Doctoral costs (Promotionskosten) add up from many small items that are easy to overlook. If you plan a dissertation, include printing, software, travel, fees and literature from the start. This guide shows a calculation in which you check every figure yourself.
Short answer: The costs of a doctorate depend strongly on the field, the university and the research work. There are no reliable overall figures, because fees and prices vary by university and supplier. Work with your own assumptions, as in the example below (as of October 2026).
The most important points
- Travel to conferences and research stays is often underestimated and can exceed the other items.
- The doctoral fee depends on the doctoral regulations of your university. Check them before you enrol.
- Ask the supplier or your university administration for prices of printing, software and licences.
- A calculation with assumptions shows the order of magnitude and makes visible costs you might otherwise forget.
- Whether you can deduct costs for tax depends on your case. The guide on tax deductibility (in German) is a starting point.
Which items belong in the calculation?
The list starts with compulsory costs and ends with voluntary spending. The table names typical items, not fixed prices.
| Item | Key question | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral fee | Does your university charge a fee for the procedure? | Found in the doctoral regulations or the fee schedule. |
| Printing and binding | How many compulsory copies do the regulations require? | Ask the print service for prices per copy. Check for grants, see printing costs of the dissertation. |
| Software | Do you need reference management, statistics or typesetting? | Many universities provide licences. Check this first. |
| Literature | Which books and articles will you need for the long term? | Use the library and inter-library loan before you buy. |
| Conferences and travel | Which conferences matter for your work? | Clarify reimbursement with your supervisor or university in advance. |
| Research stays | Do you need archive, lab or field work in other places? | Plan accommodation and journeys. |
| Proofreading | Do you want an external proofreader? | Voluntary expense. Agree on it with your supervisor first. |
How to structure the items
Not every item occurs equally often. Sorting them by type shows where you need to set money aside and where you have room to manoeuvre:
- One-off: doctoral fee, printing and binding of the compulsory copies.
- Yearly: software subscriptions, specialist literature and conference travel.
- Variable: research stays, data collection, participant payments and external reports.
- Voluntary: proofreading, expensive specialist books and extra courses.
This structure also helps in conversations with your supervisor. Compulsory items can be documented with the regulations, while voluntary items should be a conscious decision.
Calculation example with assumptions
Assumption: The doctorate takes three years. All amounts are placeholders that you replace with your own quotes and the fee schedule of your university. They are not benchmarks and not prices of individual suppliers.
| Item | Assumed amount per period (euros) | Total over three years (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral fee (one-off) | 500 | 500 |
| Printing and binding (one-off) | 150 | 150 |
| Software (yearly) | 120 | 360 |
| Literature (yearly) | 200 | 600 |
| Two conferences with travel and fees (yearly, 600 euros each) | 1,200 | 3,600 |
| Total | 5,210 |
The example shows how much travel can weigh. The total is only as good as your inputs, so replace every assumption with a verifiable figure.
Travel is often the largest item, because journey, accommodation, meals and conference fees add up. Many organisers offer earlier registration at lower rates. Check deadlines and reductions before you choose a conference.
How to reduce costs without cutting quality
- Find out early which software your university provides before you buy anything.
- Ask conferences about reduced fees for doctoral students and check whether your funding body covers travel.
- Use the library and inter-library loan before you buy specialist books.
- Agree the travel reimbursement rules with your supervisor before you book.
Can I claim doctoral costs for tax?
Costs incurred for professional reasons can count as work-related expenses (Werbungskosten). Whether this applies to your doctorate depends on your position. Employees receive a flat allowance of 1,230 euros a year (as of 2026, section 9a of the German Income Tax Act, EStG). Only costs above this amount reduce your tax. Clarify the details with the tax office or a tax adviser.
Keeping receipts
Many costs can only be reimbursed or deducted if you can document them. Start a list from the beginning in which every expense is recorded with date, amount and receipt. Digital storage is more practical than piles of paper, as long as you observe your university retention periods.
| Date | Item | Amount (euros) | Receipt filed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: 12 March | Conference fee | 180 | yes |
| Example: 14 March | Train to the conference | 64 | yes |
What your post or scholarship may cover
In a post, the university or the third-party funder covers some costs, such as equipment or official trips. Which items are included is set in your contract and in the rules. Ask before you advance costs yourself. With a scholarship, you usually manage flat allowances yourself.
Spreading costs over the period
The total from the calculation example looks large, but spread over the period it becomes manageable. Assumption: a 36-month duration. For 5,210 euros, this is about 145 euros a month (calculation: 5,210 divided by 36, rounded). This is a guide for your own planning, not a binding figure.
Frequently asked questions
What does a doctorate cost in total?
There is no reliable total, because the field, the university, the research and travel change the amount considerably. Use the calculation example as a template and replace the assumptions.
Do I have to pay the doctoral fee if I have a post?
That depends on your university and your contract. Clarify both in advance with the doctoral office and HR.
Can scholarships cover costs?
Many scholarship foundations pay allowances for research and travel. The amounts are set in the rules of each foundation. An overview is in the guide on scholarship foundations for doctoral students.
What happens to the costs if I drop out?
Planned costs stop, but amounts you have already paid remain. The guide on dropping out of a doctorate explains the effects on your post and insurance.
What to do next
- Copy the calculation example and replace each assumption with a price or rule from your university.
- Ask the doctoral office about fees, compulsory copies and travel rules.
- Set aside a buffer for unexpected costs, such as an extra conference or a data collection trip.
- Check which costs your post or scholarship covers.
- Update the calculation every year, because prices and fees change.
Related reading
- Understanding doctoral regulations: the most important rules
- Printing costs of the dissertation: costs and grants
- Deducting doctoral costs from tax
- Financing a doctorate: post, scholarship or own funds compared (in German)
Sources:
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
