If you do a PhD (Promotion) in teacher training or education studies, you often work at a chair for educational science, school pedagogy or subject didactics. Funding usually comes from a university post, a scholarship or your own resources, and your health insurance depends on which route you take.
Short answer: A PhD in teacher training or education studies has no fixed legal length. The fixed-term qualification post before the doctorate is limited to up to six years under the German academic fixed-term law (§ 2 WissZeitVG, German text). As an employee paid for your work, you are insured by statute. As of October 2026.
Key points
- The doctoral regulations of your faculty set admission, supervision and submission. There is no statutory standard length.
- A fixed term follows the German academic fixed-term law. Before the doctorate, six years are provided, and two years are added for each child under 18.
- A post under TV-L pay grade E 13 pays 4,759.37 euros gross per month at full time, step 1 (table valid from 1 April 2026).
- With an employment contract you are subject to compulsory health insurance. With a scholarship and enrolment, student insurance applies until age 30.
- Scholarships and posts are taxed differently. Net pay is best checked with the Abgabenrechner des BMF (in German).
How long does a PhD in teacher training take?
The length depends on the subject, the research design and supervision. Only the frame for fixed-term posts is set by law. That frame sits in the act that regulates the fixed-term employment of academic staff. For a PhD in education studies, the key question is therefore how long your post runs and whether it can be extended.
The table shows the maximum terms under the academic fixed-term law, insofar as they matter for a PhD post.
| Phase | Maximum term | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification before the doctorate | up to 6 years | § 2 para. 1 sentence 1 WissZeitVG |
| After completing the doctorate | up to 6 years | § 2 para. 1 sentence 2 WissZeitVG |
| Care of a child under 18 | + 2 years per child | § 2 para. 1 sentence 4 WissZeitVG |
Source: § 2 WissZeitVG (German text, no version date on the page, retrieved October 2026). The values apply only to posts that fall under the act. Student assistant or third-party funded contracts can follow other rules.
How is a PhD post paid?
Many posts in teacher training and education studies are qualification posts under TV-L. The pay grade is stated in the job advert. The step depends on your prior experience. The scope of the post shows which share of full-time pay you receive.
| Post (pay grade E 13, step 1) | Gross per month |
|---|---|
| Full time, 100 percent | 4,759.37 euros |
| 65 percent post (assumption) | 3,093.59 euros |
| Half-time, 50 percent (assumption) | 2,379.69 euros |
Source: Anlage B zum TV-L (gültig 1. April bis 31. Dezember 2026) (German text). The amounts are gross table values as of April 2026. The 65 and 50 percent figures are calculated from the table and do not describe specific job adverts.
Scholarships are the second route. For PhDs funded by BMFTR money, the funding foundations list a basic scholarship of up to 1,750 euros per month plus allowances (Stipendienhöhe der Begabtenförderungswerke, Stand Oktober 2026, German text). A scholarship is not pay for work, so its tax treatment differs from a post.
Which insurance applies in which model?
Health insurance depends on whether you hold a post, whether you are enrolled and how old you are. The table sorts the most common cases.
| Model | Health insurance | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Post paid for work | Compulsory insurance as an employee, contributions shared equally | § 5 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V |
| Enrolled, no post, with scholarship | Student insurance until the 30th birthday | § 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V |
| Neither post nor enrolment | Voluntary statutory or private insurance | Your own choice, see guide |
Source: § 5 SGB V (German text). The age limit comes from the statute. What a specific case means for you should be clarified with your health insurer or your university.
Our guide Health Insurance for PhD Students in Germany explains the insurance questions in more detail.
What does this mean for PhD candidates in teacher training?
If you move straight from your studies into a doctorate, your insurance route is usually different from that of someone coming from the teacher training traineeship. The traineeship (Vorbereitungsdienst) has its own rules for insurance and allowances. If you switch between your state examination and the doctorate, clarify the transitions early so that no gap appears. Our German guide Lehramt: Versicherung vom Studium bis zum Referendariat covers this path.
Frequently asked questions
When does the fixed term start to count?
The six years refer to the time before the doctorate under the academic fixed-term law. How that time is counted follows your contract and the rules of your university. Ask for the calculation in writing before you start the post.
Can I stay in student insurance with a scholarship?
If you are enrolled and do not hold a post that is insured first, student insurance can apply. Under § 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V it applies until the 30th birthday. Check the details with your health insurer.
Is a PhD post subject to social insurance?
Yes, if you work as an employee paid for your work. Health, long-term care, pension and unemployment contributions are shared between employer and employee. The 2026 rates are explained in our guide on a half-time post.
How much is left after tax?
That depends on tax class, allowances and social insurance. We do not calculate income tax ourselves. Use the Abgabenrechner des BMF (in German) for that. You can recalculate the social insurance with the rates in our guide.
What happens if I stop the PhD?
Then the post usually ends with the contract and your insurance changes. Whether you need a follow-up insurance depends on your situation. Clarify this early with HR and your health insurer.
Next steps
- Read the doctoral regulations of your faculty and the job advert.
- Compare the pay grade, scope and fixed term with the table above.
- Classify your insurance under the three models and ask your health insurer.
- Clarify the fixed term and possible extensions with HR in writing.
Related reading
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- Health Insurance for PhD Students in Germany
- Scholarships for students: Types, providers, requirements
- Lehramt: Versicherung vom Studium bis zum Referendariat (in German)
Sources: § 2 WissZeitVG, Anlage B zum TV-L (gültig 1. April bis 31. Dezember 2026), § 5 SGB V, Stipendienhöhe der Begabtenförderungswerke, Stand Oktober 2026 (all in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. For your personal situation you can get advice from Academycon: How we work.
