phd fu berlin

"I am part of an incredible research group and I'm able to attend all the events that are constantly happening at the universities or other institutions, while getting to travel around the world for regular conferences and workshops. Due to this wonderful mix of activities I get to grow more and more academically and personally."

/// Sofía Garzón, Colombia, Berlin Mathematical School - BMS

„Berlin offers an excellent environment for my doctoral studies in the history of ancient Israel, providing access to renowned experts in the field and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for a comprehensive exploration of the subject.“

/// Jonathan Böhm, Germany, Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies

“The foundation of my research lies in the seamless collaboration of diverse disciplines. The Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies not only provides me with a comprehensive platform to embark on my PhD journey, but also offers me invaluable opportunities to foster interdisciplinary perspectives.”

/// Lu Tian, China, Berliner Antike-Kolleg

The capital region of Germany is the place to be for

Doctoral researchers:.

Five universities offer doctoral programs with excellent funding opportunities and join forces with outstanding non-university research institutions to generate a unique, vibrant academic environment.

This website will give you an insight into what the Berlin area has in store in all disciplines, ranging from ancient history to astrophysics – browse and be inspired!

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Klick here if you wish to browse through relevant disciplines.

Doctoral Programs

The Literary and Epistemic History of Small Forms

/// Humanities, Languages and literature

Berlin School of Integrative Oncology

/// Berlin School of Integrative Oncology, BSIO, Cancer

Berlin School of Mind and Brain

/// Berlin School of Mind and Brain, mind sciences, brain sciences, linguistics

Berlin School for Regenerative Therapies

/// Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, BSRT, endogenous tissue...

Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience

/// Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, BCNN Berlin, brain

Clinical Exercise Science

/// exercise, prevention and rehabilitation

Biomedical Sciences (DRS)

/// life sciences, infectious diseases

German-Israeli Helmholtz Research School

/// Cell Signaling, Gene Regulation, Molecular Cell Medicine, biomedical sciences

Hertie School of Governance

/// Governance, social science

International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language And Brain

/// Erasmus Mundus, laboratory-based, language, brain

MDC-NYU PhD Exchange Program of the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology

/// Genomics, Medical Systems Biology

Medical Neurosciences

/// Neurosciences, central nervous systems, peripheral nervous systems, medical...

Multiscale Bio-Systems

/// biosystems, macromolecules in aqueous solutions, molecular recognition, free energy...

Plant Sciences

/// Plant Sciences, extinction of species, climate change

ZIBI Graduate School Berlin

/// infection biology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology

The International Max Planck Research School on Computational Methods in Psychiatry and Ageing Research

/// computer science, applied mathematics and statistics, psychology, psychiatry

Einstein Center of Catalysis/Berlin International Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Engineering

/// catalysis-related research, natural sciences, engineering

Berlin Mathematical School

/// Mathematics

Dahlem Research School of Molecular Science

/// molecular natural science, Molecular Switches on Surfaces, Protonation Dynamics in...

Dynamical Phenomena in Complex Networks

/// Networks with complex topology, self- organization in evolving complex networks

Gravitational Wave Astronomy

/// gravitational waves, astronomy, GEO600 gravitational wave detector

Helmholtz Graduate School for Macromolecular Bioscience

/// Biomaterial Science, Macromolecular Bioscience, natural sciences, engineering

Mass, Spectrum, Symmetry: Particle Physics in the Era of the Large Hadron Collider

/// Large Hydron Collider, elementary particle physics, astro-particle physics

Research School Materials for Solar Energy Conversion (MatSEC)

/// kesterite materials, semiconductor, absorber material, film solar cells,...

Molecular Biophysics

/// biophysics, biomolecular processes, protein-protein interactions

PharMetrX: Pharmacometrics & Computational Disease Modelling

/// life sciences, pharmacy, drug development, drug therapy, pharmacotherapy,...

IMPRS for Molecular Plant Science

/// biochemistry, biology, plant science, plant growth, plant biomass, primary metabolism

Quantitative Spectroscopy in Astrophysics

/// Quantitative Spectroscopy, Astrophysics, solar physics, stellar research,...

School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof

/// chemistry, biology, physics, natural sciences, analytical sciences

Helmholtz Research School on Security Technologies (HRSST)

/// physics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, informational techniques,...

Service-Oriented Systems Engineering

/// Software Systems Engineering, IT Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Computer...

Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies

/// transnational relations, international relations, globalization, governance, regional...

Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies

/// Berliner Antike-Kolleg, ancient languages and texts, ancient philosophy, ancient...

Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences

/// sociology, political science, social inclusion, democratic performance

Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies

/// Islam, muslim cultures, muslim societies, Area Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies

Doctoral Program in Business Research

/// business administration, management, marketing, information systems, FACTS, business...

Graduate School Global Intellectual History

/// intellectual history

Centre for Contemporary History

/// Cold War, contemporary german history, contemporary european history, communist...

Das Wissen der Literatur

/// deutsche Literatur, german literature

European PhD in Socio-Economic and Statistical Studies

/// socio-economic research, labor markets, employment, inequality, Welfare state, social...

Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies

/// literature, textaul practice, transnational perspective, intermediality

Graduate School of East Asian Studies

/// east asia, social sciences, institutions in east asia, interdependence of...

Graduate School of North American Studies

/// American Studies, Area Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, American Literature,...

High Dimensional Non Stationary Time Series

/// stochastics, statistics, volatility, copulae, high-dimensional time series,...

International Max Planck Research School on the Life Course (LIFE)

/// development of human behaviour, human life course, evolution of culture, learning,...

Knowledge of the Arts

/// artistic knowledge, art history, media studies, philosophy, engineering, pedagogy

Latin American Studies from a Comparative and Transregional Perspective

/// Cultural Anthropology, Social Anthropology, Gender Studies, History, Literature of...

Ludwig Rosenberg Kolleg: Historical Relations between Labor Movements and Modern Jewry

/// european-jewish studies, laboro movements, modern jewry

DIW Graduate Center PhD in economics

/// economics, microeconomics, macro-economics, econometrics, public economics,...

THESys Graduate Program - Transformations of Human-Environment Systems

/// IRI THESys, use of land, use of resources, urbanization, climate change impact, ...

Selma Stern Zentrum für Jüdische Studien Berlin-Brandenburg (ZJS)

/// jewish studies, jewish history, jewish philosophy, jewish theology, jewish...

Thinking Differences: Structures – Order – Communication

/// comparative history, histoire croisée

Walther Rathenau Kolleg: Liberalism and Democracy

/// European-Jewish Studies, democratic constitutional state, european post-war...

Wicked Problems, Contested Administrations: Knowledge, Coordination, Strategy

/// public administration, climate change, demographic tranistion, international...

Computational Systems Biology

/// biological networks, cellular systems, protein-protein interactions, systems biology

Global and Area Studies PhD Program

/// Globalization, Alternative Futures

Philosophy, Science and the Sciences

/// philosophy, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Arabic, classicist, ancient...

Berlin Graduate School of British Studies

/// british studies

Parasite Infections: From Experimental Models to Natural Systems

/// Parasite Infections, Immunology, molecular approaches, cellular interactions,...

Berlin International Graduate School in Model and Simulation based Research (BIMoS)

/// Modellierung, Smimulierung, modelling, modeling, simulation, optimation

Urban Water Interfaces (UWI)

/// urban water (systems), interfaces, modelling, urban soil, surface water, groundwater,...

IMPRS for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory

/// Gravitational Physics, Geometric Analysis, String Theory, quantum mechanics, black...

Religion – Knowledge – Discourse

/// Humanities, Social Sciences, Sociology, Political Sciences, Economics, Law

Berlin School of Movement Science (BSMS)

/// Humanities, Social Sciences, Sociology,

/// education, mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, technology, engineering

Identity and Heritage

StRATEGy: Surface processes, Tectonics and Georesources: The Andean foreland basin of Argentina

Cropstrengthen - european industrial doctorate.

/// PhD training, stress acclimation in plants, crop improvement, plant priming

Natural Hazards and Risks in a Changing World

/// natural hazards, risk, climate change, floods, landslides, earthquakes

BioMove - Integrating Biodiversity Research with Movement Ecology in dynamic agricultural landscapes

/// Biodiversity, Movement Ecology, Biological Science, Natural Science

Minor Cosmopolitanisms

/// Humanities; Social Sciences; Postcolonial Studies; Cultural Studies; Anglophone...

Theory – Empirics – Practices of Pedagogical Teaching Processes

/// Educational science – adult and further education – music pedagogy – school pedagogy...

Agricultural Economics

/// Agriculture, Doctoral Program

Research School Future Information Technologies (FIT)

/// information technologies, energy consumption, fundamental physics, communications...

Biodiversity, Evolution & Ecology

/// Biological sciences, Natural Sciences

CRC 1114 Scaling Cascades in Complex Systems

/// /// Mathematics, Biochemistry, Physics, Geo-Sciences

CRC / TRR 227 Ultrafast Spin Dynamics

TRR 170 Integrated Research Training Group in Planetary Sciences

Cinepoetics - Center for Advanced Film Studies

/// poetologies, audiovisual images, cinema, film philosophy, aesthetics

BB3R - Innovations in the 3R Research: Genetic Engineering, Tissue Engineering and Bioinformatics

/// Berlin-Brandenburg research platform BB3R, 3 R, Genetic Engineering, Tissue...

CRC / SFB 1078 Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function

/// CRC SFB Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function

Re-Figuration of Spaces

Helmholtz Einstein International Berlin Research School in Data Science (HEIBRiDS)

Health Data Sciences

/// Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Meta-research, Big Data, Health Data Sciences, Causal...

IMPRS Biology And Computation

/// sequence analysis, theoretical structural biology, computational chemistry, drug...

Robert Koch Doctoral Program

/// Robert Koch Doctoral Program, RoKoDoKo

Fluorine-Specific Interactions: Fundamentals and Functions

/// Collaborative Research Center 1349 „Fluorine-Specific Interactions: Fundamen-tals and...

Research Training Group (RTG) "Bioactive Peptides – Innovative Aspects of Synthesis and Biosynthesis"

/// Natural Sciences, Computer and information sciences, Chemical sciences, Biological...

Temporalities of Future in Latin America: Dynamics of Aspiration and Anticipation

/// Latin American Studies, social globalization, cultural globalization, cultural...

Berlin School of Economics

Max Delbrück Center Graduate School

/// Max Delbrück Center Graduate School

Differential Equation- and Data-driven Models in Life Sciences and Fluid Dynamics: An Interdisciplinary Research Training Group

BfR Doctoral Training Programme

/// Aasessment of food and feed, microbiological and chemical substance safety, safety...

Stochastic Analysis in Interaction

iNAMES -MDC-Weizmann Helmholtz International Research School for Imaging from the NAno to the MESo

/// computational sciences, imaging data sciences, artificial intelligence, machine...

BIOphysical Quantitative Imaging Towards Clinical Diagnosis

Berlin School of Optical Sciences and Quantum Technologies (BOS.QT)

Berlin Industrial Engineering and Management (BIEM)

/// Engineering, Technology, Economics, Business

Doctoral Program History and Cultural Studies

Berlin Institute for the Foundation of Learning and Data (BIFOLD)

/// Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Computer and information sciences, Physical sciences,...

"Charging into the future": Understanding the interaction of polyelectrolytes with biosystems

/// GRK 2662 „Charging into the future“: Understanding the interaction of...

Science of Intelligence (SCIoI)

Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces

/// IRTG of CRC / SFB 1449 Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces Biophysics,...

Doctoral Program Natural Sciences

/// Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physics

IMPRS - Knowledge and Its Resources: Historical Reciprocities

/// Media and communications Humanities History and archaeology Languages and...

Normativity - Critique - Change

Crc1644: phenotypic plasticity in plants – mechanisms, constraints, and evolution, data assimilation - the collaborative research centre sfb1294, approx. 3000.

Graduate School Students

Department of Philosophy and Humanities

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• Doctoral Studies

Earning a Doctorate in Philosophy

There is no study program in philosophy at Freie Universität Berlin culminating in the degree of “Dr. phil.” Candidates seeking a doctorate in philosophy do so within the scope of a personal agreement with an instructor at the institute who has earned postdoctoral higher education teaching qualifications ( Habilitation ), who then acts as the candidate’s doctoral advisor and issues a statement of willingness to supervise the process. If this kind of statement has been issued and the other conditions stipulated in the doctoral regulations have been met, the candidate can request that doctoral study be started at any time. No fees are charged. The student is responsible for financing his or her own studies. Advisors may be helpful in terms of locating scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

As a prerequisite for earning the doctorate, the candidate must have completed a scholarly degree program, having taken an exam with honors (with at least the grade of “Good” on the German scale). This program does not necessarily have to have been in philosophy.

Click here for the doctoral regulations of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities.

The body responsible for initiating the procedure is Examinations Office II of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities.

Alongside the traditional individual doctorate in philosophy, Freie Universität Berlin increasingly offers structured interdisciplinary doctoral programs within the scope of German Research Foundation (DFG) research training groups, graduate schools funded under the Excellence Initiative, and the programs of the Dahlem Research School, which lead to a doctorate within two to three years. These programs are similar to the PhD programs found in the English-speaking world. They involve close supervision and support within the subject, intensive training for junior scholars and scientists, and joint seminars focusing on certain content. There is a competitive application and selection process. A placement is typically associated with a scholarship or fellowship. Several of these programs are also open to doctoral projects in philosophy. Click here for an overview.

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PhD in Physics

Doctorate studies in physics.

• Degree - Dr. rer. nat
• Qualification for an in-depth scientific work
• Duration - approx. 4 years
• Language - German or English
• Beginning - at any time

Excellent international research community

• supportive and trusted working atmosphere
• cooperation with national and international research institutions
• measuring times at the synchrotron BESSY II reserved for Freie Universität
• additional qualification at the DRS possible

Requirements

• Degree as Master of Science or Diploma
• You have already found an open doctoral position in one of our research groups. 

Our research

Doctoral program at freie universität, doctoral program in physics - creating fundamentals for future innovations.

Around 130 doctoral students study and work at the Department of Physics. Every year, we award some 30 PhD degrees to physicists at Freie Universität Berlin.

If you are interested in a doctoral program, please contact the research groups of your interest directly.

PhD Program Structure

• 1 supervisor
• 1 written doctoral thesis
• 1 disputation

Doctoral students are usually employed as scientific staff in the research group (AG) where they do a doctorate. 

Doctoral Thesis

• The dissertation can be submitted as a monograph or cumulatively made up of at least four publications with the doctoral candidate as first author.
• The dissertation must be submitted in 8 printed copies and as a pdf file.

Obligatory parts of a thesis:

• Title page ( draft )
• Summary in German and English (maximum one page)
• Declaration of authorship ( draft )

Disputation

The disputation allows the doctoral student to demonstrate their presentation skills and ability to engage in scientific discussions.

• 30 minutes of presentation
• 30 to 60 minutes of professional discussion with members of the PhD commission.

The disputation is open to the public: Interested persons can participate as listeners and ask questions about the research results.

Scheduled days for disputation

Mon 16:00 - 21:00 (lecture hall A) Wed 16:00 - 21:00 (lecture hall A) Thu 9:00 - 14:00 (Lecture hall B)

Research Integrity

PhD positions and doctoral thesis

The topic of your doctoral thesis will be determined by the scientific focus of the research group in which you will take up your doctoral position. Please contact the individual research groups directly for information on open doctoral positions.

• Theoretical physics
• Experimental physics
• Physics education

• Doctoral Program Natural Sciences

New structured doctoral program offers a variety of qualification seminars and workshops. Those who successfully complete the program can choose between the titles "Ph. D." and "Dr. rer. nat."

Please note that the German version only is legally binding.

• Doctoral studies - registration form in German
• Doctoral Study Regulations - Physics (2013)
• 1st Modification Doctoral Regulations Physics (2013) - valid from 27.09.2023
• List of documents for enrollment
• Good scientific practice for scientific qualification reports and theses in physics

PhD Program Office Mr. Andreas Heß Arnimallee 14, Room 1.1.15 Tel. +49 30 838 56017

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Promotion-Dokumente

Promotionsbüro

Habilitation - Qualification for University Teaching

What is the next step after a PhD program? If you want to teach at a university, you should strive for a habilitation. Habiliation proves that a scientist can independently represent an academic field in research and teaching. For further information please contact our habilitation office.

• Habilitation Office
• doctor of physics
• doctorate degree in physics
• phd in physics education
• phd in quantum physics
• phd physics
• phd theoretical physics
• physics phd program
• postgraduate physics

Freie Universität Berlin

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The kick-off event provides an opportunity to explore a variety of areas in biodiversity research and learn about innovative projects on campus and beyond.

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Freie Universität Berlin offers over 150 degree programs in all areas of study. Whether you are looking to do a bachelor’s, master’s, or even a doctoral degree, we have the program for you. Freie Universität students benefit from our partnerships with hundreds of universities around the world. The Student Service Center is happy to help answer any questions you have about applying, enrolling, and planning your studies.

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Department of Political and Social Sciences

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PhD Programs

(Last update: 30. Juni 2023)

If you are interested in starting your doctoral thesis at our institute, you can choose between two options:

1. Individual Doctorate

2. PhD Program in Research Clusters or at a Graduate School

For an overview of ongoing and completed doctoral projects at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology please see:

-  List of completed doctoral dissertations

-  List of ongoing doctoral research projects

The individual doctorate – independent research under supervision of a professor – is still the most common way to pursue a doctorate in Germany. This usually provides greater freedom as far as the choice of subject is concerned. If you have an interesting idea for a doctoral project, please contact one of the following professors who are authorized to supervise doctoral projects. Your proposed project should fit into their areas of research:)

• Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Dilger Full Professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology - thematically : Anthropology of religion (esp. Pentecostalism and Islam; religious diversity); Medical anthropology (HIV/AIDS, anthropology of biomedicine, transnationalization of health, medicine and healing), Sexuality, kinship and gender (esp. masculinities), Transnationalism and migration, Anthropology of education and learning. - regionally : Eastern and Southern Africa, migratory and transnational contexts - see also : List of currant doctoral projects supervised by H. Dilger
• Prof. Dr. Claudia Liebelt Full professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology - thematically: anthropology of the body and the senses, gender and sexuality, religion, migration and Critical Beauty Studies as well as debates on new materialism, toxicity and postsecularism. - regionally: Middle East, Turkey, Israel and Morocco, Philippines.
• Prof. Dr. Kai Kresse Special professor of Social and Cultural anthropology and Vice-Director of the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient Berlin - regionally : Africa (East Africa, Swahil Coast, Southern Africa, trans-regional connections esp. Indian Ocean, Muslim World; open for all regions - thematically : anthropology and philosophy; intellectual culture and social practise; regional literatures; local thinkers; religion and society, Muslim Worlds; post-colonial experience; anthropology of texts; Cultural and Social theoriy; mobility and trans-regional Research
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka Junior Professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology regionally: South East Asia thematically: Psychological Anthropology, Social Inequalities, marginalization, stigmatization, Medical Anthropology, Childhood, Youth, Life course, Emotion and Affect, Reflexive Ethnography

- r egionally : Mexico and the transnational space of Mexico/USA; Mesoamerica and the Gran Chichimeca; Cuba and the transnational space of Cuba/USA; the Spanish-speaking and Anglophone Caribbean; Peruvian Amazonia

• Prof. Dr. Stephanie Schütze Univ. Prof. for Social and Cultural Anthropology at Lateinamerikanisches Institut of Freie Universität Berlin Regional Focus on: Latin America Research Focus on: migration and gender
• Prof. Dr. Barbara Göbel Honorary Professor of Social and Cultural Antrhropology and Director of the Ibero-American Institute - regionally : Latin America - thematically : Cultural dimensions of risk management; vulnerability; Institutions and global environmental change, environmental perception; Gender relations and social identity; Knowledge circulation, knowledge forms, archives of knowledge
• PD Dr. Tilo Grätz Privatdozent Social and Cultural Anthropology - thematically : media anthropology, economic anthropology, political and social anthropology, technical anthropology, migration and transnationality, politics of memory - regionally : West Africa (esp. Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana); Europe (Brandenburg; South Italy)

PD Dr. Paola Margherita Ivanov Privatdozentin Social and Cultural Anthropology; main profession: curator of the East-, North East-, Central and South African Collections at the Ethnological Museum - regionally : Indian Ocean Indischer Ozean and Eastr Africa coastal cities;  Central-, North East - and East Africa - thematically : yet to be published here

Once you contact one (or several) of the above mentioned professors with the proposal of pursuing a doctoral degree under her/his supervision, please add:

• a short sketch of your doctoral project (150-200 words)
• copies of your academic qualifications (requirement for acceptance as a doctoral candidate is generally a very good final degree)

If you have found a supervisor who is interested in supervising your doctoral project, he or she will also inform you about funding or scholarship opportunities.

There are no scholarships for individual doctorates provided directly by the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology.

2. PhD Programs in Research Clusters or at a Graduate School

Pursuing doctoral studies in a doctoral degree program, doctoral candidates come together to work on projects related to a common interdisciplinary research topic. During the course of their doctorate, junior researchers are trained in obtaining a broad set of skills to enhance their personal, professional and career development. 

The Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology participates in the following Research Clusters and Graduate Schools which offer formalized PhD course programs. For information and modes of application please consult the following websites:

• Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies
• Graduate School of East Asian Studies

Detailed Information on PhD Procedures

Detailed information on the technical aspects of PhD procedures in our faculty (Department of Political and Social Sciences) can be found on the website

Attaining a Doctorate in the Department of Political and Social Sciences http://www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/nachwuchsfoerderung/promotion/index.html

There you find detailed information on

• the Individual Doctorate
• the Structured Doctorate
• the Cumulative Doctoral Thesis
• the Conflict Counselling as well as
• a List of Frequently Asked Questions and
• the Regulations for the Conduct of Doctoral Examinations

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

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• PhD and Postdoc study

PhD and Postdoc

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science awards the academic degree of Dr. rer. nat. (doctor rerum naturalium / Doktor der Naturwissenschaften / = PhD in natural sciences) according to departmental guidelines and regulations. The PhD provides a special scientific qualification exceeding the regular university degree. This is achieved by profound research work which includes a scientific thesis (dissertation) and an examination colloquium (disputation) in the PhD field of Mathematics and Computer Science. The PhD concludes either a student’s postgraduate studies (Aufbaustudium) or PhD studies (Promotionsstudium).

On 1 December 2021  new PhD regulations entered into force. They differ from the former PhD regulations in the following points:

• Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in one of the PhD relevant subjects can be admitted to PhD proceedings after passing a “Feststellungsprüfung” (entrance examination) in their area of specialisation and the adjoining subjects.
• Restrictions concerning the subject of the oral examination have been lifted.
• Doctoral candidates/Postgraduates who are neither registered students nor employees at the Freie Universität Berlin need to enrol here as PhD students.
• A PhD can be obtained in cooperation with foreign universities.
• a publication-based dissertation is now possible 

Postdoc / Habilitation = postdoctoral university degree with lecture qualification

The Habilitation (postdoctoral university degree with lecture qualification) provides the qualification for scientific teaching at universities (=Lehrbefähigung) in the chosen subject (=Habilitationsfach). Possible subjects at this faculty are mathematics or computer science. Demands on candidates are:

• The submission of either an all-embracing monograph (Habilitationsschrift) which must be a significant scientific contribution exceeding the standards of a dissertation, or a publication of one’s latest research results which represents an equivalent to the above “Habilitationsschrift”.
• A public lecture in the chosen subject, followed by a scientific discussion.
• Documented lecturing activity (Lehrtätigkeit) at a scientific university in a subject relevant for the postdoctoral university degree.

Habilitation procedures follow the Habilitation Regulations of 4 October 1999 .

Department of History and Cultural Studies

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• Doctoral Studies at the Department of History and Cultural Studies

Individual Doctorate

Within the framework of the individual doctorate, doctoral candidates conduct research in close cooperation with their supervisors. In addition, they can take advantage of qualification opportunities for early career researchers at the Dahlem Research School.

• Information on doctoral studies can be found on the website of the PhD Office

Structured Doctoral Programmes

At the Department of History and Cultural Studies, a doctorate in a structured programme can be pursued in graduate schools and programmes that offer thematically focused curricula with a variety of qualification and support formats. The structured doctorate is governed by a supervision agreement that regulates the rights and obligations of the doctoral candidates and supervisors. Admission to a structured doctorate is only possible after successful application to one of the graduate schools / to one of the programmes.

• Information about Graduate Schools and Graduate Programmes
• FAQ for prospective doctoral candidates
• FAQ structured doctoral programmes

Graduate Schools and Graduate Programs

Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies

PhD students at the BGSMCS study the plurality, changeability and global interconnectedness of Muslim cultures and societies in the past and present. The BGSMCS offers a 4-year structured doctoral programme. Degrees can be obtained in 12 disciplines.

• www.bgsmcs.fu-berlin.de

Graduate School of East Asian Studies

Graduate School of East Asian Studies (GEAS) offers a social science-based, structured PhD program with a regional focus on East Asia (China, Japan, Korea).

• www.geas.fu-berlin.de

Doctoral Program History and Cultural Studies

The Program (HCS) offers graduate students with an excellent academic record a structured, research-oriented curriculum in cultural studies with disciplinary and interdisciplinary elements for doctoral studies in one of the research areas of the Department of History and Cultural Studies.

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General information

• PhD Program

The Berlin School of Economics PhD Program provides outstanding doctoral students with a vibrant, intensively networked research community. The program develops the students’ talents in a unique combination of a high-level, academic research environment together with applied, policy-oriented research opportunities. Students receive state-of-the-art coursework training and can select from a wide array of specializations. For each specialization, a professional research environment is provided by Berlin’s universities and economic research institutes.

How to apply

Course catalog

Program structure and curriculum

All PhD tracks offered in the PhD Program share the same structure and general curriculum. The program’s curriculum is divided into a qualification and a dissertation phase:

Qualification Phase

During the qualification phase (about three semesters), students acquire methodological and research-oriented training in mandatory course work in economic theory, applied economics, business studies, econometrics, and economic policy. Students define their research area and find supervisory support from two supervisors. They write research proposals that are discussed with faculty members individually and in seminars in order to provide early feedback on the scientific potential of research ideas. This is a central part of the PhD Program, in which the students have full flexibility in the choice of their research topics and of the supervisors. During this phase, students are funded through stipends that allow for this flexibility. In total, students have to complete a  minimum of 90 ECTS credits  in order to finish the qualification phase of the program.

Dissertation Phase

During the subsequent dissertation phase (about three years), students write a doctoral thesis while having the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the professional research environment that is provided at the Berlin universities and research institutes participating in the Berlin School of Economics. In this phase, students are typically employed at their supervisor’s chair or in research groups at research institutes.

The PhD will be awarded by one of the institutions in the Berlin School of Economics with the right to award doctoral degrees. In most cases, the PhD is awarded by the institution the student’s first supervisor is affiliated with.

The following chart gives an overview of the general structure of the PhD Program:

Researchers Guide

This guide includes academic advices from the researchers of the Berlin School of Economics.

Special thanks to the INSIGHTS Team, researchers of Berlin School of Economics, Agne Kajackaite, Aleks Zaklan, Alexander Kriwoluzky, Ally Xin Lin, Annekatrin Schrenker, C. Katharina Spieß, Christian Basteck, Ciril Bosch-Rosa, Dorothea Kübler, Francis de Véricourt, Georg Weizsäcker, Gyula Seres, Hande Erkut, Hannes Ullrich, Jana Hamdan, Levent Neyse, Lisa Bruttel, Lutz Weinke, Mira Fischer, Müge Süer, Nikolaus Wolf, Peter Haan, Robert Stüber, Sebastian Schweighofer-Kodritsch, Simone Maxand, Vincent Meisner, and Pablo Brañas-Garza.

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Writing the Thesis

Schreiben der Dissertation / Writing the Thesis Image Credit: http://www.istockphoto.com

You can either submit a monograph or a cumulative thesis . As a general rule, both must be comparable/equivalent in terms of type and scope. The thesis must be written in one language throughout either English or German (with the exception of the German and English summary). This also applies to the acknowledgments and any quotes used. In exceptional cases, the doctoral board shall decide whether the requirement for a cumulative work to be entirely in either German or English can be waived if the work consists of articles in both German and English.

When preparing the dissertation, please observe the requirements of the Statute for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice . If you have any questions about citations, please use the citation consultation hours at the University Library.

Please note: When you are submitting your dissertation to obtain the title "Dr. rer. nat.", the term "Ph.D." should not be used in the acknowledgements (or any other section) - this is a different title, which will not be awarded to you after a successful doctorate.

MONOGRAPH A monograph is a self-contained representation of the research work and its results. It may already be published completely or partially. Any publications related to the thesis have to be submitted separately. They must not be embedded in the thesis.

CUMULATIVE THESIS A cumulative thesis reports the scientific work done during the doctoral thesis using a set of research articles. In a cumulative thesis, the research articles (including supporting information/supplements) are an integral part of the thesis and have to be embedded in the scientific part of the thesis (like the chapters of a monograph). In addition to the research articles, an introduction, a list of references etc., a cumulative thesis must include an extended summary which has to go beyond the summary of the individual papers as it has to give an overarching discussion of the results described in the research articles. Although figures may be taken from the publications, the text should be genuinely new and should not be taken from the text of the individual publications. The contributions of the author must be described for each article individually, according to the requirements of the Statute for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice.

A cumulative thesis must consist of at least two published or accepted publications. Only publications from journals with a peer review system will be considered. All additional publications might be in an earlier stage (in revision, submitted or in preparation). The version submitted cannot be changed or updated in the further course of the doctoral process, i.e. changes to the content as part of the publication process cannot be taken into account once the dissertation has been submitted. Only those articles qualify in which the doctoral student has made substantial contributions. The substantial contribution of the doctoral student to the respective articles must be confirmed by the supervisor of the thesis. This confirmation is requested by the doctoral office as part of the evaluation process. In case of manuscripts being accepted but not yet published, a confirmation of acceptance must be provided at the time of thesis submission; to this end, it is also possible to submit a separate list with DOI links.

For more information on writing a cumulative thesis, click here .

1) First page = cover sheet

Title Inaugural-Dissertation to obtain the academic degree Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.)

submitted to the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy of Freie Universität Berlin

year of submission

2) Second page:

Please name the time period, supervisor and institute of your doctoral studies.

1 st reviewer: _____________________ 2 nd reviewer: _____________________

Date of defense: ____________ (please leave the date open)

ATTENTION One reviewer must be research active in one of our departmental research areas. At least one reviewer must be a professor of the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, whose primary employment is with the university. (Retired, em., apl., hon. professors are not or no longer considered university teachers).

3) Third page: acknowledgment (if desired)

4) Declaration of authorship     Please use the following text:     I hereby declare that I alone am responsible for the content of my doctoral dissertation     and that I have only used the sources or references cited in the dissertation.

If you are writing an English-language dissertation, please note that all texts must be in English (with the exception of the German-language summary), including the acknowledgments and the declaration of authorship.

6) Summary in German and English

7) Main scientific part of the thesis (incl. introduction, method section, bibliography)

8) If applicable: List of publications

9) CV (voluntary)

10) Appendix

Typeface/line distance/formatting Sheet size: DIN A4 Font: an easy-to-read font (such as Arial). Font size: not less than 10 pt Line spacing: 1½ Margin: approx. 2.5 - 3 cm Unilateral and bilateral printing is accepted. The thesis has to be bound (no spiral or ring binding).

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) can be found here.  

Read on for the next topic: Submission of the Thesis

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