1. Doctorate – Yes or No?

There are many reasons for pursuing a doctorate – the title, career opportunities, financial incentives – but ideally the main reason should be your interest in research and your enjoyment of science. After all, a doctorate takes many years and demands a large amount of time and self-management besides knowledge of your subject and of methodology. If you are still unsure of whether a doctorate is the right step for you, there are a number of events that could help you decide:  

• Once a year, Giessen University hosts the event “Wege in die Promotion” (Paths to a Doctorate), which is organised by the Giessen Graduate Centre for Humanities (GGK), the International Giessen Graduate Centre for the Life Sciences (GGL), the Giessen Graduate Centre for Social Sciences, Business, Economics and Law (GGS), the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC) and the initiative Arbeiterkind.de. Admission to this event is free of charge to anyone interested in participating. The language of the event is German.

• The MArburg University Research Academy (MARA) of Marburg University stages annual events on the topic “Promotion - Ja oder Nein?” (Doctorate - Yes or No?). Please note: Students and graduates of the THM may register as external participants; once admitted as doctoral candidate, they can become members of MARA to be eligible for reduced attendance fees. The language of the event is German.

The website  “Rund um die Promotion” could also serve as a useful introduction to this topic.

For further information on a PhD in Germany, specifically addressing foreign applicants, please consult the website of the German Academic Exchange Service.