Your Path to a PhD
The prerequisite for a doctorate at the Faculty of Digital Engineering is a German university degree in the form of a diploma, Master's degree, Magister degree or a 1st state examination for teaching at grammar schools.
The main subject, final thesis or state examination for the teaching profession at grammar schools (secondary levels I and II) must be in the academic discipline in which the doctorate is being pursued and must be assigned to a subject of the Digital Engineering Faculty (DEF).
- As a rule, the German university degree should be graded at least “good”* .Degrees obtained at academic universities outside the area of application of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany are recognized if their equivalence is established.
- The approved scientific disciplines are the same as those offered by the DEF.
For in-depth questions concerning doctoral studies: please contact the Doctoral Committee Office.
* Grades 1,0–1,3 very good (= sehr gut); grades 1,7–2,3 good (= gut)
Information and Procedures
You can find all the stipulations regarding the supervision agreement in Section 5 of the regulations for a doctoral degree. Please note that the deadline is generally 14 days before the next meeting of the Doctoral Committee.
After the Doctoral Committee grants its approval, you will receive a confirmation of admission by postal mail.
Meetings of the Doctoral Committee
Academic disciplines
The list of authorized academic disciplines are equal to the offered fields of study of the Hasso Plattner Institute respectively the Digital Engineering Faculty (DEF).
Enrolling
You can find all important information on enrolling as a doctoral student at the Division of Student Affairs.
enrolling as a doctoral student
Documents to submit
- Supervision agreement*
- Report of intent to pursue doctoral studies*
- Copies of university transcripts
- Curriculum vitae in tabular form
Application
To declare your intent to pursue a doctorate at the Digital Engineering Faculty, please complete the steps below.
Declaration of Intent
Complete the supervision agreement and the notification of intention to complete a doctorate together with your main supervisor.
For degrees not obtained in Germany, clarify the recognition of your degree with your main supervisor. The anabin database of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) and the conversion tables of the International Office are available for this purpose. If in doubt, please contact the Registrar's Office.
Finally, you submit the documents to the office of the doctoral committee of the Digital Engineering Faculty on site:
University of Potsdam
Office of the doctoral committee
Campus Griebnitzsee / Hasso Plattner Institute
House C-1.8
Prof.-Dr.-Helmert-Str. 2-3
14482 Potsdam
After approval by the doctoral committee, you will receive a confirmation of admission by post. You can obtain information on enrolment as a doctoral student from the Department of Student Affairs.
Commencing the Doctoral Examination Procedure
The opening of the doctoral procedure is the time of submission of the dissertation to the office and the appointment of the examination committee and the reviewers by the doctoral committee.
Find out moreInformation for internationals
- Unlike in many other countries, doctoral studies (Promotion) in Germany are often individual research papers rather than structured programs.
- The first step on the way to a doctorate is to find a scientist experienced in your subject who is willing to act as your advisor on your doctoral research thesis. In order to do this, you must contact the scientist and/or institute in person and present your request and intentions to them directly.
- The major prerequisite for doctoral studies is an above-average university degree or an equivalent achievement recognized by the Doctoral Thesis Committee (Promotionsausschuss).
- Usually students pursue their doctoral studies in the same subject in which they completed their university-level degree.
- Students can also attain a doctorate in an other field relevant to their subject, but only if certain conditions are met and if the doctoral committee grants permission to do so.
- A dissertation should usually take no longer than three years to complete. An oral examination is held immediately following the submission and positive evaluation of the doctoral thesis.
Contact
Sabine Wagner
Doctoral Committee Office
Phone: +49 331 5509-220
Fax: +49 331 5509-229
Mail: office-promotionsausschuss@hpi.de
Important links
Last change: 23/09/2024, Geronimo Förster