Your pathway towards a PhD

• a monthly stipend for international, AA-funded PhD candidates of 1,500 €, plus additional benefits such as a monthly mobility allowance, health insurance allowance (if applicable), family allowances, etc.
  Parts of the PhD may also be completed abroad if academically necessary; in this case, however, there will be NO additional funding for studies abroad. Our annual event program on topics such as political education, building key qualifications, networking, self-organization skills, and career guidance is available to both graduate students and PhD candidates. In addition, we offer our PhD scholars an exclusive non-material support program on issues of science policy, the process of obtaining a PhD, or building specific skills relevant to PhD studies. Any additional income must be offset against the scholarship payment; to determine such ancillary income, the earnings limit for marginal employment as per Section 8 (1) No. 1 SGB IV applies.
• The funding period is generally 3–3.5 years. Students who are parents, severely disabled, or chronically ill may request an extension of up to one year.
  Parts of the PhD may also be completed abroad if academically necessary; in this case, however, there will be NO additional funding for studies abroad.

Our annual event program on topics such as political education, building key qualifications, networking, self-organization skills, and career guidance is available to both graduate students and PhD candidates.

In addition, we offer our PhD scholars an exclusive non-material support program on issues of science policy, the process of obtaining a PhD, or building specific skills relevant to PhD studies.

• fostering debates on relevant science policy issues, such as the ethics of science; scientific freedom; basic research vs. applied research; self-concept, responsibility, scientists' role and participation in social developments and possibly as political actors; use of AI in science and research; the work situation of mid-level staff at universities, etc.
• events to build key qualifications (e.g., self-organization, time management, meeting moderation techniques, networking, raising third-party funds, etc.) that are particularly relevant for a successful PhD project and a professional career
• career guidance
• our series "Science-based political counselling" and science communication
• event formats to promote interdisciplinary dialog

Our recurring event formats to support PhD scholars are:

• our annual three-day PhD candidates' forum, which is comprised of several components and focused on a science policy topic. As attendees present the topic of their PhD thesis, they practice various techniques of presentation to audiences outside their own field (poster, short lecture)
• workshops to build key qualifications, such as the series "successful PhD," which features several skill-building workshops tailored specifically to the Scholarship Department's funding strategy
• science communication, such as the digital format "Let's talk about science," in which PhD students present their research projects to students and answer their questions about finding a suitable research topic or a supervisor

The counsellors at the PhD Studies Department support, counsel, and mentor PhD candidates, particularly on how to plan and organize their PhD project, liaising with supervisors, providing career guidance, or helping scholars navigate life as a PhD student, e.g., how to find a good work-life balance. We consider regular personal contact between our staff and the PhD candidates vital to ensure trusting collaboration.