Complete application documents must be submitted via the MoveOn online portal. Once your application has been checked for completeness and fulfilment of the admission requirements, as well as the suitability of your research project, it will be sent to potential supervisors who have the relevant expertise and capacity to take on doctoral students.

Confirmation of supervision by a university lecturer authorised to supervise doctoral candidates is a prerequisite for acceptance as a doctoral student. In particular, it documents the supervisor's agreement with the doctoral thesis topic and their willingness to supervise the doctoral project.

The doctoral phase begins in the semester in which you are admitted to and enrolled on the programme.

Information on admission requirements, the required application documents and the curriculum can be found on the respective doctoral study programme websites.

The application and admission procedure depends on the doctoral study programme in which you would like to do your doctorate. Please refer to the information on the websites of the relevant doctoral study programme. The documents listed below serve as a guideline:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Certified copy of the original higher education entrance qualification e.g. school diploma, school leaving certificate or German Abitur certificate
  If the original or copy is not in German or English, a certified translation into German or English by a sworn translator must also be submitted.
• Certified copies of certificates and transcript of records from all prior university degrees e.g. Bachelor, Master or equivalent
  If the originals or copies are not in German or English, a certified translation into German or English by a sworn translator must also be submitted.
• 1-2 pages summary of your Master´s thesis or equivalent academic thesis (e.g. Diploma thesis)
• 2 letters of recommendation
  From university professors (e.g. your Master´s thesis supervisor), former employers or project partner.
• Completed and signed Declaration
• A coloured passport styled photo
• A comprehensive PhD Research Proposal.
  Please use the provided programme-specific template.

There are no application deadlines; applications can be submitted throughout the year.
For enrolment in the summer semester (start at the beginning of April) we recommend applying by 1 November at the latest, for enrolment in the winter semester (start at the beginning of October) by 1 May at the latest.