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Funding your doctoral journey

Besides your doctoral topic and finding a supervisor, financial security is a key factor when planning your doctorate at Leuphana. In Germany a number of routes are common to fund a doctorate, most notably employment as research staff or a scholarship. On this page, we give you an overview over the different funding possibilities.

Academic employment

During your doctorate you can be employed as scientific staff member at Leuphana. A so‑called qualification position allows you to devote part of your working time to your doctorate. These positions usually include teaching duties and additional responsibilities for the department or institute. This provides you with insight into academic research and valuable work experience. Qualification positions may be funded from different sources and therefore differ in their conditions. Many are financed from university funds, i.e. tax revenue, and are subject to the six‑year employment limit of the “Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia”. Some are funded by third‑party grants, where the conditions and time limits can vary. Academic vacancies are available on Leuphana’s career page.

Scholarships from Leuphana

Alternative to a research staff position, a scholarship is a good way to fund your doctorate. Most scholarships offer considerable temporal and spatial flexibility. Because you are not employed, you usually have little or no teaching or administrative duties. Leuphana's scholarships are advertised at irregular intervals, often directly by a professorship. Details on the various scholarship types, funding amounts, selection procedures and more can be found on the Scholarship Office website. Current calls are also listed on the Leuphana career page.

Doctoral Programs

Doctoral programs at Leuphana embed you in larger research projects and a community of scholars from the start. The programs are research field-specific and complement the doctoral courses with a range of subject‑specific events and support.

→ Doctoral Program Embracing Transformation

→ Doctoral Program Leuphana Center for Cooperative Security (LCCS)

Combination of your doctorate with other professional activities

You may also apply for positions at Leuphana independent of your doctoral project and conduct your research alongside your work obligations. Some positions are advertised as part‑time or are suitable for part‑time work. All vacancies are listed on the Leuphana career page. Another option is working outside the university to support yourself. Besindes, a cooperative doctorate with a company or organisation is an attractive way to link your professional and academic work.

Scholarships from foundations

Several German foundations offer doctoral scholarships. The most important funders are the 13 talent‑promotion organisations supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research; they represent a range of religious, political, economic and trade‑union perspectives. Applications are demanding, but success rates are often higher than expected. Specific eligibility criteria and application procedures are available on the foundations’ websites. Trusted lecturers at the university support the foundations’ selection processes and act as contact persons for scholarship holders. In addition to financial support, these foundations usually provide networking events, mentorship and other forms of non‑monetary assistance.

Some other foundations without federal funding also award scholarships, for example the Claussen‑Simon‑Stiftung in Hamburg (two‑year scholarship). The “Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt” (DBU) funds doctoral candidates whose research addresses current environmental issues and contributes to practical, future‑proof solutions. There are several databases available to research further field-specific scholarships.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides funding for internationals interested in a doctorate in Germany. A grant for a full doctoral program in Germany is offered primarily to applicants from developing and emerging countries, but DAAD also funds research stays of two to twelve months in Germany. Details and further scholarships for specific target groups are listed in the DAAD database.

You are looking for additional support during your doctorate? Information on funding for conference journeys or research stays can be found on our Qualification Fund webpage.