Prospective Doctoral Students

Information for international graduates interested in earning a doctorate in Cologne

The University of Cologne offers numerous opportunities to obtain a doctorate: in structured programmes, in the traditional German individual doctorate under supervision as well as in cooperation with non-university research institutions.

"German PhDs have an excellent reputation and are internationally recognised."

Structured vs. individual PhD

Range of Studies

Browse through the websites of the Albertus Magnus Center (AMC) to learn about the possibilities at the University of Cologne or contact the faculties directly:

Albertus Magnus Center

Cologne Graduate School in Management, Economics and Social Sciences (CGS)

Graduate School of the Law Faculty

Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research

a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne

The Graduate School for Biological Sciences

Bonn-Cologne Graduate School for Physics and Astronomy (BCGS)

Graduate School of the Faculty of Human Sciences

Doctoral Studies at the University of Cologne

General Requirements

General requirements for recognition of your university degree:

Meeting the requirements for a PhD program at your university in your home country
Completion of at least 4 years at an university followed by an exam and usually a Master thesis.

German language proficiency

Generally, you can earn your PhD in German and English at all faculties. In case you want to persue your doctorate in any other language than German please be aware that some faculties require an application and the approval of the supervisor.

Please confirm with your doctoral advisor

a) which language you want to write your dissertation in

b) which language your oral examination (Disputatio or Rigorosum) will take place in.

PhD / MD Regulations

Please inform yourself about your PhD / MD program requirements and process by carefully reading the regulations for the degree of your choice. For certain programs you need to have particular language skills or participate in doctoral student courses or lectures.

Below you will find the PhD regulations for each faculty:

Contacting Your Doctoral Advisor

If you decide to pursue an individual PhD at the University of Cologne, you will need a doctoral advisor ("Doktorvater","Doktormutter").

Professors who can fulfill this function may be found on the web pages of the individual faculties. Please contact the desired advisor as early as possible.

When you contact a potential doctoral advisor, please enclose the following documents:

Complete C.V.
Description of your scientific research development
Draft/outline of your research project.

If the professor accepts you as a doctoral advisee, he or she will issue a confirmation of academic supervision.

Kontakt

international-doctoral-students@verw.uni-koeln.de

For e-mail enquiries please use our contact form.

Address: (At the moment we are not able to offer personal advice on site, please contact us by e-mail, zoom or mail. Documents can also be dropped in the letterbox in front of the International Office.)
Universität zu Köln
International Office, Team Zulassung
Studierenden Service Center, EG
Universitätsstr. 22a
50937 Köln
SSC (Student Service Center)< ground floor

Mailing address:
Universität zu Köln
International Office, Team Zulassung
Albertus-Magnus-Platz
50923 Köln

Service Point: General enquiries:
Opening hours:
Mondays till fridays 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
wednesdays 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Personal consultation hours on Zoom:

Prospective students - Bachelor/State Examination (for EU citizens and and citizens on equal terms, Germans with foreign Entrance Qualification):
tuesdays  10 am - 12:30 pm
wednesdays 4 pm - 6 pm
(registration)

Prospective students - Bachelor/State Examination (for non-EU citizens):
tuesdays  10 am - 12:30 pm
wednesdays 4 pm - 6 pm
(registration)

Prospective students - Master:
tuesdays  10 am - 12:30 pm
wednesdays 4 pm - 6 pm
(registration)

Prospective Doctoral Students:

Faculty of Management, Economis and Social Science; Faculty of Law, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Human Sciences
tuesdays  10 am - 12:30 pm
wednesdays 4 pm - 6 pm
(registration)

Faculty of Medicine
tuesdays  10 am - 12:30 pm
wednesdays 4 pm - 6 pm
(registration)

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Thursdays 10 - 12:30 pm
(registration)