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How can I fund my doctorate at MLU?

What are the financing options for your living expenses whilst doing your doctorate at the Martin Luther University?

Scholarships from your native country

Some countries, e.g. Brazil, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Iraq, have launched their own undergraduate and graduate student scholarship programmes, also known as government grants. Applications must be carried out in the respective country.

Grants from a German funding organization

The scholarship possibilities in Germany are numerous. Most foreign doctoral students come to Germany by means of a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Applications need to be submitted in your native country. Please check with the respective branch office or the appropriate information centre (IC) of the DAAD in your home country.

• The DAAD network – Regional offices & information centres    

Employment at the university

Employment at Martin Luther University may take the form of a project position (externally funded project), a budgetary position (funded by the university budget) or by gaining a contract as a research assistant. Please ask your doctoral supervisor if he or she can offer you a job.

Employment at a non-university research institute

In Germany there are four non-university research institutions with numerous research centres located in various places all across Germany. These are:

• The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG)
• The Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (HFG)
• The Max Planck Institute (MPS)
• The Leibniz Association (WGL).

Non-university research institutions do not have the right to award doctorates but provide employment for post-graduate students. The doctorate is accomplished in cooperation with universities, such as Martin Luther University. In Halle, there are 8 non-university research institutions:

• Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO)    
• Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry    
• Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH)    
• Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics    
• Max Planck Insitute for Social Anthropology    
• Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (Fraunhofer IWM)    
• Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics (Fraunhofer CSP)    
• Helmoltz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ    

Post graduate work in conjunction with a company

Just as non-university research institutions do not have the right to award doctorates, neither do companies. However, companies do often have business interests in particular fields of doctorate work and are therefore also willing to financially support individuals during the doctorate phase. This form of financial support is still relatively rare in Germany. It is best to contact your future PhD supervisor who ideally has established cooperation agreements with companies.

Since 2014, as part of the EU Research Framework Programme Horizon 2020, the EU has been promoting European Industrial Doctorates (EID) as part of the Maria Sklodowska-Curie actions programme. If interested, please contact department 6.1 of the MLU.

Paid work outside the university

A paid job outside of the academic sector can help to pay for the cost of living.

The Career Center at Martin Luther University has an overview of job opportunities in the region and offers workshops and individual support related to job search. They also post a job offer each day here.

Furthermore you can actively search for job vacancies in electronic job portals or by checking the job offers in the newspapers.

After the end of an employment it is usually possible to register as a job seeker and receive unemployment benefits. The contact point for this is the employment agency.

An alternative place to go in Halle in order to register as seeking employment is the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)   .

Family, partner, personal funds

A doctorate can be financed using personal resources, e.g. with savings or through financial support from a partner or parents.

Scholarship databases and useful links

• DAAD - Scholarships Database    
• Scholarship Database "Mystipendium"    
• Scholarship Database "Stipendium Plus"    
• German Funding Programmes for Scientists and Researchers    
• HRK Higher Education Compass    
• ELFI Database    
• Kisswin - Portal for information and advice on scientific careers    
• Advisor Promotion as a woman – financing, promotion, financial aid    

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