Short answer
PhD funding comes from a position at the university, a scholarship or your own savings. A position brings a salary with social insurance, while a scholarship usually brings more freedom without an employment contract. A full-time position in pay group E13, step 1, was €4,759.37 gross per month from 1 April 2026. Compare the models over the entire period.
| Funding route | Monthly amount (example) | Social insurance | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position, TV-L E13, step 1, full time | €4,759.37 gross | Subject to contributions for health, long-term care, pension and unemployment insurance | TV-L pay table from 1 April 2026, state PDF, check the pay area |
| Position, 65 percent of full time | €3,093.59 gross | As above | Calculated from the table, part-time rate often found in job adverts |
| University PhD scholarship (example) | €1,565 per month, term 6 to 36 months | Usually none, because there is no earnings | Flyer Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, status December 2025 |
| Scholarship from a scholarship foundation (Begabtenförderungswerk) | Varies by foundation and year | Usually none | Not retrieved, check with the foundations |
What does a PhD position pay?
Most PhD positions at universities follow the collective agreement for the Länder (TV-L). Pay group 13 is applied to many academic staff, and the grading is stated in the job advert. From 1 April 2026, step 1 was €4,759.37 gross per month for full-time work. Positions are often advertised at 65 percent, a part-time arrangement that leaves time for your own research. The exact amount is in the job advert, because the step, the state and the fixed term all affect the pay.
What remains from a 65 percent position?
The calculation shows the employee share at 65 percent of pay group 13, step 1, without children, from age 23. Income tax is not included, because it depends on your tax class and other details.
- Gross: €4,759.37 × 65 percent gives €3,093.59 per month.
- Health insurance: 8.75 percent of that is €270.69.
- Long-term care insurance without children from age 23: 2.4 percent of that is €74.25.
- Pension insurance: 9.3 percent of that is €287.70.
- Total deductions without unemployment insurance and tax: €632.64. Net before tax remains €2,460.95 per month.
Unemployment insurance comes on top, and its rate is not included in this calculation. A position also brings pension points and an entitlement to unemployment benefit, provided you meet the conditions.
Is a scholarship worth more than a position?
A scholarship is worthwhile mainly if you want to concentrate fully on research and do not want a fixed employment contract. Scholarships are usually not earnings, so no social insurance contributions are normally due. However, you do not build up pension entitlements through work, and you must arrange your health insurance yourself. An example is the PhD scholarship of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences with €1,565 per month, granted for six months and extendable to up to 36 months. Whether the funding is tax-free is decided by Section 3 no. 44 EStG (see the guide Scholarships: Tax and social insurance (in German)).
How do you fund a PhD from your own resources?
Self-funding means that savings, income from a part-time job or support from family carry the PhD. Plan for the entire period, because a doctorate often takes several years. A part-time job alongside the PhD can supplement your own funds, but it should not take so much time that your research suffers. The limits and pitfalls of financing with loans are explained in the guide Student loans (in German).
Which health insurance applies to PhD students?
With a position you are usually compulsorily insured through your employment. With a scholarship, health insurance depends on whether you are still enrolled, how old you are and whether other cover exists. The details are explained in Health insurance for doctoral candidates (in German).
How to proceed
- Create a table with all income and expenses for the expected period, at least for three years.
- Check job adverts at your university and in your subject, including pay group, scope and fixed term.
- Apply for scholarships in good time, because deadlines differ by funder.
- Before you accept, clarify health insurance and pension insurance for the type of funding.
- Clarify the tax-free status of a scholarship with the tax office if the amount is high.
What to clarify about PhD funding before you accept
An offer for a position or a scholarship sounds like security at first, but says little about the duration. Before you sign, check the contract term and whether it is tied to the length of the doctorate. Ask whether the position can be extended, how the pay is graded and whether social insurance contributions apply. For scholarships, the notice of award shows whether material costs, travel costs or a family supplement are included. These points decide whether the funding lasts until completion.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PhD position better than a scholarship?
That depends on your goal. A position brings salary and social insurance, a scholarship more freedom for research but usually no protection through work.
How much does a pay group E13 position pay?
At step 1, full-time work was €4,759.37 gross from 1 April 2026. At 65 percent it is €3,093.59 gross. The job advert states the exact amount.
Do I have to pay social insurance contributions as a doctoral candidate?
With a position, yes. With a scholarship, usually no contributions are due, because it is not earnings.
Can I fund a doctorate entirely from my own resources?
That is possible if your savings or income are sufficient. Plan for the entire period.
Related guides
- Doctorate in Germany: Paths, doctoral titles and requirements (in German)
- Health insurance for doctoral candidates (in German)
- Finding a scholarship during your studies (in German)
- Scholarships: Tax and social insurance (in German)
Sources and checks
- TV-L pay table from 1 April 2026, pay group 13, state PDF Saxony (annex 2a)
- Flyer PhD scholarship of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, status December 2025, funding amounts from the 2025 section
- Section 3 no. 44 EStG (scholarships), gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 October 2026, version status not stated
- Scholarships and social insurance, RÖDL article of 27 March 2025, last changed according to the page on 3 August 2026 (secondary source)
- Calculation values 2026 (contribution rates), GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet, status 1 January 2026, and pension insurance rate 2026
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
If you want to check your financing as a whole, start with the Academycon online check.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
