Financing your Doctorate

Universities can employ doctoral candidates as research associates either in a position at a chair or financed by third-party funds through a project. Payment is made in accordance with the relevant public service wage agreement (TV-L). The job profile usually includes teaching activities of between two and four hours per week and other administrative tasks. These jobs are often part-time. The length of employment of doctoral students varies. For example, it depends on the duration of the approved project and can vary from discipline to discipline.
According to a study by the doctoral student network THESIS, approximately one in three doctoral candidates works at the university. Only in very few cases the doctoral thesis is specifically based on the research to be conducted in the position as research associate; rather, doctoral candidates often conduct research in other projects (as their own) at their institute.
The advantage of working at the university is that the scientific topic is often in close proximity to the content of the thesis. In addition, lectures can be linked to the topic of the dissertation and the opportunity of a professional exchange with colleagues is given.
Nevertheless, the relationship between effort and payment can be challenging. A full-time position in an external project leaves hardly any time for the own research work. A part-time position, on the other hand, is hardly enough to cover the cost of living.

Further links:
Job offers of TU Dresden
PhD opportunities in Germany

Non-university research institutions such as the Helmholtz Association, the  Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft or the Leibniz Association also offer doctoral positions. While universities conduct research and teaching, non-university research institutions are only allowed to pursue research. Therefore, non-university research institutions do not have the right to award doctoral degrees. Nevertheless, they offer employment to doctoral students to varying degrees. The doctorate itself is then conducted at a university.

Further Links:

Partner of DRESDEN-concept
Job portal of Tech­nis­che Uni­versität Dresden

Structured doctoral programs are financially supported and temporary institutions of the university for the promotion of doctoral candidates in mostly interdisciplinary research programs. These programs are characterized by a high degree of practical relevance, teamwork and close exchange between doctoral candidates and supervisors. In addition to specialist content, structured programs also offer key skills seminars such as scientific writing and presentation techniques. Doctoral candidates are financed through the award of scholarships or employment contracts. As a rule, the monthly scholarship amounts to between 1,000.00 EUR and 1,365.00 EUR and if applicable a child allowance of 400.00 EUR for the first child and 100.00 EUR for each additional child. Several programs also offer additional subsidies for material costs.
The disadvantage of being funded through a scholarship is, however, that there is no social security included and that the awardee has to pay for health insurance and, if necessary, social insurance such as unemployment and pension insurance.

Further Links:
Structured PhD programs at TUD and with partner institutions

Doctoral candidates can apply for a wide range of scholarships in Germany if they have been accepted as doctoral students by a supervisor and the respective faculty. The majority of doctoral scholarships are awarded by the thirteen organizations for the promotion of young talent, which are supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In addition to top grades, the prerequisites for scholarships are social commitment and, in the case of foundations with close ties to political parties, political conviction. In general, a dissertation project is funded for a period of up to three years. Beside their financial support, these organizations offer a broad range of qualification programs as well as professional, political and cultural events.

In addition to these organizations, non-university research institutions and a large number of foundations (including the Bayer Foundation and the Chemical Industry Fund) and funding organizations such as the DAAD also offer doctoral scholarships. Most grants are supplemented by lump-sum allowances for e.g. children, research trips and/or material costs. The disadvantage of a scholarship is that the awardee has to pay for health insurance and, if necessary, social insurance such as unemployment and pension insurance him or herself. In case this does not bother you, scholarships offer the excellent opportunity to completely concentrate on your own research project. If you would like to have an additional income during your doctorate pursuing a part-time job despite the scholarship, you should observe the scholarship guidelines of the funding organization and be prepared that the amount of the scholarship grant can be reduced proportionately by the additional income of the sideline activity.

Further Links:
PhD Funding Programs of the Graduate Academy / TU Dresden
External Funding Possibilities for Doctoral Candidates

Within the framework of a doctorate in cooperation with businesses at TU Dresden, early-career researchers qualify for employment in academia and the private sector. The topics of the company-funded doctoral projects are usually pre-defined based on the scientific and economic interests of the company. The doctorate constitutes an independent achievement in research that is accompanied and supervised by Professors or Young Investigators at TU Dresden. TU Dresden holds the responsibility for the doctorate proceedings. The terms of the procee-dings are stipulated in the current doctorate regulations of the respective Faculty.

Companies, wich fund PhD projects do not always publish vacant positions. For this reason, initiative applications to the favored companies can also lead to success. It is not uncommon that industry-sponsored doctorates result from existing collaborations between companies and faculties/professorships. The (potential) supervising professors can may establish the important initial contact with a company.

The fields of automotive engineering and electrical and information technology are examples for established industry-sponsored doctorates. Scope of work and remuneration are agreed upon individually.
The advantage of an industrial doctorate is the work experience that is already gained during the doctoral period.
More difficult may be the contact to the chair and the exchange with other PhD students and university lecturers or the participation in conferences. In addition, the balancing act between everyday business and own research work can be challenging and even lead to an extension of the doctoral period.

Further Links:

• Detailed information on the regulations and aims of an industry-sponsored doctorate at the TU Dresden can be found in the Attachment to the supervision agreement: Supplementary agreement for a doctorate in cooperation with the private sector (industry-sponsored doctorate)
• PhD positions in industry

In addition to the financing opportunities described so far, there is also the option of self-financing the doctorate. As a rule, this implies working outside the academic world or receiving financial support from the family. Self-financing can represent a burden on your research that should not be underestimated and should be carefully considered. Self-financing might be the most difficult way, as there is often a lack of time and proximity to academia and the exchange of ideas with peers and lecturers. Thus, the doctorate can be delayed for up to five or six years.