A doctorate in physics (German: Promotion in der Physik) leads to the title Dr. rer. nat. Some doctoral students work at a university, others at a non-university research institute such as a Max Planck or Helmholtz institute. Whether you work at a university or an institute changes the fixed-term rules, the contract and your insurance. This guide shows the differences with verified figures.
Short answer: A post at a university may be fixed-term for up to six years under Section 2 WissZeitVG. For non-university research institutes you check the contract, because the law does not name them explicitly. A full-time post in grade E 13 ranged from 4,759.37 to 6,764.69 euros gross per month according to the TV-L table as of October 2026. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- The title is Dr. rer. nat. The doctoral regulations (Promotionsordnung) of the university that accepts your thesis decide access and submission.
- A university and a non-university institute often use different contracts, pay grades and fixed-term rules.
- At a university, a qualification post may be fixed-term for up to six years under Section 2 WissZeitVG.
- With an employment contract, your employer pays its share of social insurance. With a scholarship you usually pay your health insurance yourself.
- For posts outside the university, check the fixed term and any extension in your contract.
University or research institute: what is different?
Physicists earn doctorates at universities, but also at non-university research institutes. Many of these institutes work with a university, which then accepts the thesis. The table shows the main differences to clarify before you accept an offer.
| Point | Post at a university | Post at a research institute |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-term rules | Section 2 WissZeitVG, up to six years | Contract and general fixed-term law, check case by case |
| Doctoral regulations | The university that accepts your thesis | The partner university, usually under its own regulations |
| Pay grading | Often under the TV-L or state law | Set by the employment contract and the institute’s rules |
| Extension for children | By two years per child under 18 (Section 2 (1) sentence 4) | Only if the contract provides for it |
What does a part-time post pay? Worked example at 65 percent in step 1
Assumption: 65 percent of a grade E 13 post at step 1, which means 3,093.59 euros gross per month. The basis is the published TV-L table as of October 2026. The amounts cover only health and long-term care insurance. Income tax, pension and unemployment insurance are not included.
- Health insurance: 8.75 percent employee share, which is 270.69 euros.
- Long-term care insurance: 1.8 percent, which is 55.68 euros. If you are childless and 23 or older, it is 2.4 percent, or 74.25 euros.
The part-time post sits well below the insurance threshold of 6,450 euros per month in 2026. You therefore remain compulsorily insured through your employer. For net pay, use the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance at bmf-steuerrechner.de.
Scholarship: what to keep in mind
Scholarships for physics doctorates follow the rules of the funding bodies. According to the Heinrich Böll Foundation, as of October 2026, the basic scholarship of the funding bodies supported by the federal government was up to 1,750 euros per month, plus allowances. With a scholarship you usually pay your health insurance yourself. The minimum contribution to voluntary statutory health insurance was 222.80 euros per month in 2026.
Post or scholarship in physics: the decision
- Post at a university: contract, working hours and social insurance are clearly set, and the fixed term follows the law.
- Post at a research institute: teams and infrastructure shape daily work. The contract terms may differ from those at a university.
- Scholarship: more freedom in your topic, but health insurance and provision are your responsibility.
- Scholarship: applications, selection and deadlines run through the funding body.
Frequently asked questions
Does the research institute have to cooperate with a university?
Often it does, but check this case by case. Ask which university accepts the doctorate, who supervises you and which doctoral regulations apply.
Does the extension for children also apply outside the university?
The rule in Section 2 (1) sentence 4 WissZeitVG refers to posts covered by that law, which are generally posts at a university. For a post at a research institute, an extension applies if the contract provides for one.
Who pays health insurance during a post?
The employer pays its share and you pay the rest. With a scholarship you usually pay the full contribution yourself, unless you are covered as a family member.
When do you switch to voluntary insurance?
When a post ends or a scholarship runs without an employment contract, voluntary insurance may apply. Report the change promptly to your health insurer. The contribution depends on your income, but at least on the minimum assessment base, which was 1,318.33 euros in 2026.
What to do next
- Find out whether your post is at a university or at a non-university institute.
- Read the doctoral regulations of the university that accepts your thesis.
- Check fixed term, pay grade and extension in the contract before you sign.
- Calculate post or scholarship with the social insurance contributions and clarify your cover.
Related guides
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- Health Insurance for PhD Students in Germany
- Financing a doctorate (in German)
- Doctorate in chemistry
Sources: Destatis, press release on doctorates 2025 (in German, 2 Oct 2026); WissZeitVG Section 2, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, retrieved October 2026); WissZeitVG Section 1, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values (in German, 1 Jan 2026); Heinrich Böll Foundation, scholarship amounts (in German, as of October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
