A part-time doctorate (Promotion in Teilzeit) usually means a doctoral position with 50, 65 or 75 percent of a full-time post. The share decides how much you earn and how much time you have for your dissertation. Here is how to convert the share into euros and which right to part-time work you have under German law.
Short answer: Your pay follows your share of the position. Example (assumption): 65 percent of an E13 post, step 1, gives roughly 3,093.59 euros gross per month under the TV-L pay scale. Under section 8 TzBfG you can request part-time work, and your employer may refuse only for operational reasons. Last updated: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- You are paid in proportion to your share. A 65 percent share generally means 65 percent of the full-time salary.
- Employees of the German federal states are usually covered by the TV-L collective agreement. Hesse applies the TV-H with its own figures.
- Under section 8 TzBfG you may request part-time work once your employment has lasted more than six months and the employer usually has more than 15 employees.
- The request must be made in writing at least three months before the intended start.
- Gross is not net. For take-home pay, use the tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance.
How do you convert your share into euros?
The share is a percentage of the full-time pay. If your post is graded E13 under the TV-L, the table for that grade applies. Your experience step (Stufe) determines the amount within that grade.
- Take the gross monthly full-time pay from your contract or the job advertisement.
- Multiply it by the share as a decimal, for example 0.65 for 65 percent.
- Check that the step matches your grading. A step increase raises the amount.
- Subtract the result from the full-time sum to see what you lose compared with a full-time post.
Assumption: grade E13, step 1, as of 1 April 2026. The full-time gross is then 4,759.37 euros per month.
| Share of the post | Gross per month | Difference to full time |
|---|---|---|
| 50 percent | 2,379.69 euros | 2,379.68 euros |
| 65 percent | 3,093.59 euros | 1,665.78 euros |
| 75 percent | 3,569.53 euros | 1,189.84 euros |
| 100 percent | 4,759.37 euros | 0 euros |
Source for the table values: the TV-L pay table valid from 1 April 2026, as reproduced by the GEW (in German). Amounts are rounded and gross, before taxes and social security contributions.
Check bonuses, allowances and the agreed weekly hours in your contract, because they change the sum you finally receive. You can check the net amount with the tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (in German).
Do you have a right to part-time work?
Yes, if you are employed. Under section 8 (1) of the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG) you may ask for a reduction of your contractual working time once your employment has lasted more than six months. The employer normally needs more than 15 employees (section 8 (7)).
The request must be made in writing at least three months before the intended start. You should also state how you want your working time distributed (section 8 (2)). The employer must decide at least one month before. If the employer does not refuse in time, your request counts as approved (section 8 (5)).
The employer may refuse only for operational reasons, such as a substantial impairment of organisation, workflow or safety, or disproportionate costs (section 8 (4)). Collective agreements can add further grounds. The statute is available at section 8 TzBfG (in German).
What should you check before signing?
- The share in percent and in weekly hours, so that the working time is clear.
- The pay grade and step, and whether the pay is already calculated on the share.
- The length of the fixed term and whether an extension is planned.
- How much time the contract reserves for your dissertation and which teaching or administrative tasks come on top.
A part-time post with clearly described tasks is easier to plan. If you are unsure how the share affects your funding, read the guide on doctoral titles in Germany and the German guide on financing a doctorate (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Must the share appear in the job advertisement?
Not necessarily, but a missing share leads to questions. Ask the HR department or your supervisor for a written statement before you accept.
Does a part-time post change my pension contributions?
Contributions to the statutory pension insurance follow the contributory pay. If your pay is lower, the contributions are lower too. For your personal pension position, ask the German pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).
Does the TV-L apply to my doctoral post?
That depends on the employer and your contract. For employees of state universities the TV-L is usually decisive, in Hesse the TV-H. Check which collective agreement your contract refers to.
How early must I apply for part-time work?
At least three months before the intended start, in writing. The employer must answer at least one month before. Plan enough time, especially if you want to start at the beginning of a semester.
What to do now
- Write down your share, pay grade and experience step.
- Calculate the gross with the example in this guide and check the net amount with the tax calculator.
- Submit your part-time request at least three months before the start, in writing, with your preferred distribution of hours.
- Clarify open points in your contract with HR or a legal adviser for employment law.
Same share, different step: a second example
Assumption: you are in step 3 of grade E13, again with a 65 percent share. According to the TV-L table valid from 1 April 2026, the full-time sum is 5,366.89 euros. You receive 65 percent of it, which is 3,488.48 euros gross per month. The difference to step 1 is therefore about 395 euros gross per month (3,488.48 minus 3,093.59 euros).
This shows that a step increase does not replace the share but raises the amount on top of it. Check your contract for the step named at hiring and for the conditions of later step increases.
What does the share mean for your working time?
The share refers to the weekly working time of a full-time post. Calculate: share times full-time hours. Assumption: full time is 40 hours per week. Then 65 percent equals 26 hours per week. The actual full-time hours are stated in the contract and may differ.
- Distribution: 26 hours spread over four days come to about 6.5 hours per working day.
- Core hours: ask whether you must keep fixed times in the institute or laboratory.
- Teaching and administration: if the contract assigns a share to tasks outside your dissertation, it counts as working time.
Part-time post or scholarship: what is the difference?
A scholarship is not employment. The Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act regulates employment relationships, so the right to part-time work applies only to posts with an employment contract. For a scholarship, the guidelines of the scholarship provider decide how far you may take on other work.
If you weigh a part-time post against a scholarship, compare taxes and social-insurance contributions too. The basics are explained in the German guide on scholarship taxes, and the funding question in the German guide on financing a doctorate.
Related reading
- Dr. or Ph.D.: Which doctoral title you may use in Germany
- Promotion in Deutschland: Wege, Dauer, Finanzierung und Doktortitel (in German)
- Promotion finanzieren: Stelle, Stipendium oder Eigenmittel im Vergleich (in German)
- Health insurance during a doctorate (in German)
Sources: Section 8 TzBfG, gesetze-im-internet.de (accessed October 2026); TV-L pay table from 1 April 2026, reproduced by the GEW (as of April 2026); Tax calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (as of October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
