PhD at Anhalt University

Basic information about the doctorate

• Should you do a doctorate?

  There is no general answer to this question. Many factors play a role: Are you aiming for an academic career? Is a doctorate beneficial in your field? Does the doctoral phase fit in with your life planning? Is the doctorate useful or even necessary for your professional career?

  The advantages are also individual. Nevertheless, general advantages can be listed: Through a doctorate ...

  ... you lay the urgent foundation of a scientific career.

  ... you advance your career in business.

  ... increase your professional and social network.

  ... gain in-depth knowledge in your own subject.

  ... increase your chances for a management position. 

  ... increase your starting salary. 

  ... gain recognition and respect

  The question of whether and why you should do a doctorate needs to be thought through thoroughly. In addition to a great deal of work and time, it also takes a great deal of self-discipline and stamina during the doctoral phase. Seek discussion with friends, family and professors you know. We will also help you to answer this question.

   

• What forms of doctorate are there?

  Individual doctorate: The most common route to a doctorate is via the individual doctorate (classical doctorate). A doctoral supervisor supervises "the doctoral candidate", who works on the topic largely independently. The following options are available:

  • Doctoral studies at the doctoral center: Since mid-2021, the universities of applied sciences in Saxony-Anhalt have had an independent right to award doctorates in research-intensive subject areas and can independently guide doctoral students to the doctoral degree. Doctoral centers have been established for this purpose.
    
    
  • Cooperative doctorate: The official doctoral procedure takes place at a cooperative university with the right to award doctorates (usually a university in Germany). The main supervision and workload is spent at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.

  • Doctorate in industry: Cooperative doctorates or doctorates at the doctoral center can also be written in cooperation with industry. Either with an employment relationship in the company or with an employment at the university, where the third-party position is fully or partially financed by the company.

  Structured doctorate: Outside Germany, structured doctoral procedures are common. A team of supervisors looks after the doctoral students. The programs include a doctoral curriculum, are often interdisciplinary and usually also support the training of soft skills and additional qualifications. Structured doctoral programs are also available in Germany.

• How does a doctorate typically proceed?
  See our guide for more information: Leitfaden.

• How does a doctorate at the doctoral center work?

  For more information, visit the page of the Doctoral Centers.

• What is a cooperative doctorate?

  The official doctoral procedure takes place at a cooperative university with the right to award doctorates (usually a university in Germany). The main supervision and work performance is spent at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.

  Supervision is provided according to individual agreement. The doctoral procedure and the awarding of the doctoral degree take place at the university, regardless of where the main work was done.

• How does a doctorate work in a company?

  Doing a doctorate in cooperation with a (regional) company is often a win-win situation for all sides. In this case, the doctoral candidate can either be employed by the company and be paid there for doing a doctorate on a topic of the company, or the person is employed at the university and the company finances this position in whole or in part as a third-party funder.

  The doctoral student is given the opportunity to work on a research question of practical relevance and the company receives exclusive research results on a question that is important to it. However, it must be made clear to companies that the doctoral candidate must publish the research results in order to obtain the doctoral degree. Therefore, a cooperation agreement should definitely be concluded in advance. Sample contracts can be issued by the Graduate Academy.

  The contact between the supervisor and the doctoral student either exists before the start of the doctoral project. Otherwise, it is up to the doctoral candidate to establish the contact and define the framework conditions.

• What are the requirements?

  Doctorate at the doctoral center: For a doctorate at our doctoral centers you need one of the following degrees: Master's degree, Diplom, Magister or first state examination. The degree can have been obtained at a university of applied sciences (UAS), at a university or at an equivalent foreign university. It must have been relevant to the doctoral subject.

  Cooperative doctorate: The prerequisite for admission to a cooperative doctorate is the completion of a course of study relevant to the doctoral subject at a German university (Diplom, Magister or Master's degree, first state examination, equivalent degree from a foreign university, equivalent degree from a university of applied sciences). The detailed requirements are decided by the respective doctoral regulations of the cooperative university.

• Who do you contact for more detailed information?

  As your first point of contact, you are welcome to contact Dr. Ulrike Herbert: ulrike.herbert(at)hs-anhalt.de, Tel.: +49 (0) 3496 67 5323