a subject for your doctoral studies? The next step is to search for a suitable university supervisor. The doctoral degree regulations valid for each specific higher education institution and faculty determine who may serve as a supervisor. Please get into direct contact with those professors you believe may be appropriate for your doctoral proposal. A clear research question and objective for your doctoral subject are essential for successful doctoral studies. Arrange an appointment and be prepared for an extensive discussion of your plans and ideas. The written confirmation of the supervision of your intended doctoral studies is the prerequisite for your enrollment at your university.

Financing

Only now can you search for funding; the doctoral supervisor will be able to provide useful tips and a list of important contacts. In the end, you should determine whether a structured doctoral program is possible for your project.

Writing your research proposal

Once you have sorted out the framework conditions, you prepare your proposal in close consultation with your doctoral supervisor. In this, you describe your research project and outline the guiding idea of your thesis. Typically, a reasearch proposal incorporates thematic, methodical, structural, and organisational aspects.

Registering for the doctoral procedure

Your doctoral studies will officially start when you are admitted to the doctoral program. You must complete a number of important steps for this. These include applying for admission to the doctoral procedure within your faculty or institution and enrolling at your higher education institution. Please first contact the doctoral studies office at your higher education institution or faculty to apply for admission to the doctoral procedure. You will generally need to submit the following documents:

• Proof of an academic degree from a higher education institution
• Tabular CV
• Outline of your research proposal
• Confirmation of supervision
• Depending on the higher education institution and faculty, other documents (e.g., a project plan and timetable). Please refer to the doctoral degree regulations valid for your higher education institution and faculty for details.

If your application is successful, you will be admitted to doctoral studies and can enroll at your higher education institution (Immatrikulation). You will need a number of documents to enroll, such as a degree certificate and confirmation of supervision.