Technische Universität Berlin
Dept. I – Student Services
International Office
Guidelines for doctoral studies at TU Berlin
for applicants with a foreign university degree
● In Germany only academically very well qualified candidates are admitted to doctoral studies. In all
fields of study the doctoral studies lead towards the academic degree "Doktor/Doktorin” with an
appendix indicating the field of research.
● The schools of the Technische Universität Berlin confer the following titles:
- Doktor/in der Ingenieurwissenschaften (Dr.Ing.) - Engineering
- Doktor/in der Naturwissenschaften (Dr.rer.nat.) - Natural Sciences
- Doktor/in der Philosophie (Dr.phil.) - Humanities
- Doktor/in der Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Dr.rer.oec.) – Economics/Management
- Doktor/in Public Health (Dr.P.H.) – Public Health
● Basically the regulations for doctoral studies at the Technische Universität Berlin allow the admission
of graduates of foreign universities if they have a final degree which is equivalent to the required final
degree in Germany, and if they can present a letter of confirmed supervision from a TUB professor.
The International Office can give you a first estimation whether your final degree entitles you to begin
doctoral studies at TU Berlin:
Peter Marock, TUB main building, room H 42,
Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9.30-12.30h, Tuesday also 14-16h
Tel.: +49 30 314 24692, Fax: +49 30 314 24067
E-mail:
Internet: www.tu-berlin.de/?id=12613
● During his or her doctoral studies the doctoral candidate draws up an extensive scientific work – the
doctoral dissertation or thesis, which can principally be written in German or English (with an abstract
in German and English). In case this work gets accepted by the school, the candidate will have to pass
an oral component of the exam for the doctorate - the scientific defence - which can be held in English.
As opposed to first or second degree study programs there is no fixed plan of studies for doctoral
candidates. In this respect the German model still mostly differs from, for example, the Anglo-Saxon
model of postgraduate studies. TU Berlin does, however, offer some special post-graduate programs:
www.math-berlin.de; www.big-nse.tu-berlin.de; www.tu-doc.de/network
● The doctoral candidates who are not employed at TU Berlin must enrol according to § 4(4) of the TUB
regulations for doctoral studies. For admission and enrolment please contact Graduate Admissions:
www.tu-berlin.de/?id=75472.
● Applications for acceptance as a doctoral candidate are to be put forward to the schools. The basis for
acceptance are the regulations for doctoral studies (“Promotionsordnung”), which you can get from the
schools or from the internet: www.ub.tu-berlin.de/?id=164
We advise the following way of proceeding:
1. Equivalence of your degree(s)
Before you start your doctoral studies/dissertation, you should inquire whether your final degree can be recognized, or whether you have to complete additional studies in order to meet the formal admission requirements for doctoral studies. The International Office (Mr. Peter Marock) can give you basic information regarding this question.
2. Finding a professor
Even if you meet the formal requirements, your admission to doctoral studies is not yet secured. In order to draw up your dissertation, you will usually need a workspace, especially in the natural and engineering sciences. As there is only a limited number of workspaces available in the different departments, these are usually allocated only to especially qualified candidates.
We therefore very much advise you to contact the school of your interest before you come to Germany. You can find the professors and their specific fields of research on the internet: www.tu-berlin.de/?id=12. By any means, do make the professor who has agreed to support your dissertation and to guarantee you a workspace, give you a written confirmation, which is absolutely necessary for enrolment. This letter should also mention the language in which you are going to do your dissertation.
3. Admission and enrolment
For admission and enrolment German applicants with a foreign university degree should contact National Admission in the Campus Center of TU Berlin. Further information is available at www.studienberatung.tu-berlin.de/?id=7516.
International applicants should note the following:
If you have a final degree which entitles you to start your doctoral studies in Germany, and if you have the written confirmation of your professor, you can fill in the “Application Form for Admission to Studies for Foreign Applicants” which you will find at www.tu-berlin.de/?id=75472. There is no deadline for enrolment; you can apply anytime at Graduate Admissions. However, for administrative reasons, we recommend to start either in the Winter Semester (October 1) or the Summer Semester (April 1). The International Admission office will also send you the official TU Berlin acceptance letter (“Zulassungsbescheid”) with which you can apply for a visa if necessary.
After paying the semester fee you will be enrolled, initially for two semesters. At the latest after two semesters you will have to present the decision of the school whether your dissertation project has been accepted (see below).
4. Application as Doctoral Candidate
In the Dean’s office of the respective school, you can get all the necessary information regarding the application procedure for being accepted as a doctoral candidate. We urge you to apply as soon as possible, even when you have up to two semesters after enrolment to do this. Here you will also be advised whether you can be accepted right away, or whether you have to complete additional studies first.
- School I (Humanities): , room H 3043
- School II (Mathematics + Natural Sciences): , room MA 402
- School III (Process Sciences): , room H 8157/58
- School IV (Electrical Engineering + Computer Science): , room FR 5067
- School V (Mechanical Engineering + Transport Systems): ; H 8150
- School VI (Planning Building Environment): , room A 103
- School VII (Economics and Management): , room H 3133