Guides

How many hours a PhD alongside a job takes, how to plan leave and what the statutory minimum leave under German law means, with a worked example and sources.

DAK or AOK for students: a substitute fund compared with a general local health fund. The 2026 contribution, statutes, deadlines and switching explained.

Honorary doctorates, bought titles and withdrawn doctorates follow different rules in Germany. This guide explains the rules, the procedure and where to ask for a binding answer.

A good supervision starts with a clear request and an Exposé. A supervision agreement then sets out meetings, timetable and routes for conflicts.

Travel costs in the German legal clerkship: whether your employer reimburses trips to training placements, and how the commuting allowance of 0.38 euros per kilometre works.

Doctoral scholarships in Germany for 2027 compared: sponsorship and profile of the funding bodies, federal maximum rates and what to check before applying.

A cooperative doctorate links a university with a university of applied sciences. Here is what the law in North Rhine-Westphalia says and what to clarify first.

The University of Bielefeld lists 351.65 euros for the winter semester 2026/27, after 333.65 euros in the summer. Here are the items, the increase and the deadline of 31 August 2026.

Social insurance for a PhD position in Germany: what the employer pays, the 2026 contribution rates, the assessment ceilings and a worked example with figures.

The DAAD doctoral scholarship for non-EU citizens: 1,400 euros per month, funding period, exclusions and how to apply, last updated October 2026.