A PhD candidate (Doktorand) is a person who is working on a doctorate (Promotion), which means writing a dissertation to complete it. The term appears in job advertisements, scholarship programmes and university forms. It describes a status during the doctorate and does not automatically say anything about employment or funding.
Short answer: A PhD candidate (Doktorand) is someone who is pursuing a doctorate and working on a dissertation. The doctoral title is only held after the oral examination has been passed and the doctoral certificate has been handed over. The Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt) counted around 216,200 doctoral candidates in Germany in 2025 (as of August 2026).
The essentials at a glance
- Doktorand refers to the person during the doctorate, that is, before the title is awarded.
- The term says nothing about a job, a scholarship or enrolment. These points are clarified separately.
- Destatis counted around 216,200 doctoral candidates for 2025 (as of August 2026).
- You may only use the title “Dr.” once the doctorate has been formally completed.
- Job advertisements often say “Doktorand/in” or “Promovierende”. Both mean the same thing.
Where you come across the term Doktorand
You will usually see the word in advertisements for doctoral positions at universities or research institutions. Scholarship providers and university administrations also use it. Forms usually say “Doktorand” or “Doktorandin”, while official texts often use “Promovierende”. Which form is binding is stated in the document concerned.
How Doktorand, Promovierende and Promovierte differ
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Doktorand/in | Person during an ongoing doctorate | The doctoral candidate is writing her dissertation. |
| Promovierende | Umbrella term, also used in official statistics | Destatis counts doctoral candidates as a separate group. |
| Promovierte | Person after successfully completing the doctorate | Once the doctoral certificate has been handed over, they count as a doctorate holder. |
Who counts as a doctoral candidate?
What matters is that you are admitted to the doctorate at a faculty as a doctoral candidate. For this you submit an application for admission, which also states the form of the oral examination you choose. The rules are set out in the doctoral regulations (Promotionsordnung) of the respective faculty. At the University of Göttingen, the process follows its own doctoral regulations.
What do the figures show?
The Federal Statistical Office reports around 216,200 doctoral candidates for 2025. That is 3,800 people, or 1.8 percent, more than in the previous year (press release of 26 August 2026). Of these, 25 percent, or around 54,200 people, had a foreign nationality. In the 2025 examination year, around 28,800 doctorates were also completed, 2.4 percent more than the year before (press release of 2 October 2026).
The two figures measure different things. Someone who is currently doing a doctorate is not the same as someone who completes one in a given year. For that reason, the two numbers alone cannot be used to calculate a completion rate.
Does Doktorand also mean employed or funded?
Not necessarily. Some doctoral candidates work as employees at a university or research institution, others hold a scholarship or pay for the doctorate themselves. Which route fits depends on the field, the topic and the supervision. Our guide on PhD funding: position, scholarship or own savings gives an overview of the options. Your health insurance status also depends on your situation, and the article Health insurance during a PhD in Germany explains it.
Frequently asked questions
Is “Doktorand” a title?
No. Doktorand is a status term for the time of the doctorate. You may only use the title Dr. after the doctoral certificate has been awarded. Until then, you are a Doktorand or Promovierende.
Can I call myself Dr. once I have submitted my dissertation?
No. Under the rules of the University of Göttingen, the day of the passed oral examination counts as the date of the doctorate. The doctorate is complete once the doctoral certificate has been handed over. Submission and review are only intermediate steps.
Is there a male and a female form?
Yes, “Doktorand” for men and “Doktorandin” for women. Many universities use “Doktorand/in” in texts and forms, or the gender-neutral term “Promovierende”.
Do I have to be enrolled at the university to be a Doktorand?
That depends on the university and its doctoral regulations. Admission to the doctorate is often required, and this may be linked to enrolment or another status. Ask the doctoral office of your faculty which rule applies to you.
Related reading
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- PhD Funding: Position, Scholarship or Own Savings
- Health Insurance During a PhD in Germany
- PhD Students in Germany: Figures by Field and Gender
- Doctoral Title Abbreviations: From Dr. rer. nat. to Dr. h. c. Explained
Sources: Federal Statistical Office (Statistisches Bundesamt), press release of 26 August 2026, Doctoral candidates 2025 (in German). Federal Statistical Office, press release of 2 October 2026, Doctorates in the 2025 examination year (in German). University of Göttingen, Doctoral procedure: the oral examination (in German) (accessed on 27 October 2026, page without a date).
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
