Program Overview

The typical duration of the doctoral studies at the DKFZ is three to four years. More than 52 % of our PhD students are international, so the curriculum is in English and includes scientific and professional training.

Once you have completed and defended your PhD project and attended the necessary courses, you are granted your degree by the university with which you initially registered. For most PhD students at the DKFZ, the doctoral degree is awarded by the Biosciences Faculty, Medical Faculty or Physics Faculty of the prestigious Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany (founded in 1386). The degree you are awarded depends on your area of research and the university faculty you registered with. In Germany, although the term "PhD" is used to refer to the doctoral project (as in this website), the actual doctoral title that is conferred is not the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), but rather an equivalent doctoral title. For example, a Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) is conferred by the Biosciences or Physics Faculties and a Doctor of Human Sciences (Dr. sc. hum.), or in some cases where the candidate has a medical background a Doctor of Medicine (Dr. med.) is conferred by the Medical Faculty.

All PhD positions at the DKFZ are fully funded for (at least) three years. The salaries are competitive by (inter)national standards. There is no tuition fee.

Candidates awarded a PhD Program position through the biannual selection rounds are funded by a DKFZ PhD contract, which includes social security contributions (pension, health insurance etc). The amount of this contract is approximately equivalent to a TVöD contract with 65% working time, in the E13 level. Candidates may also receive offers of funding from a PhD supervisor directly, or obtain their own scholarship from foundations or funding agencies such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and their Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP); Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds; Deutsche Studienstiftung; Volkswagenstiftung; China Scholarship Council (CSC)…

All PhD students at the DKFZ are enrolled in the DKFZ International PhD Program, regardless of how they are funded.

PhD students are supervised by group leaders and department heads of the DKFZ. A Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) – personal to each student – provides further support during the whole duration of the PhD. It consists of the supervisor and at least two other senior scientists, one of whom is external to the DKFZ. TAC meetings take place once a year to provide students with feedback on research already conducted and to give advice and suggestions for future projects. The students prepare a short written report and give a presentation of their work.

All PhD students complete the PhD Course Program, which includes lectures, seminars and events and also provides lots of opportunities for PhD students to tailor their education to meet their own needs and interests.