postgraduate research
Doctoral Degrees at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
At
the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität doctoral degrees can be pursued
at all the schools.
Furthermore, the university concentrates on a number of areas of interdisciplinary
research offering excellent perspectives for potential doctoral students.
Prerequisites
International applicants who are interested
in pursuing a doctoral degree at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
need an excellent university degree recognisable as an equivalent to a
German degree in the chosen subject (e.g. Magister/Staatsexamen/Diplom).
Special procedures for the admission of outstanding candidates with a Bachelor's
degree are currently being developed. Each of the schools has a doctoral
committee responsible for recognising the equivalence of foreign degrees.
Language Requirements
A number of programmes offer the candidates the option of completing
the dissertation in English. This depends in each case on the conditions
set out in the respective regulations (pdf). In
most cases you need the permission of your supervisor to write in English
and should make sure that your application is formally approved before you
start to work on the thesis.
Please note that a sound knowledge of German is nonetheless extremely useful in successfully completing your degree.
If you want to write your thesis in German, you need a high level of language skills. Please consult the website for International Students and Guests for details on German language certificates. Admission to doctoral studies in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Theology requires proof of further language skills.
Formal Steps
Candidates interested in applying have to
find a supervisor („Doktormutter“ or „Doktorvater“)
from among the university's active or retired professors. Please get in
touch with the FAU Graduate School
if you need assistance in establishing contact with potential supervisors.
The subject of research is (normally) chosen independently by the candidate
and has to be accepted by the supervisor. Doctoral degrees are awarded
according to the regulations of the specific
school which determine the details of the examination procedure.
Doctoral candidates are expected to have been registered at the university for at least two semesters (in preparation for their degree). In accordance with Bavarian law, registration as a doctoral student is possible for up to three years without payment of tuition fees. In specific cases, this period can be extended for a further year. The degree can be still completed after that period and without official registration. Information on the registration procedure for international candidates is available from the website for International Students and Guests.
Please note that you can only register for a doctorate if you fulfil both the formal and the academic conditions for admission.
Designation of Doctorates
The designation of German doctorates differs according to school
and subject. The official designation of the degrees awarded by the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
and its schools is as follows:
School of Humanities and
Social Sciences, School of Theology
Dr.phil. (Humanities and
Social Sciences*)
Dr.theol. (Theology)
Law School , School of Business and Economics
Dr.jur. (Law)
Dr.rer.pol (Business, Economics, Social Sciences*)
Medical School
Dr.med. (Medicine)
Dr.med.dent. (Dentistry)
Dr.hum.biol. (Human Biology)
School of Sciences
Dr.rer.nat. (Natural Sciences)
School of Engineering
Dr.-Ing. (Engineering Sciences)
*The type of doctorate in the Social Sciences depends on the choice of subject and supervisor and the different fields of research at each school.
Regulations
All doctoral degrees are awarded in accordance with the regulations
of the respective schools. Due to the recent reorganisation of the schools,
the regulations are currently being revised and will be published as soon
as possible. Regulations are only available in
German.
Further information
International students can direct their requests for further information
to the appropriate contacts in the exam office and school administrations
or directly to the FAU Graduate School.
School of Humanities and Social
Sciences, School of Theology
Examination Office; Contact: Ms
Rejek
Law School , School of Business and Economics
Law School; Contact: Ms
Ass. jur. Schwarzbach
Examination
Office Business and Economics;
Contact: Ms Rebl
Medical School
Examination Office;
Contact: Ms
Hübner
School of Sciences
Examination Office; Contact: Ms Schmitt
School of Engineering
School of Engineering; Contact: Mr Ilgenfritz/Ms
Stolze
