Doctorate in Freiburg

A doctorate demonstrates an individual's ability to conduct in-depth academic research. The University of Education Freiburg is a university specialising in educational sciences, with full authority to award doctoral degrees. It confers the degrees of Doctor of Education (Dr. paed.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Dr. phil.).

The doctorate is based on independent academic work in the form of a dissertation and an oral examination.

Further details are regulated by the University of Education Freiburg's doctoral regulations.

How useful would a doctorate be for me? How will it benefit me? What opportunities will it open up for my future career, either within or outside of academia? Should I complete my teaching practice (Referendariat) before or after my doctorate? What requirements do I need to fulfil to obtain a doctorate? How do I choose a research topic? Where can I find supervision? How long does a doctorate usually take? How much does it cost?

Have you asked yourself these or similar questions? Are you interested in doing a doctorate and looking for guidance?

We are happy to provide advice on all aspects of doctoral studies.

Please email us at forschung(at)ph-freiburg.de.

The University of Education Freiburg has the right to award doctorates and post-doctoral degrees (habilitations) in accordance with LHG §38 and §39. Accordingly, early career academics can obtain doctorates and habilitations in the disciplines represented at the university. The University of Education Freiburg also facilitates cooperative doctorates with other universities within Germany as well as binational doctorates (e.g. Cotutelle du Thèse or Joint Degree Programmes).

The research strength of the University of Education Freiburg, with its focus on school and extracurricular education research, and its fruitful collaboration with the University of Freiburg within the framework of the School of Education ‘Freiburg Advanced Centre of Education’ (FACE) offer doctoral candidates an excellent structure for developing their own research profile. Doctoral students receive support in the form of advisory, qualification, mentoring and coaching services offered by the Graduate Academy for Educational Sciences (BiwAk). These local services are supplemented by events organised by the Graduate Academy of the Universities of Education in Baden-Württemberg (graPH).

In addition, the University of Education Freiburg has extensive experience of numerous ongoing or already completed research and academic career development programmes, from which doctoral students can benefit when working on their own projects.

International visiting students and doctoral candidates will find the International Office to be a competent point of contact for all questions relating to their stay at the University of Education Freiburg.

To International Office

Here you will find helpful links to services related to life in Freiburg:

• Canteen in Littenweiler Information on opening hours, menus, etc.
• Studierendenwerk Freiburg Contact point for doctoral students at all Freiburg universities with questions about student life in Freiburg
• General university sports including a digital sports and health programme
• Freiburger Verkehrs AG Online shop for tickets (including semester tickets) for the Freiburg public transport network
• Freiburg City Hall and Services providing information about the city
• Living in Freiburg with information about halls of residence and the housing market