In general, a doctoral project can either by carried out as an individual project or in the context of a structured doctoral study program.
The individual doctorate is the most common model for doctorates in Germany. In this model, there is no requirement to participate in additional qualification measures such as courses. The person interested in a doctorate finds a supervisor and researches a topic that they have usually chosen themselves. The individual doctorate requires a particularly high degree of independence.
At its institutes, the University of Hohenheim offers a broad spectrum of subjects for individual doctorates. There are various possibilities for funding individual doctorates.
Structured doctorate programs such as doctoral study programs or research training groups require participation in additional qualification measures - besides the “regular” dissertation. Innovative supervision plans ensure there is close monitoring of progress.
In this type of doctorate, you have closer contact to other researchers and/or are included in a research consortium.
Doctoral Study Program
Besides the “regular” dissertation, the doctoral study programs offer a research-oriented additional qualification program completed in the form of modules (obtaining credits). In courses, deeper and state-of-the-art subject knowledge, skills, and methods are conveyed. Depending on the faculty, within the doctoral study program various research training group can be chosen from.
- In the doctoral study program Agricultural Sciences, there are nine different research training groups.
- In the doctoral study program Natural Sciences, there are two research training groups: "Natural Sciences" and "Biodiversity in Changing Times".
- In the doctoral study program Business, Economics and Social Sciences, two different research training groups are offered: “Economics” and “Finance”.
The standard period of study in a doctoral study program of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the Faculty of Natural Sciences is three years, in a doctoral study programs of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences it is eight semesters. The dissertation does not need to be completed during this time, however - here the provisions of the respective doctoral degree regulations apply.
The requirement for being accepted into a doctoral study program is that you have already been accepted as a doctoral candidate by the respective faculty (Exception: in the doctoral study program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences, participation is possible under certain conditions even before acceptance as a doctoral candidate). After successfully completing the doctorate and the modules, the graduate receives an examination certificate.
The doctoral candidates must organize funding of the doctorate in a doctoral study program themselves.
Research Training Group
Research training groups outside of the doctoral study program are fixed-term institutions at the University that are characterized by a topical focus and a common research project. These groups are often parts of consortium projects with other universities and often come with scholarships or project-related positions.
The doctoral candidates have the chance to do their work in the framework of a coordinated research program under the supervision of several professors. This structured way of completing a doctorate is characterized by team work, real-world orientation and direct interactions with other doctoral students and supervisors.
At the University of Hohenheim, the following research training groups currently exist:
- Ehrmann Research training group “Water-Humans-Agriculture”
- Research training group “Agricultural Economics”
- State-wide graduate programme “BBW-ForWerts” (Bioeconomy in BW - Researching innovative value chains)
- IRTG Integrated Hydrosystem Modelling (DFG GRK 1829)
- German-Ethiopian SDG Graduate School “Climate Change Effects on Food Security (CLIFOOD)”
- German-Chinese International Research Training Group AMAIZE-P
To be admitted to a doctorate, a very good or good university degree is required, e.g. in a Master's program at a university in the area of applicability of the German Basic Law or in a degree program with a standard period of study of at least four years at certain universities. If the previous university education is not a typical case but certain requirements are still fulfilled, then acceptance can be given with additional requirements.
Under certain conditions, there is an option to request admission to a doctorate after a successfully completed Bachelor’s program (fast track option).
Faculty-specific details on admission requirements are set down in the faculties’ doctoral degree regulations.
Please note that the acceptance as a doctoral candidate is made by the respective faculty’s doctoral committee. A professor's letter of invitation does not replace acceptance as a doctoral candidate by the respective faculty.
For international students interested in a doctorate, the first step is to find a professor who is willing to supervise the doctoral project and to fill out a doctoral agreement.
University of Hohenheim Institutes
When reviewing the Application for Acceptance as a Doctoral Candidate submitted to the Graduate Academy, the Office of International Affairs then checks the degree documents from the person interested in doing a doctorate and gives an opinion as to whether the foreign degree and average grades formally qualify the applicant to complete a doctorate at the University of Hohenheim. The decision on acceptance as a doctoral candidate is made by the respective faculty’s doctoral committee.
Usually language proficiency certificates are also required for the application. The Language Center offers semester courses in various languages or intensive German courses.
Acceptance as a doctoral candidate does not automatically mean that you will get financial support.
Applications to possible funding institutions, e.g. foundations, can only be done, however, once it is clear which professor will supervise the dissertation and what the topic of the project will be.
Please note that the acceptance as a doctoral candidate is made by the respective faculty’s doctoral committee. A professor's letter of invitation does not replace acceptance as a doctoral candidate by the respective faculty.
To enter Germany, prospective doctoral candidates from countries outside of the EU must have the right kind of visa. Under no circumstances should you enter with a tourist visa. Later, this kind of visa cannot be changed and the person has to travel back to their home country.
In Germany, you can then request a residency permit with your Foreigners’ Agency (Ausländerbehörde).
Enrollment at the University of Hohenheim is done after acceptance as a doctoral candidate by the faculty.
For those who have been accepted as doctoral candidates by the faculty, tuition fees are waived. The length of enrollment as a doctoral candidate is set down in the respective doctoral degree regulations.
According to the regulations of Student Services, no rooms can be allocated to (prospective) doctoral candidates in the student residence halls. They must find private accommodation.
In Germany, health insurance is mandatory until you have reached your 30th birthday.
Students and doctoral candidates who are over 30 do not have to show proof of health insurance upon enrollment, but the Foreigners’ Agency will only give a residence permit if you can show proof of health insurance.
Students and non-degree students (to prepare for acceptance as a doctoral candidate) can get either statutory or private health insurance until they have turned 30. Doctoral candidates may not be insured as students but have to get private health insurance. You can find general information on health insurance in Germany as well as an overview of the statutory and private health insurance providers on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).