PhD in Germany
Germany compared with the UK and the USA, the two routes into a German PhD, scholarships, life as a doctoral researcher — and what professors actually look for — with ESC mentor Ketan Kulkarni.
This webinar has finished. The main points are written out below, and our next free session is on the webinars page.
From the first search to life after the PhD
Plan for 15 months — and know what professors look for
Deepak’s advice in this session was to plan at least 15 months for the whole process, from the first search to the day you arrive. Every step below takes weeks or months, and none of them can be rushed:
Start from your topic, read recent papers, and list the groups doing that work.
A research CV, a motivation letter and, where asked, a short research proposal — written for each lab, not copied.
Answer adverts and send short, specific emails. Expect many applications before the first interview.
Usually online: a talk about your past research, and questions about the project.
The offer letter starts the visa process, and that takes time too.
What a professor actually looks for
Your speakers
Deepak did his PhD at LMU Munich as a DAAD scholar after studying at IIT Bombay, and works as a research scientist in Munich. He founded Emerging Scholars Council to help students find funded PhD and Master’s places abroad, and today is also President of DAAD IndiAlumni, a registered non-profit association of Indian and German DAAD alumni.
Ketan’s research path runs from IISc Bengaluru to a Max Planck Institute and TU Darmstadt in Germany. He first joined ESC as an ambassador in 2024 and now mentors, and came on to share what doing research in Germany is like from the inside.
Quick answers
How long does it take to get a PhD position in Germany?
Plan at least 15 months from your first search to starting. Many students need dozens of applications before the first interview.
Is a PhD in Germany paid?
Most are — either as an employment contract or through a scholarship. The advert says which.
Where are PhD positions in Germany advertised?
On lab and institute websites, on professional networks such as LinkedIn, and in research-job portals. Our free PhD openings board collects funded positions every day.
Can I stay in Germany after the PhD?
Yes. After graduating you can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job that matches your qualification.
We also mentor people through the whole thing
The webinars are free and always will be. If you would rather not apply alone, our PhD mentorship pairs you with a researcher in your field who stays with you until you have a funded offer.