Universität Potsdam

PhD students at the Univesity of Potsdam must register at the beginning of their PhD. The semester fee currently amounts to 241.11 EUR (including a public transport ticket for Berlin and Brandenburg). During their doctoral studies, students have to gain experience in teaching, e. g. in the form of teaching assistance in tutorials.

Enrolment as a doctoral student

To enrol as a PhD student in the University of Potsdam, hand in the following documents to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences:

• Application form for enrolment
  • for German applicants
  • for foreign applicants
    • German form
    • English form
• CV
• 2 passport photos
• Declaration of intent to do doctoral studies
  • German form
  • English form
• copy of your higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung)
• certified copies¹ of your previous degrees and, if necessary, a notarized German, English or French translation of the certificate
• proof of exmatriculation from your last German university (if applicable)
• confirmation letter from your stipend-giver or a copy of your contract
  
• proof of a valid health insurance policy (see sample)

for foreign applicants:

• copy of the visa (if applicable)
• copy of the document obtained from the Resident Registration Office (Anmeldebestätigung) (can be handed in later)
• copy of a valid residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) allowing doctoral studies at the University of Potsdam (can be handed in later)
  

  (not required for citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway)

 
All these documents have to be handed in to Ms. Schwarz:

Jeanette Schwarz
University complex Golm, house 28 (Institute of Physics and Astronomy), room 1.101
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25
14476 Golm

Phone: +49 331 977 - 2956

Email: prommnf@rz.uni-potsdam.de

Consultation hours:
Mon, Wed, Thu: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tue: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

¹Copies can be certified free of charge by Ms. Schwarz if you bring the originals of your certificates!

Opening the doctoral examination procedure

When you have finished your thesis, hand in to Ms. Schwarz:

• Application for opening the doctoral examination procedure
  • PDF format
  • Word format
• 4 copies of your thesis
• 30 copies of a scientific abstract (in German or English, 1–5 pages, double-sided and stapled)
• CV (signed)
• list of publications
• certified¹ copy of your Master's certificate (or equivalent)
• a non-scienitific abstract in German as .doc file (one page at most)
• proof of registration as a PhD student
• proof of having attended a PhD seminar
• proof of teaching experience

if applicable:

• proof of fulfillment of additional requirements
• police clearance certificate if you are exmatriculated for more than 3 months
• binational PhD: cooperation treaty between the University of Potsdam and the partner university on a joint PhD project, as well as the application of both advisors

Publication of the Thesis

You must publish your thesis within 12 weeks after your successful defence. You can either submit 10 printed and bound copies, or submit 4 copies, printed on durable, wood- and acid-free paper, and an electronic copy. For the electronic copy, please note the requirements of the university library regarding data formats, formatting etc. Information (in German) can be found here: http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/doku/liefern.php

The publication must contain an abstract in German and English.

Weblinks

• PhD studies – Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (in German only)
• Application and Admission at the University of Potsdam
  • for Germans and EU citizens
  • for international doctoral students
    • in German
    • in English