phd student heidelberg

• Study and Teaching
• Faculty Calendar

Doctoral/PhD Studies

Welcome to the homepage of the Ph.D. Office of the Faculty of Biosciences . The faculty, several affiliated institutes, and their research facilities have developed a multifaceted Ph.D. Program, which allows for modern and highly sophisticated training and education of our Ph.D. students. The Program is meant to improve your proficiencies and knowledge in your particular field of study and broaden your scientific horizon beyond the research project you are working on. Participation in a  Ph.D. Program  is required for all Ph.D. students of the Faculty of Biosciences .

The Faculty grants the title Dr. rer. nat. (Doctor of Natural Sciences, equivalent to Ph.D.) or Dr.-Ing. (Doctor of Engineering, equivalent to Ph.D.) to our doctoral candidates.

We invite you to follow the links in the menu on the right to get more information and start today.

Prof. Dr. M. Lanzer Vice Dean Faculty of Biosciences

• Doctoral Studies
• Contact & PhD Office
• Before You Start
• Registration
• Structured PhD Programs
• Thesis Submission
• Official PhD Celebration
• Information for supervisors

The Doctorate signifies a proven ability to conduct independent scientific research. Under the auspices of the Combined Faculty of Mathematics, Engineering and Natural Sciences, we confer the academic degree Dr. rer. nat. in the subjects of mathematics and computer science.

Mathematikon Treppen

Step-by-Step Guide

The step-by-step guide contains information and tips on every step to your doctoral degree. It covers everything important from applying to receiving the certificate.

• Application
• Doctoral Office

Funding and Bursaries

There are many ways to provide for yourself and receive financial support while working on your doctoral degree. Some programs cover costs for travel, materials, workshops, and more.

• heiDOCS Scheme
• Graduate Academy
• HGS MathComp
• Research Traning Group 2229
• State Graduate Funding

It is very helpful to build a network at an early stage. This includes getting to know other doctoral candidates and young researchers. Some opportunities for exchange are provided here.

• Doctoral Convention
• STRUCTURES Young Researchers
• Graduation Ceremony
• University Doctoral Portal

• Forschungsgruppen
• Einrichtungen

PhD-Students at COS PhD studies

The Centre for Organismal Studies offers attractive opportunities for PhD work with excellent training and research in organismal, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, developmental and evolutionary biology.

Scientific work is based on state-of-the-art methodological platforms, including bioimaging, structural biology and functional genomics.

COS welcomes students from Germany and abroad with a Master's degree (or equivalent) in life sciences, chemistry, medicine, or related fields.

To do your  PhD at COS you must be part of a structured graduate program. The program of choice for most COS students is the Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School (HBIGS). All HBIGS courses are held in English.

Visit HBIGS

You need to get enrolled:

• at the Faculty of Biosciences
• and, optionally, at Heidelberg University

Students from abroad may additionally need to apply for visas and/or residence permits. The Graduate Acadamy of Heidelberg University provides a guideline outlining these procedures.

For more information about the enrollment procedures, consult the links provided.

• Graduate Academy
• Faculty for Biosciences
• HBIGS Application

Abschlussarbeiten

Lehrräume am COS

Lehrkoordination

Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School (HBIGS)

Discover! HBIGS!

Last update: 29 May 2024

Links and Downloads

Studies Doctoral Program (GPTS)

The Graduate Programme for Transcultural Studies (GPTS) is a three-year, structured doctoral program that is taught in English. It was established in 2008 within the interdisciplinary research environment of the then Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context: The Dynamics of Transculturality". As an integral part of the HCTS, it has been host to a large variety of individual doctoral projects with a strong, innovative transcultural approach. The GPTS combines the European model of highly individualized doctoral studies and a system of guided courses, and thereby aims to develop scholarly knowledge on the specific theories and methodologies related to transculturality as well as soft skills relevant to an academic and/or non-academic career.

Doctoral candidates are trained primarily by members of the departments at the HCTS and further scholars committed to the institute's research agenda. In their first year they are located at Heidelberg during the regular teaching semester to attend the research colloquium, in which doctoral and postdoctoral researchers present the progress of their research and discuss it within the peer-group. A reading class in transcultural theories and methods further helps the doctoral candidates to discuss and conceptualize the theoretical and methodological framework of their project.

During the second year doctoral candidates ideally collect and analyze their primary data/source material. They thus do not have to be present at the HCTS, but are expected to present their work in the research colloquium if they are. The third year is again spent primarily at the HCTS, though individually further research/archival trips may be necessary. Doctoral candidates are then expected to put their results in writing and present them in the research colloquium and other academic platforms within and outside Heidelberg University. While ideally the doctoral thesis is submitted at the end of the three years, on average our doctoral candidates require four years to obtain their degree.

Application

At the end of every year, the GPTS opens a call for applications for membership in the program and two scholarships by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The start of the program is in October of the following year. Interested candidates from all disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences, whose research interest align with the transcultural agenda at the HCTS, are welcome to submit an application. Our rounds of applications are highly competitive - we receive about 60 applications for the two scholarships per year. 

Details on application

• Current CfA

Doctoral Candidates

The doctoral candidates we have hosted in the GPTS since 2008 joined the program from more than 60 different countries and with nearly all disciplinary backgrounds in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Their projects have helped solidifying the transcultural approach within those disciplines. Upon completion of their doctoral degrees, the majority of our candidates have proceeded to new positions in research and teaching at universities worldwide, others got engaged in the corporate world or the public sector.

View our candidates

Contact and Information

Dr. Oliver Lamers

Faculty of Philosophy

Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

• ZMBH auf einen Blick
• Open Positions
• Directorate
• Scientific Advisors
• Central Services
• Academic Programs
• Scientific Events
• Social Events

ZMBH - Doctoral Program

Doctorate at the Heidelberg University of Education

Types of doctoral studies at the university of education, formal requirements, responsibilities & contact persons, doctoral committee and faculties, graduate school, scholarship consulting, steps on the way to a doctorate, 1. search for a supervisor and conclude a doctoral agreement, 2. notification of the doctoral agreement (§ 38 (5) state university act), 3. write an exposé, 4. apply for an extended certificate of good conduct, 5. submission of the application for acceptance as a doctoral student (submission deadlines), 6. enrollment, 7. membership in the graduate school, 8. keep your own data up to date, 9. formal changes in the doctoral project.

• Interesting for you
• My settings

Global Health

The Medical Faculty at Heidelberg University has been at the forefront of Global Health in Germany by integrating different aspects of this field in research and teaching at the Institute of Global Health.

Heidelberg University Multiple locations Heidelberg , Germany Top 0.5% worldwide Studyportals University Meta Ranking 4.1 Read 33 reviews

About the program

The Heidelberg University Graduate School offered by the Institute of Global Health and funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung aims to provide medical students with an opportunity to engage in global health research.

Embedded in the MEDISS Programme (Medical Structured Scientific Programme) of the Medical Faculty, the Graduate School offers a structured curriculum, interdisciplinary exchange and a wide range of cooperation partners for developing a high quality doctoral thesis.

Programme Structure

Seminar topics include:

• Does antiretroviral therapy among working-age adults have spillover effects on older South Africans? A community-based qualitative analysis
• Can short, animated videos on COVID-19 vaccination affect knowledge, behavioural intent and engagement? An online randomized controlled trial
• Co-design and implementation of measures for sustainable food supply at Heidelberg University Hospital: Reducing emissions and producing health benefits
• The prevalence of major non communicable diseases and its associated risk factors in Afghanistan

Key information

• 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

• Starting 2024-10-14 00:00:00 Apply anytime.
• Selection is done three times per year (February, June and October) and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Disciplines

Academic requirements.

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Student insurance.

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

• Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
• Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
• Home contents and baggage

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Heidelberg University and/or in Germany, please visit Student Insurance Portal .

Other requirements

General requirements.

• CV in Europass format including grades from your medical studies
• Research proposal (max. 3 pages)
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page): Please address the following aspects: Why is your project relevant to Global Health? Why are you the right person for the project? What is the biggest weakness of the project?
• Depending on quality and amount of applications, you may be invited to a 30-minute interview.

Tuition Fee

International.

• there is no tuition fee but every doctoral candidate must pay a student service fee (151 EUR per semester)

Living costs for Heidelberg

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Global Health.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Read more about eligibility

• missing or incomplete ?"> Missing or incomplete content
• wrong or outdated ?"> Wrong or outdated content

Other interesting programmes for you

Our partners.

Go to your profile page to get personalised recommendations!

Doctoral student for the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (m/f/d)

searched for the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH).

The Institute of Global Health at Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest university and a leading hub for health-related research in Europe, is looking for an outstanding PhD student. The researcher will work under the mentorship of Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer and receive a designation as visiting researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

• Job-ID: V000010071
• Field of application: Heidelberg Institute of Global Health
• Location: Heidelberg
• Start date: at the earliest possible date
• Job Category: Science and teaching
• Working hours: full-/ part-time
• Published: 24.05.2024
• Limitation: Temporary (limited to 3 years, with the possibility of an extension)
• Contract: TV-L

Tasks and responsibilities

The PhD student will work under the guidance of Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer and other researchers at both Heidelberg University and Stanford University, including population health researchers, clinicians, and methodologists. The researcher will lead analyses in large-scale electronic health record data to determine the real-life effectiveness of certain medications, lifestyle advice, or health services interventions on health and health system outcomes. Electronic health record datasets are from the United Kingdom, USA, Denmark, and Germany. In addition to this core project, the research group works on a wide variety of research, with foci being medication effectiveness, health services research, and population health issues. Methods used in the group’s work include quasi-experimental techniques, descriptive epidemiology, and randomized trials. The student will be expected to publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.

The salary is paid according to the German TV-L system (the salary agreement for public service employees). As an equal opportunity employer, the HUK is committed to increase the percentage of female scientists and, therefore, especially encourages female researchers to apply. Equally qualified applicants with disabilities will be given preference. Candidates from any nationality can apply. We are open to discussing options for part-time work or working remotely.

Prerequisites

• Masters degree with quantitative training or research experience. We will also consider those with a Bachelors degree only if they have relevant training and/or experience. A degree in a health-related subject is not required to apply
• Training and experience in quasi-experimental methods is a plus
• Strong coding skills in R, Stata, or other statistical software package
• Good communication skills in English (knowledge of German is not necessary)
• Target-oriented individual further education and training opportunities
• Targeted training on the job
• Ticket for public transport (Deutschlandticket)
• Subsidy for holiday care for school children
• Active health promotion
• Company pension scheme
• Access to the university library and other university facilities (e.g. university sports)

Contact & Application

Please apply by sending a CV to Pascal Geldsetzer at  [email protected] . A cover letter is not required. There is no specific deadline for the application - we hire on an ongoing basis.

Interested?

Applications will be accepted via e-mail .

Note: The UKHD is subject to the provisions of the Infektionsschutzgesetz. Therefore, a valid measles immunity certificate is required for all persons employed at the UKHD.

The UKHD embraces diversity and values diversity.

Regardless of age, gender, sexual identity, disability, origin or religion, we offer everyone the same opportunities. If one gender is underrepresented in a particular area, we place particular emphasis on counteracting this imbalance. If they have the same aptitude, qualifications and professional performance, we give priority to people with severe disabilities when considering them for vacancies.

A: Teilen über Ihren Social Media Account

Klicken Sie auf eines der Icons:

• Teilen über Facebook
• Teilen über Twitter
• Teilen über Xing
• Teilen über LinkedIn

B: Teilen per E-Mail

Undergraduate vs. Graduate: Educate Yourself On The Difference

• Undergraduate Meaning
• Undergraduate Student And Degree
• Graduate Meaning
• Graduate Degree And Student
• Graduate Origin
• Postgraduate Meaning

⚡ Quick summary

The main difference between undergraduate and graduate is that undergraduate is always used in the context of the first level of college or university education (the level where you can earn a bachelor’s degree ). In terms like graduate student and graduate degree , graduate refers to a level of advanced education beyond the undergraduate level, especially a master’s degree or doctorate . The noun graduate is more general, simply referring to a person who has completed a level of education (someone who has graduated ).

The difference between undergraduate and graduate is a difference of degrees (*throws graduation cap in the air to celebrate the pun*).

The level of education that each word involves varies depending on how the word is being used, and there are situations in which both words can be used in the same situation. For example, you can become a graduate student after graduating with an undergraduate degree.

The word graduate can mean very different things depending on whether it’s used as a noun (as in recent   high school graduates ), an adjective (as in graduate student and graduate degree ), or a verb (as in I plan to graduate next May ). The same goes for its shortened form, grad , which can be used as a noun (as in Congrats, grads! ) or an adjective (as in grad program ).

Undergraduate can also be used both as a noun (as in I’m an undergraduate at Stanford University ) or an adjective (as in I’m working toward my undergraduate degree ). It can be shortened to undergrad in both cases.

By the end of this article, you’ll have an advanced degree in all the different ways graduate, grad , undergraduate , and undergrad are used, and what they mean in each case.

What does undergraduate mean?

An undergraduate is “a student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially a bachelor’s, degree.” For example, a college student might say I’m an undergraduate at the University of Texas if they were pursuing a bachelor’s degree there.

Undergraduate is also commonly used as an adjective in this same context, in terms like undergraduate student , undergraduate degree , and undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate is often shortened to undergrad as both a noun and an adjective.

In undergraduate, the prefix under- is used to indicate a lower rank or status. The educational status of an undergraduate student is below that of a graduate student.

What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge ? Here’s a lesson on the two terms.

What is an undergraduate student ? And what is an undergraduate degree ?

An undergraduate student is a student who is pursuing a degree at the first level of higher education (meaning the level after high school) at a college or university. Undergraduate students are typically those working to earn a bachelor’s degree (or, less commonly, an associate’s degree ). These degrees are often referred to with the general term undergraduate degree.

Outside of the US, an undergraduate degree is sometimes called a first degree. There are also other types of undergraduate degrees outside of the US, such as a foundation degree (which, like an associate’s degree, is typically a two-year degree).

What does graduate mean?

As a noun, the word graduate  [  graj -oo-it ] refers to “a person who has received a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” In other words, a graduate is someone who has completed a particular level of schooling or an educational program—a child who just finished kindergarten and a doctor who just completed medical school are both graduates. It can even be used figuratively , as in She’s a graduate of the school of hard knocks.

As a verb, graduate [  graj -oo-eyt ] means “to receive a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” The process of graduating—and the ceremony itself—is called graduation .

As an adjective, graduate [  graj -oo-it ] means something more specific. It’s used to indicate that a student, degree, or educational program is an advanced one, beyond the level of a bachelor’s degree. This sense of graduate is most commonly used in terms like graduate degree, graduate school , graduate program, and graduate student.

What is a graduate degree ? And what is a graduate student ?

Graduate degree typically refers to a degree beyond a bachelor’s, most commonly a master’s.

A graduate student is a student who’s pursuing an advanced degree after having earned their undergraduate degree (such as a bachelor’s degree) by graduating from an undergraduate program. Calling someone a graduate student most often means they are pursuing their master’s degree, but it may be another advanced degree, such as a PhD (You’d most commonly call such students PhD students. Or you might say they are working toward their doctorate or their doctoral degree.)

To earn a graduate degree, graduate students go to a division of a university known as graduate school , and such a program is often called a graduate program. In all of these terms, graduate is often shortened to grad : grad school , grad student , grad program . (A student doesn’t become a graduate student until they take graduate-level courses. For example, if a student graduates with a bachelor’s degree and then later pursues a different bachelor’s degree, they are still an undergraduate student .)

Some graduate studies are referred to in more specific ways: medical students go to medical school to earn their medical degree ; law students go to law school to earn their law degree.

Do you know the difference between these highly-esteemed graduate degrees and titles: PhD, MD, and Dr ?

Where does the word graduate come from?

Graduate comes from the Medieval Latin graduārī, meaning “to take a degree.” It ultimately derives from the Latin gradus, meaning “a step.” Each time you graduate, you take a step to the next level of education.

What does postgraduate mean?

The adjective postgraduate is sometimes used in the same way as the adjective sense of the word graduate, especially in the UK, as in postgraduate student or postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate should not be confused with postdoctoral , which refers to studies, research, or professional work above the level of a doctorate.

How to use undergraduate vs. graduate

The best way to sort out the different meanings of undergraduate and graduate is to determine whether each word is being used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb. Here’s an easy breakdown of the differences.

• undergraduate (noun): A college student pursuing a non-advanced degree, most commonly a bachelor’s degree. Can be shortened to undergrad.
• undergraduate (adjective): Used in the context of colleges and university programs ( undergraduate programs ) where students are pursuing a degree (generally referred to as an undergraduate degree ) that is not an advanced degree. Also sometimes shortened to undergrad.
• graduate (noun): A person who has completed a particular level of schooling or educational program. Can be shortened to grad.
• graduate (verb): To complete a level of schooling (and, typically, to receive a degree or diploma). You can graduate from kindergarten, high school, college, graduate school, medical school, etc.
• graduate (adjective): Used in the context of advanced schooling—a level beyond a bachelor’s degree, most commonly a master’s program. Used in terms like graduate student , graduate school , graduate degree , graduate program , graduate courses , etc. Often shortened to grad.

Examples of undergraduate, undergrad, graduate, and grad used in a sentence

Let’s look at some examples of these words in actual, real-life use to get the meanings straight.

• As an undergraduate, she had studied engineering; as a graduate student, she switched to architecture.
• I completed my undergraduate degree after five years and a lot of hard work.
• As a graduate student, you will be expected to complete a thesis.
• You should start thinking about graduate school applications before you graduate.
• Most of the applicants for this position are recent college graduates.
• I’m still an undergrad, but I’m hoping to start grad school next fall.
• I’m a UGA grad, but I almost went to Georgia Tech.

Go Behind The Words!

• By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

No matter who is graduating, here are tips on how to craft a perfect congratulations card for their achievement.

Trending Words

Language Stories

[ ahy -wing-ker ]

• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• President's Office
• History & Mission
• Campus Map & Directions
• Arts, Culture, & Events
• Programs of Study
• Academic Opportunities
• Research & Centers
• Resources & Support
• Graduate Programs
• Four-Year Graduation Guarantee
• Graduate Partnerships
• Undergraduate Admission
• Graduate Admission
• Non-Traditional Students
• International Students
• Admitted Students
• Financial Aid
• Schedule a Visit
• American Junior Year
• Residence Life
• Dining Options
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Health & Safety
• Religious Life
• Service Learning
• Student Groups
• Academic Affairs
• Alumni Engagement
• Beeghly Library
• Business Office
• Center for Survivor Empowerment
• Civic Engagement
• Computer, Network & Information Technology
• Conference & Events
• Dining Services, Parkhurst
• GEM (Gaming, eSports and Media) Center
• Giving at Heidelberg
• Health & Counseling Center
• Human Resources
• International Affairs & Studies
• Mail Room & Print Shop
• Marketing & Communication Services
• Owen Center for Teaching & Learning
• Residence Life & Housing
• Safety and Security
• Saurwein Health & Wellness Center
• Student Engagement
• HU, ONU PharmD pathway builds on undergrad science foundation

The job outlook is bright for future pharmacists. Now, Heidelberg students who want to pursue their degree in the field have an excellent opportunity at one of the most prestigious pharmacy schools in the country.

Late last month, Heidelberg inked a new partnership with Ohio Northern University that will open the door for ‘Berg students who want to pursue their PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree.

The cooperative agreement between HU and ONU’s Raabe College of Pharmacy will build upon foundational sciences courses taken at Heidelberg and combine those with required coursework at Ohio Northern’s Ada campus toward a PharmD degree from ONU. Heidelberg undergrads who meet academic criteria will be guaranteed an admission interview at the Raabe College of Pharmacy.

“Adding this pathway with ONU provides a fantastic post-Heidelberg option for students to follow and continues our legacy of preparing students for successful careers,” said Dr. Nate Beres, Professor of Chemistry.

The new partnership will be primarily advantageous to Heidelberg students who are majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry. Students who are majoring in Biology or Health Science also could benefit with some careful planning with an academic advisor, said Dr. Jena Suffel, Assistant Professor of Athletic Training and Health Sciences. Interested students “could move on to grad school quickly,” she added.

While HU offers a series of 10 pre-professional health programs, including Pre-Pharmacy, this partnership will allow the most serious students to take their career aspirations to the next level. And, the future looks promising for pharmacists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is growing consistently at about 3 percent annually. In 2022, the median pay for pharmacists was $136,030.

Ohio Northern has been training pharmacists since 1884. Over the decades, the school has graduated more than 9,000 students. Today, the Raabe School of Pharmacy has a 97% placement rate within 6 months of graduation.

This is the second partnership between the two schools. Last summer, Heidelberg and Ohio Northern University’s Claude W. Petit College of Law rolled out a new pathway that accelerates entry into law school for HU undergrads.  

What was supposed to be one of Jeric Rivas’ most special days, turned out to be a heartbreaking one after his parents did not show up to his college graduation ceremony. Rivas graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from La Concepcion College in San Jose Del Monte Bulacan in the Philippines. Rivas, who did not grow up wealthy, left his hometown of Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon to seek a better life elsewhere. While studying at the prestigious school, the college student had to work odd jobs in order to afford his tuition such as being a factory worker, a fast food service crew member, and a housemaid. Some of Rivas’ professors noticed him struggling and offered him food and even provided shelter for him. Against all odds, Rivas graduated as the top student from his university. In a Facebook post , Rivas shared his experience on his graduation day, saying all he wanted was for his parents to be in attendance, but sadly they did not show.

Rivas shared in the post that his parents had never been there to support him in the past. Rivas recalled a time in elementary school when he received a medal for earning top honors in his class. A family member was supposed to present Rivas with the medal at the ceremony. But no one showed up, so he didn’t even bother going on stage to accept the award. At another ceremony in high school, he got one of his friends to send their parents up with him.

One of Rivas’ kind professors accompanied him on stage when his name was called to receive his scroll. “One of my other professors were standing there on stage waiting for me and gave me a hug. While that moment took some of my sadness away, I still ended up crying in front of everyone,” said Rivas in the post. Rivas thanked all of his kind professors who supported him throughout his college experience, and ended the post with a message to his parents. “To my parents, who could still not accept me in their life, if you’re reading this, this is me now and I hope I made you proud.”

Procedure for Obtaining a Doctoral Degree (PhD) from the Faculty of Modern Languages

Doctoral Studies Office Regulations Potential subjects Admissions to doctoral programmes The "Latinum" as a prerequisite Eligibility Acceptance as a doctoral student Enrollment Submission of the dissertation Conferral of the title Dr. phil. (PhD) Persons to contact in cases of conflict Doctoral programmes and support Graduate Academy

Doctoral Studies Office

Iris Hoffmann Office 115e, first floor Phone: +49 (0)6221 - 542891 E-Mail: [email protected]

Office hours: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. -12 p.m. For temporary changes of office hours please consult the website of the Dean’s Office .

Regulations

The Doctoral Regulations ( Promotionsordnung , version dated 4 December 2020 legally valid at present) are a list of formal requirements for obtaining a doctoral degree from the Faculty of Modern Languages of Heidelberg University. These regulations are also valid for the Faculty of Philosophy, hence the absence of subject-specific regulations in this document. Prospective doctoral candidates should consult their supervisors at an early stage for information on doctoral regulations specific to their chosen subject or institute. Information on Binationale Promotionen/Cotutelle de thèse can be obtained from the Graduate Academy .

Click here for the German version of the doctoral regulations.

Potential subjects

German language and literature, English language and literature(s), Romance languages and literatures (French, Italian, Spanish, others), Slavic languages and literatures, American Studies (linguistics, literary studies, cultural studies), Ibero-American Studies, German as a foreign language, German as a second language, German studies in cultural comparison, computer linguistics, translation and interpreting studies. 

Requirements

Admissions to doctoral degree programmes.

In most cases, the requirement for admission to a doctoral programme is the successful completion of a university course with a minimum standard study period of four years. The overall grade for the course should be “good” or better. Candidates from universities of applied science and from colleges of art or music must have an overall grade of “very good” and attend a colloquium in which they are required to demonstrate their ability to undertake academic research at the same level of proficiency as eligible candidates with a university degree. If the overall grade is less than “good”, two assessments from university teachers of the Faculty are required testifying to the candidate’s academic qualifications. 

The "Latinum" as a prerequisite for admission

Before instituting the procedure for obtaining a doctoral degree from the Faculty of Modern Languages, a number of subjects require proof of the “Latinum”. If the school-leaving certificate does not contain such proof, then proof of a supplementary examination must be appended to the application for institution of the procedure for obtaining a doctoral degree. An application for eschewal of this requirement can be made if the candidate comes from a different cultural background, did not have the opportunity to acquire the “Latinum” and can furnish proof of proficiency in another ancient language comparable with Latin. The application should be addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Modern Languages. The doctoral committee of the Faculty of Modern Languages decides on the application. 

Eligibility

At the outset candidates should decide who is to act as examiner at the oral examination (Disputation) following submission of the dissertation. Eligibility for this function is restricted to university professors, associate professors and senior lecturers. Retired or semi-retired professors are also eligible.

At the beginning of the degree programme

Accpetance as a doctoral candidate.

Prior to acceptance, the doctoral candidate must conclude an agreement with his/her supervisor (a professor or senior lecturer at the Faculty). Once the agreement has been concluded, the potential candidate is required to register with the online portal heiDocs and create an online doctorate file . 

The next step is for the applicant for the doctoral degree programme to apply to the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Modern Languages (Voßstr. 2, Building 37, 69115 Heidelberg) for acceptance as a doctoral candidate. The following documents should be appended to the application:

• Evidence of fulfilment of the admission requirements in accordance with § 4 of the Regulations for doctoral degree programmes (authorised copies of graduation certificates and other documents pertaining to prior courses of study (Bachelor, Master including transcript of records, Staatsexamen). 

In the case of certificates from other countries, authorised translations into German or English, authorised copies of the original graduation certificates and authorised copies of the university entrance certificates are required.  

An exposé of the planned dissertation (3-10 pages) signed by the supervisor. 

Personal data sheet (with contact data) including an outline of the curriculum vitae (personal and vocational). 

Copy of identity card or passport.   

Enrolment for doctoral students

During doctoral studies.

If the doctoral degree process (up to submission of the dissertation) takes longer than three years, an informal extension request signed by the doctoral candidate and the supervisor must be addressed to the Dean’s Office every year.  

It is essential to keep the information contained in the online doctorate file up-to-date at all times as these data form the basis for contact with the Faculty and provide the Faculty and the State Statistics Office with an accurate overview of the situation of doctoral candidates studying at the Faculty. If your address changes (postal or e-mail), please notify the Doctoral Studies Office . They are the only ones who can change the entries in your doctoral file. A short e-mail message will suffice.

Completion of doctoral studies

The requirements for the successful completion of the doctoral degree course are (a) a dissertation evaluated as at least “adequate” and (b) a pass in the oral examination (Disputation).  

Submission of the dissertation and admission to the oral examination 

After completion, three hard copies and a digital copy of the dissertation must be submitted to the Dean’s Office. For admission to the oral examination, the following documents are required: 

Application for admission to the oral examination (including curriculum vitae and evidence of the requisite language skills, p. 1) 

Confirmation from the Dean’s Office of submission of the dissertation (p. 2) 

Affirmation in lieu of oath (p. 3) 

Instructions on the affirmation in lieu of oath (p. 4) 

Approval for publication (signed by both evaluators, p. 5)

In addition, you are required to update your online doctorate file before submitting the dissertation.

Click here for the German version of the documents required.

Conferral of the title Dr. phil. (PhD) 

The dissertation must be published within two years of the successful completion of the doctoral degree course. The right to use the title “Doctor” is acquired only after submission of the published version of the dissertation. The published version must indicate that the publication is a dissertation from the University of Heidelberg. For publication, approval from both evaluators is necessary ( Imprimatur , see documents required when submitting the dissertation).

Persons to contact in cases of conflict (Ombudspersonen) 

In cases of conflict, doctoral candidates and supervisors from the University of Heidelberg can turn to two ombudspersons for confidential counselling and mediation. At present the following persons are registered as official ombudspersons: 

Prof. Dr. Christiane von Stutterheim (Institute of German as a Foreign Language – IDF): [email protected]   

Prof. em. Dr. Hans-Werner Wahl (Aging Research Network – NAR; Institute of Psychology): [email protected]

In addition, the University of Heidelberg has established a “Commission for the Safeguarding of Good Academic Practice and the Handling of Violations of Academic Ethics” . 

Doctoral degree programmes and support for doctoral studies at the Faculty of Modern Languages 

In the framework of the heiDocs promotion programme, the Faculty provides its doctoral candidates with financial support in the shape of (a) grants at the beginning and end of the doctoral degree course, (b) in conjunction with plans to study abroad (mobility) and (c) in connection with initiatives instituted by doctoral candidates. Application deadlines are 10 January, 10 April, 10 July and 10 October every year.  

As of 2021, the Faculty of Modern Languages also has at its disposal its own structured cross-departmental doctoral candidates’ programme designed to encourage exchange between doctoral candidates and to strengthen their education and training in their own subjects and beyond. This can be a beneficial supplement to the degree course in the shape of a supportive structure for the duration of doctoral studies.  

In addition, the following structured degree programmes are available (as of August 2021): 

Graduate research training group “Authority and Trust” (American Studies) 

Graduate Programme of Transcultural Studies ( GPTS )

Doctoral programme “Semantic Processing”  

Heidelberg Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences ( HGGS)

Graduate Academy 

At university level, the Graduate Academy is the central institution for all doctoral candidates. It provides numerous workshops, opportunities for continuing education, etc.

Once a year, the University also awards scholarships in accordance with the Postgraduate Scholarships Act of the State of Baden-Württemberg (LFGF).  

Beth Meyerand named Graduate School associate dean

The Graduate School will welcome Beth Meyerand, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Departments of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, to the role of associate dean later this month.

Associate deans collaborate with the Dean of the Graduate School to provide institutional leadership for graduate education across campus. Meyerand’s focus areas as associate dean will be academic affairs, including admissions and academic planning, and enhancing faculty mentoring of graduate students along with graduate student mentor and mentee training.

She will also serve on the Graduate School’s leadership team and on the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee. She will begin in the associate dean role on June 28.

Meyerand earned her PhD in biophysics in 1996 from Medical College of Wisconsin. She then spent a year as a research associate and another as a research assistant professor at Dartmouth Medical School. In 1998, Meyerand joined UW–Madison as an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Physics with affiliate appointments in Radiology and Biomedical Engineering. She served as Chair of the Biomedical Engineering department from 2010 to 2016.

Her research in medical imaging explores new technologies and methods to visualize the brain’s structure and function to improve clinical diagnosis and care. Her lab applies functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) methods to locate and understand connectivity in different regions of the brain, with the aim of understanding the underlying causes of epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, and other diseases.

Meyerand brings a successful record of leadership in graduate education at UW–Madison to the associate dean role, including as director of graduate studies in the Departments of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering and as principal investigator and director of T32 training programs. Since 2019, Meyerand has been the faculty director of the Science and Medicine Graduate Research Scholars community , which supports underrepresented graduate students across 38 departments in five schools and colleges. She has previously served on the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee and the faculty committee for the Graduate Engineering Research Scholars community.

Since 2014, Meyerand has been a master trainer for the National Research Mentoring Network, providing training in effective research mentoring strategies and how to establish mentoring programs. She has also served as a facilitator for the Delta Program in the Graduate School’s research mentor learning communities.

Meyerand most recently held the position of Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs on campus. Her work as Vice Provost includes collaborating with campus leaders and shared governance representatives to clarify existing policies, introduce new initiatives, address faculty and staff concerns, and advise on campus-wide issues as part of the leadership team in the Office of the Provost.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X Twitter
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Email

• Graduate Academy
• Doctoral Training in Heidelberg
• Advising and Support
• Career Development
• International Doctoral Training
• Supervision
• Download Center
• Graduate Center / KLF

Graduate Academy Heidelberg University

​ Service Point

Im Neuenheimer Feld 370 Room 3 69120 Heidelberg

Walk-in office hours

Monday: 10 am to 12 pm Tuesday: 2 pm to 4 pm Wednesday: 10 am to 12 pm Thursday: 10 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm and by appointment

Outside of our office hours you can reach us by telephone or email.

For visiting doctoral students

Visas and residence permits

Bilateral relations and German missions

Forms in the download center

Multifunctional student I.D. card

For visiting researchers

Welcome Center

Visiting Scholar Card

Finding a supervisor

Research Visits in Heidelberg

Doctoral candidates can come to Heidelberg University to carry out a short-term research project as part of their doctoral studies at their home university. The first step towards carrying out a research stay is to find a professor at Heidelberg Univesity who agrees to supervise your research visit and who will issue you a letter of invitation or acceptance. There is more information about finding a research supervisor at the university here: Step 1: Finding a supervisor

If you are enrolled as a doctoral candidate at your home university, there are two forms of registration at Heidelberg University that will give you differenct degrees of access to university facilities while in Heidelberg – you can register either as a (1) visiting doctoral candidate or as a (2) visiting researcher.

As soon as you begin planning your research visit, we strongly advise you to contact the Graduate Academy ( [email protected] ) directly to clarify any questions about your status at the university, about access to university facilities or about visa regulations.

1. Research stay as a visiting doctoral candidate

Coming to Heidelberg as a visiting doctoral candidate involves enrolling as a student at the university and gives you full student status including the multifunctional student ID card , access to all university facilities (library, cafeterias, computer center, sports center etc.) and access to the services provided by the student services organization ( Studierendenwerk ) such as

- reduced student prices at the cafeterias

- the possibility to apply for a room in a student dormitory

- access to the Studierendenwerk housing service

If you choose to enroll at the university, you will be required to pay an administration and student services fee every semester in which you are enrolled. The current semester fee is 151.05 Euro per semester (as of December 2023).

Please read through the information below about admission and enrollment at Heidelberg University well in advance of coming to Heidelberg so that you can prepare all of the necessary documents. Please note that it is not possible to enroll at the university without all of the documents listed below.

The application portal for applications for the summer semester is open from December 1  to March 31. It is not possible to submit an application for the summer semester after March 31.  The summer semester runs from April 1 through September 30.

The application portal for applications for the winter semester is open from June 1  to September 30. It is not possible to submit an application for the winter semester after September 30.  The winter semester runs from October 1 through March 31.

Application for Admission as a “visiting doctoral candidate” (“Forschungsstudent”)

Please go to the heiCO website and click on “APPLICATION: Go directly to the online application here” . You will be required to create and then confirm a user account. After your user account is set up, you can log in and begin the application process in the system.

Please note:

• For “Type of studies” please choose “other study” and for "intended degree" choose "Research Student (without ECTS)"
• For “Degree Programme” please select the subject in which you will do your doctoral training

Then proceed to fill out the rest of the online application. For assistance in filling out the online application, please refer to the following manuals found in the heiCO Download Center :

• General guide to the online application and enrollment process (Please be aware that this guide was primarily written for bachelor's applicants so not all information will pertain to you.)
• Guide for completing information about university degrees

During the online application process, you will be required to upload the following application documents:

One single PDF (not larger than 10MB) that contains all of the following:

• Applicants from China: Please note! For all school and university diplomas and transcripts, applicants from China must submit certified copies and translations that are issued by an official notary whose office is affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Justice. Other forms of certification/translation (for example certification by means of a red star stamp) will not be accepted unless the applicant also submits an original APS certificate. In either case, only actual certified copies will be accepted - not photocopies or print outs of certified copies.
• copies of your secondary school leaving certificate (e.g. Abitur, high school diploma, Attestat, Matura etc.) including transcripts of records (lists of courses and grades) and certified translations of these documents into either German or English if they were not originally issued in German or English
• if applicable, copy of your university entrance examination results and certified translation of this document into either German or English if it was not originally issued in German or English
• copy of your current enrolment certificate as a doctoral candidate from your home university
• confirm that your research stay is taking place within the framework of your doctoral studies in your home country,
• confirm that he/she will supervise your research stay in Heidelberg,
• indicate the time period of your research visit and
• if applicable, confirm that German language proficiency is not necessary for your research visit.
• if applicable, proof of any time spent at a German university as well as proof that you are no longer registered at that university ( Exmatrikulationsbescheinigung ).
• photo in passport format
• copy of your passport/national ID card

After you have submitted a complete application online, it will be processed by the student administration and you will be notified through the heiCO system about your admission status. After the Zulassungsbescheid (admission notification) is issued in the system, you can proceed with your enrollment. You can wait to complete your enrollment after you arrive in Heidelberg as long as you will be enrolling during the same semester in which you applied for admission.

In order to enroll, you will be required to enter additional data in your account that is relevant to enrollment. When this information is complete, you will be able to print out the enrollment form. You will also be asked to pay the appropriate semester fee.

To complete your enrollment you will need to send the enrollment form and the necessary enrollment documents by postal mail to the student administration at the address indicated on the enrollment form. The system will indicate which documents you must submit.  Please be aware that your final enrollment will not be processed until the student administration receives your physical documents and the semester fee.

Before your enrollment can be completed, you will also need to be registered in the electronic registration system for student health insurance existing between the public health insurance system and the university. This is also true if you have private health insurance.For information about the requirements for private health insurance, please see our website Insurance and especially the section entitled "Proof of health insurance coverage for enrollment at the University".

To get registered, please take a copy of your health insurance policy and your passport to a public health insurance company (e.g. AOK, DAK but not the TK) and ask to be registered in the system. The student administration provides a letter that explains your enrollment status and registration category - giving this letter to the public health insurance company can help facilitate the registration process. If you would like a copy of the letter, please contact us in the Service Point ([email protected] ). Please be aware that, if you have private health insurance, you must register in the electronic health insurance system within 3 months of the beginning of the semester. For the summer semester, the deadline is June 30th, for the winter semester it is December 31st.

Please be aware that it takes 3-5 working days for your registration to be visible to the student administration in the system.

• the print-out of the enrollment form, with your original signature on the last page
• the letter of acceptance from your supervisor in Heidelberg
• certified copies of your secondary school leaving certificate (e.g. Abitur, high school diploma, Attestat, Matura etc.) including transcripts of records (lists of courses and grades) and certified translations of these documents into either German or English if they were not originally issued in German or English. These documents need to bear the original stamp and signature of the person certifying the document and, if applicable, the original stamp and signature of the certified translator.
• if applicable, certified copy of your university entrance examination results and certified translation of this document into either German or English if it was not originally issued in German or English. These documents need to bear the original stamp and signature of the person certifying the document and, if applicable, the original stamp and signature of the certified translator.
• passport photo
• if applicable, proof of any time spent at a German university as well as proof that you are no longer registered at that university (Exmatrikulationsbescheinigung).
• any other documents listed in the heiCO system.

After receiving and processing your enrollment documents and your semester fee, the enrollment office will send you an email to inform you when you can pick up your student ID card. You must pick up your ID card in person at the university administration building.

The university will use your university email address to send you important information; therefore, please remember to check this email regularly. Additionally, the university will send notifications to you by postal mail to the mailing address that is in the enrollment system. You are responsible for keeping this address current in the heiCO system.

Please be aware that you can upload normal copies of all of your educational documents during the application process. However, for your final enrollment, you will be required to submit certified copies (physical documents!) of your school and university diplomas and transcripts as well as of your passport.

Fees and re-registration

Visiting doctoral candidates are not required to pay tuition fees at Heidelberg University. However, if you enroll at the University, you will have to pay a semester fee that covers administrative costs, costs for student services and student representatives. The total fee is currently 151.05 Euro per semester (as of December 2023).

In order to remain enrolled at the University, you must re-register each semester by paying the fee described above. The time periods for re-registration are as follows:

• June 15 to July 15 for the winter semester,
• January 15 to February 15 for the summer semester

Please be aware that you must pay the full semester fee for every semester for which you are enrolled regardless of when during the semester you arrive or leave. Therefore, if possible, it is a good idea to plan the timing of your stay to coincide with the university semesters. The university semesters are as follows:

Winter semester: October 1 to March 31 Summer semester: April 1 to September 30

2. Research stay as a visiting researcher

Coming to Heidelberg as a visiting researcher involves registering with the Welcome Center and gives you limited access to University facilities. If you have a scholarship or are funding your research stay privately, you will receive a visiting researcher card after registration, which confirms your association with the university and enables you to apply for additional cards to use the university library, the university cafeterias and the university sports center. Please note that you will not obtain access to the services provided by the student services organization which means you will not be eligible

- to live in a student dormitory

- to use the housing service provided by the student services organization

- to receive reduced student prices in the university cafeterias

In general this means that you will receive less support and will need to be more independent in organizing your research stay and finding housing. Depending on where you live and how much you wish to cook for yourself, you may also need to budget for higher expenses for food and other living costs.

You can register as a visiting researcher at Heidelberg University online on the website of the Welcome Center .

• Graduate College

Contact the NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies

NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies admission deadlines

• International students must apply on or before March 1st for fall admission, if an earlier deadline is not stipulated below.
• The deadlines listed below are subject to change, but are reviewed and updated regularly. For the most accurate deadline information, please check the NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies Admissions Application for the specific program.
• For full consideration of available funding (GA, tuition waivers, or scholarships) it is best to apply to the program early. Contact the program for specific funding deadlines.

Definitions:

Priority-   If a priority deadline has been specified, it is highly recommended that you submit your application on or before this date. Students that meet this deadline may be given special consideration for things such as assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, etc., if available. Rolling admission- no specific deadline has been identified. Students can apply for admission up until the start of any given term or session. Space available basis- applications will be accepted and considered if space is available in the program. Final- applications will not be accepted past this date. Admission not available- admission applications are not accepted for the specific term.

Graduate program application deadlines

Office of Graduate & Professional Studies

Mailing address, social media.