Pursuing a doctorate at TU Dresden

• A doctoral degree in Germany requires independent, original research that advances knowledge in the field. This research is traditionally demonstrated through a monographic dissertation. In many disciplines, however—particularly in the natural sciences and engineering—the cumulative dissertation (a collection of several scholarly articles with an introductory summary) is also widely used and recognized. The doctoral regulations of the respective faculty determine the dissertation format.
• There is a requirement to publish the dissertation.
• An oral examination is a mandatory component of the doctoral program. As a rule, either a dissertation defence or a comprehensive oral examination is required. Though typically only one of these two forms of examination is required, depending on the doctoral regulations of the respective faculty.
• An overall grade is awarded. The grading scale is usually divided into the following five grades: summa cum laude (“excellent”), magna cum laude (“very good”), cum laude (“good”), rite (“satisfactory”), and non sufficit (“unsatisfactory”).
• In Germany, the right to award doctoral degrees is institutionally held by universities and institutions of higher education of equivalent standing. The conduct of doctoral procedures and the formulation of doctoral regulations are the responsibility of the respective faculties.
  
  Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) and colleges of art and music can only obtain the right to award doctoral degrees in certain federal states and, in most cases, only for research-intensive departments or specialized doctoral centers. Therefore, not all higher education institutions in Germany automatically possess the right to award doctoral degrees.

• As a rule, an academic degree at Master's, Staatsexamen, Diplom or Magister level is a prerequisite for a doctorate in Germany.
• In some federal states, outstanding graduates of Bachelor's programs or of universities of applied sciences can also be admitted.
• If you hold a foreign university degree, the Doctoral Office of your faculty, in cooperation with the International Office, will check whether the degree obtained abroad differs significantly from the degree requirements specified in the respective doctoral degree regulations.

Anyone who decides today to pursue a doctorate at a German university can do so in various contexts:

• First, as an individual doctoral candidate, funded through employment in a university-funded or third-party-funded training position at a university or a non-university research institution, through a fellowship, or with personal funds.
• Alternatively, as an external doctoral candidate— that is, without employment at a university or research institution, for example, while employed by an employer outside the academic sector, at a non-university research institution, or entirely independently with self-funding. However, this form is not a distinct doctoral program type, but rather a specific variant of the individual doctoral program.
• Or as a structured doctoral program within the framework of a Research Training Group (usually funded by the DFG, thematically focused, smaller cohorts) or a Graduate School (often broader in scope, larger cohorts, frequently emerging from the Excellence Initiative). Funding here is typically provided through a position funded by the university’s core budget or third-party grants (Research Associate position) or through a scholarship.

At TU Dresden, it is generally possible to pursue a doctorate in any of the departments offered. The titles of the doctoral degrees vary by department.

Opportunities to pursue a doctorate at TU Dresden are available at:

• the chairs of the 17 faculties at TU Dresden
• the non-university research institutions of our DRESDEN-concept partners
• as part of structured doctoral programs
• as part of a binational doctoral program.