Graduating around the globe
KATHARINA SCHEITER & FRANK FISCHER
Germany
In Germany, the expected duration of a doctorate is three years (as determined by the duration of most project funding schemes), with the average being somewhat longer than that. The exact title of the doctorate will depend on the faculty promoting the student. Students doing their doctorate within the Faculty of Science obtain a “Dr. rer. nat.” as their final degree, whereas within the Humanities and Social Sciences a “Dr. phil.” is awarded. Traditionally, doing a PhD was based on a personal relationship with a single supervisor, called the Doktorvater or Doktormutter, for whom the PhD
candidate would work on a research project while at the same time doing the PhD. This situation was, however, criticized, mostly because the PhD students were dependent on a single person’s ability and willingness to promote them. Thus, the level of supervision could vary from nearly nothing to having a great scientific mentor who cared about and supported the student at great length. Moreover, the duration of the doctorate could vary immensely, depending on how much of the seemingly unrelated duties (e.g., teaching, grading, running studies for the supervisor)
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