Prospective doctoral researchers

If you are planning to pursue a doctorate at LMU, you must first find out by yourself whether there is a department at LMU that matches your doctoral project. Please refer to the faculty websites for more information.

LMU has 18 faculties covering a very broad range of subjects, but not all subjects are represented at LMU.

To find out if you meet the requirements for a doctorate in your chosen subject, please refer to the relevant doctoral degree regulations. You can access these via the Studiengangsfinder by searching for your subject, clicking on 'Details anzeigen', and then selecting 'Prüfungs- und Studienordnungen.'

As a rule, a master's degree or equivalent qualification in the relevant subject is required to pursue a doctorate, but there are exceptions.

If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements specified in the doctoral degree regulations, please discuss with a potential supervisor (see 'Apply for doctoral studies' below) to clarify whether a doctorate at LMU is possible for you.

Now check which types of doctorates are offered in your department. It may be that

• only individual doctoral studies or
• only a structured doctoral program or
• both are offered.

Individual doctoral studies

Most doctorates in Germany take the form of an individual doctorate. This requires a high degree of independence and motivation on your part. As a rule, you will need to find a supervisor for your doctoral project yourself. In some subjects, you will also be expected to propose the topic you would like to work on in your dissertation (you may also be required to submit an exposé).

There is no mandatory curriculum for individual doctorates. Depending on the doctoral degree regulations, you may be required to complete certain courses or similar. You can also participate in courses or transferable skills training on an individual basis. There is no set time frame for completing the doctoral project.

Overview of doctoral subjects at LMU

Structured doctoral program

Doctoral programs offer a structured framework for writing dissertations. While some programs focus on a specific research question, others are more open in terms of subject matter. The programs are usually run jointly by several university lecturers from different departments. Doctoral researchers are often supervised by interdisciplinary supervisory teams.

Doctoral programs usually provide an accompanying curriculum with subject-specific and interdisciplinary courses as well as networking opportunities at the national and international level. Some programs also offer participants funding opportunities.

Overview of LMU's structured doctoral programs

Structured doctoral program

If you would like to participate in a doctoral program, please check the application requirements and deadlines on the website of the respective program. If you have any questions about a doctoral program, please contact the program directly.

In order to participate in a doctoral program, you must successfully complete a competitive application process.

Individual doctoral studies

There is no central office at LMU that accepts applications for individual doctoral studies.

If you are interested in pursuing individual doctoral studies, please identify a person who might be interested in supervising your doctoral project from an academic perspective. In the German academic system, you are expected to do this independently. The GraduateCenter^LMU cannot assist you in finding a supervisor. As a prospective doctoral candidate, you should therefore first familiarize yourself with your subject or field of research. Professors and Privatdozenten (PD) are generally authorized to supervise doctoral researchers, but there are exceptions.

There is no standardized way of contacting the potential supervisor. You may be expected to already present an exposé for your doctoral project.

We recommend that you discuss not only subject-related questions with your potential supervisor, but also clarify mutual expectations. Agree on how much time you can invest in the doctoral project, how independently you will work, how often you will receive feedback, whether your language skills are sufficient, whether you should acquire further subject-specific or interdisciplinary knowledge or skills, etc. The Code of Practice (PDF, 248 KB) and the template for a Supervision Agreement (PDF, 101 KB) can serve as guidelines.

If a professor agrees to supervise your doctoral project, you will either receive a written confirmation of supervision from him or her or you will conclude a supervision agreement (depending on the doctoral degree regulations).

Structured doctoral program

After admission to a structured doctoral program, participants are supported through the doctoral program in the further administrative steps. Please note that admission to a doctoral program does not always automatically include the additional requirement of acceptance as a doctoral candidate at the faculty. As a rule, this must be applied for separately.

Individual doctoral studies

With a confirmation of supervision or supervision agreement (see 'Apply for doctoral studies' above) and other documents, you can submit an application for acceptance as a doctoral candidate to the relevant docotral committee via the dean's office/examination office at your faculty/dpeartment. If all requirements are met, you will receive a notification from the dean's office/examination office regarding your acceptance as a doctoral candidate (with conditions, if applicable). This notification is a prerequisite for enrollment.

Overview dean's offices/examination offices at LMU

According to the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (BayHIG), enrollment for doctoral studies is possible for a maximum of eight semesters. However, work on the dissertation is not limited to eight semesters.

Please refer to the respective doctoral degree regulations to find out whether enrollment is mandatory (see 'Check doctoral degree regulations' above). Enrollment takes place either at the Office of the Registrar (Studentenkanzlei) or at the International Office.

If at least one of the following conditions applies, please enroll at the Office of the Registrar:

• You are a German citizen.
• You have acquired your university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) in Germany or at a German school abroad (Deutsche Auslandsschule).
• You have completed a university degree program with a standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit) of at least six semesters in Germany.
• You have completed a university degree program with a standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit) of less than six semesters in Germany and the degree is the required qualification for admission to doctoral studies.

If none of the above mentioned conditions are met, please turn to the International Office and fill out a 'request for university admission'. Once you have received a notification of university admission from the International Office, you can enroll there.

There are no tuition fees for doctoral studies. However, if you enroll, you must pay semester fees to the Munich Student Union (Studierendenwerk).

In any case, you must take care of securing your living expenses yourself. We recommend that you settle this matter before moving to Germany, if possible, as applications can take a long time and are not always successful.

If you are pursuing a doctoral research project, there are various funding options available to you. The most suitable option depends on your field of study, your research topic, and your personal circumstances:

• Employment at a university or research institution
  Many doctoral researchers are employed as research assistants in academic departments or as part of research projects. They receive a salary subject to social security contributions and are involved in both research and teaching. (see LMU Job Portal).
• Scholarships
  Numerous foundations and funding agencies award doctoral scholarships through competitive selection processes. These cover living expenses but do not include social security contributions.
• External Funding / Third-Party Funded Projects
  In larger research consortia or projects, doctoral positions are often funded through third-party grants (either as a salaried position subject to social security contributions or as a scholarship).
• Employment Outside the University
  Some doctoral researchers receive funding from a non-university research institution or a company, or finance their living expenses through employment (in a different field) outside the university.
• Self-Funding
  In some cases, the doctoral program is funded through personal savings or family support.

Our tip:
Find out about open positions and funding opportunities early on. Information on open positions combined with a doctoral program can be found on the LMU job portal as well as on the websites of the faculties and departments. In addition, many research consortia (e.g., Clusters of Excellence, Collaborative Research Centers, and Research Training Groups) post open doctoral positions on their own websites.

In addition to living expenses, depending on your doctoral project, you may incur additional costs for equipment, books, materials, research trips, etc. Before starting your doctoral project, please clarify whether these costs are covered by your employment or scholarship, or check in good time how you will cover them otherwise.

Unfortunately, due to capacity reasons, the GraduateCenter^LMU cannot offer individual funding advice. Please research funding options by yourself.

Last but not least, before starting a doctoral project, you should seriously consider why you want to pursue a doctorate and what this undertaking will mean for you in concrete terms in the coming years.

There are a variety of reasons why graduates decide to start a doctoral project. Some doctoral researchers are simply driven by academic curiosity and want to work independently on a research project, but do not initially associate this with any specific career goal. In some fields, a doctorate is an essential prerequisite for starting a career, while in other professions it can be an important individual stepping stone for the planned career. For some doctoral researchers, the motivation for pursuing a doctorate is to stay at the university after completing their studies and not have to navigate the unfamiliar non-university job market.

Here are some questions you might ask yourself, for example:

• What is my motivation for pursuing a doctoral degree?
• Is a doctorate the best possible next step in my personal career planning? Could other forms of further qualification be better suited to paving the way to my desired career goal (postgraduate studies, vocational training, MBA, trainee program, internship, second degree, etc.)?
• Am I prepared to spend a long period of time—usually several years—working on a doctoral thesis at a high academic level?
• How can I integrate this project into my individual life situation?

Most doctoral degree regulations explicitly state whether English is permitted as the language for the dissertation and/or oral examination. Therefore, you should first check the relevant doctoral degree regulations (see 'Check doctoral degree regulations' above). If applicable, you should also agree with your supervisor that you will write your dissertation in English. Ask him or her for critical feedback on whether your English skills are sufficient for this (regardless of any language certificates you may have).

In any case, we recommend that you acquire sufficient German language skills to be able to understand administrative matters in everyday life and in the context of your doctoral studies. Depending on the sector, German language skills may also be essential for starting a career in Germany.

German courses are offered by LMU-affiliated institutions Deutschkurse bei der Universität München e.V. and Deutsch-Uni Online, among others.

The question of which language proficiency certificates must be provided for a doctorate at LMU cannot be answered in general terms, but can only be clarified on a case-by-case basis, usually in consultation with the future supervisor.

Regardless of certificates, you should clarify before starting your doctoral project whether your foreign language skills in German, English, or other languages, depending on the topic, are sufficient for your doctoral project. Ask your supervisor for critical feedback and clarify how you can acquire any missing language skills during your doctoral studies.

Some doctoral degree regulations (see 'Check doctoral degree regulations' above) require enrollment for a certain period of time. Proof of German language proficiency is required for enrollment in the Humanities. This requirement may be waived upon request by your supervisor.

In any case, we recommend that you acquire sufficient German language skills to be able to understand administrative matters in everyday life and in the context of your doctoral studies. Depending on the sector, German language skills may also be essential for starting a career in Germany.

German courses are offered by LMU-affiliated institutions Deutschkurse bei der Universität München e.V. and Deutsch-Uni Online, among others.

Please refer to the doctoral degree regulations applicable to you (see 'Check doctoral degree regulations' above) for information on how to complete your doctorate in cooperation with another German university or university of applied sciences.

In certain cases, a doctoral program can be completed jointly with a foreign university or faculty (co-tutelle). You will find more detailed information in the doctoral degree regulations applicable to you (see 'Check doctoral degree regulations' above).

If you plan to complete your doctoral degree in cooperation with a company, please clarify the conditions in advance.

If you have any questions about a cooperative doctoral degree, please contact the dean's office/examination office responsible for you.

You must clarify with your supervisor whether you can do your doctorate at LMU from abroad. Since enrollment at LMU is a prerequisite for doctoral studies in some faculties and requires a German postal address, please check the doctoral degree regulations that apply to you (see 'Check doctoral degree regulations' above) and, if necessary, clarify the requirements for enrollment with the Office of the Registrar or the International Office (see 'Enrollment' above).

Also discuss with your supervisor how you can stay in touch despite the distance and how feedback meetings will take place.

If you are conducting your doctoral project at a university abroad and would like to come to LMU for a temporary research stay, you will need to establish contact with a relevant department at LMU yourself.

Once you have agreed on a research stay with the relevant department, you can find information on administrative matters at LMU Gateway and contact them if you have any questions.

Depending on the faculty, the following doctoral degrees are awarded at LMU:

• Dr. theol.
• Dr. iur. can.
• Dr. jur.
• Dr. oec. publ.
• Dr. med.
• Dr. med. dent.
• Dr. rer. biol. hum.
• Dr. med. vet.
• Dr. rer. biol. vet.
• Dr. rer. nat.
• Dr. phil.
• Dr. rer. pol.
• Dr. rer. soc.
• Ph.D.

International prospective doctoral researchers can find information on visa matters and other topics such as finding accommodation, opening a bank account, insurance, etc. at LMU Gateway.