PhD Students
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Saxony is a location of science. It enjoys a one-of-a-kind concentration, and therefore a well built network of numerous institutions. Making it even more attractive to work towards a doctorate in Saxony, the Germany PhD is internationally recognised and enjoys an excellent reputation.
Germany offers different opportunities for obtaining a PhD:
- at a university or college,
- at a non-university research institution,
- in a German company.
Which way is considered depends on the field or the research project, the respective contract of employment as well as on the personal circumstances.
- Information Sheet Residence Permit for Students in a PhD Program (*.pdf, 3,16 MB) Status: October 2021
The obtaining of a doctorate must be the main focus of your stay. Otherwise it is not a PhD Program in the context of the Residence Act.
Please note: Inform yourself about the exact requirements and structure of a PhD Program in the corresponding doctoral guidelines of the universities and colleges.
During the PhD Program it is possible for the applicant to work for a maximum of 120 days or 240 half days per year without the agreement of the labour administration. Student assistant work is permitted without restrictions, but the responsible municipal or district immigration office has to agree on this beforehand.
Other occupations need the approval of the labour administration. This is obtained by the responsible municipal or district immigration office in an internal process at the competent team of the Ferderal Employment Agency.
Leaflet Employment of Foreign Workers in Germany
For information on the labour market licensing procedure please call 0228 / 713 2000.
Apart from the usual documents several further documents are necessary:
- matriculation certificate or study reservation certificate or a letter of the faculty about the acceptance as a PhD student [original and a copy],
- a certificate from the college/university (from the doctoral advisor) on the subject, supervision and expected duration of the thesis including the indication of its scientific relevance [original and a copy],
- PhD students in an employment relationship: employment contract [original and a copy],
- proof of sufficient means of subsistence e.g. by promise of scholarship or declaration of commitment by parents or a third party or a security deposit on a blocked account in Germany [original and a copy],
Questionnaire for the declaration of commitment
Statement by the signer of the declaration of commitment
Checklist required documents for the residence permit for PhD Students
If the obtaining of the doctorate is part of a research project at a recognized research institution, then a residence permit for the researcher may be considered.
A PhD can also be obtained during an employment relationship, either
- at a university or college with an employment contract on a full-time basis or part-time basis with at least half of the average weekly working time or
- a non-university research institution or
- a company.
In this case, a residence permit for qualified employment can be considered. This depends on the respective contract, in particular on the duration of employment.
