The DFG funds a Research Training Group for a maximum of nine years, divided into two funding periods. In the case of Research Training Groups whose establishment proposal is decided by November 2021, both funding periods last four and a half years. For Research Training Groups whose establishment proposal is decided on in May 2022 or later, the first funding period is five years and the second funding period is four years.

In Research Training Groups whose establishment proposal is decided on by November 2021, the individual funding period of a doctoral researcher is generally 36 months.

In addition, doctoral researchers in these Research Training Groups who were in DFG-funded employment in December 2020 and received funding for less than 36 months, or who took up a doctoral position in the Research Training Group at a later time, can receive funds for up to 48 months from the Research Training Group funding. The decision regarding possible funding extensions from the funds available to the Research Training Group beyond the standard funding period of 36 months is made by the respective Research Training Group itself.

In Research Training Groups whose establishment proposal is decided on in May 2022 or later, the maximum individual funding period of a doctoral researcher is 48 months. This depends on the qualification scheme in the individual Research Training Group.

In addition, the individual maximum funding period of 48 months may not be exceeded in any Research Training Group.

If the review of the renewal proposal does not result in a renewal decision, the Research Training Group can apply for completion funding for the doctoral researchers still working on their doctorates at that time.

In Research Training Groups for which a decision on the establishment proposal is made by November 2021, completion funding can be requested for a maximum of 18 months, but only until the individual standard funding period of 36 months is reached.

In Research Training Groups for which a decision on the establishment proposal is made in May 2022 or later, completion funding can be requested for a maximum of 12 months, but only until the individual standard funding period of 48 months is reached.

Graduate Schools have been financed from 2006 until 2019 through a funding line of the Excellence Initiative, which is financed by the federal government and the governments of the federal states. A Graduate School (GSC) is intended to support the profiling of the institution through appropriate early career support while delivering economic and structural added value for the university and the participating departments. Its size and thematic breadth are therefore determined by the university's strategies. There are no strict rules relating to size or structure – for example the participating researchers, institutes or doctoral researchers.

Research Training Groups (RTGs) have been funded by the DFG since 1990. In contrast to Graduate Schools, they pursue a focused research programme and the number of participants is restricted.

In recent years, Graduate Schools, which are funded through the Excellence Initiative, have been joined by other structures and programmes for the support of graduates at higher education institutions. Useful information about applying for funding for Research Training Groups is available in the information sheet on the positioning of Research Training Groups within the environment of other doctoral programmes.

Here you can find the form for the Guidelines on the Positioning of Research Training Groups in the Context of Other Doctoral Programmes (DFG form 1.309(interner Link)).

A Research Unit is a group of outstanding researchers who collaborate closely on a research task. The most important aspect is the research results and not the qualification of individual research assistants, although they may obtain their doctorates as part of the group. Proposals for Research Units must contain a detailed description of the sub-projects in the same way as proposals in the Individual Grants Programme.

Research Training Groups are characterised by an overarching research programme, which must offer suitable material for doctoral projects. It must also be clear how doctoral researchers benefit by being members of the group. In addition to the quality of research, the programmes for the qualification and supervision of doctoral researchers are therefore also of prime importance.

DFG staff is glad to advise you on the most suitable funding programme for your research idea.

All Research Training Groups funded by the DFG offer doctoral researchers an introduction to the international scientific community and an international environment. A Research Training Group (RTG) is expected to maintain close contacts with researchers in other countries, invite visiting researchers from abroad, recruit doctoral researchers internationally and allow them to spend time working abroad and attend international conferences.

International Research Training Groups (IRTGs)(interner Link) are a programme variation of Research Training Groups. As well as the international aspects of an RTG outlined above, they also involve a formalised cooperation with a partner institution abroad, or less commonly more than one partner institution, with which the research programme and supervision programme are jointly carried out. All doctoral researchers complete one or more research visits to the partner institution (normally of between 6 and 12 months) and receive co-supervision from a lecturer at the partner institution. Doctoral researchers from the partner institution also spend an extended period working at the German institution in the IRTG. Detailed information is available in the information sheet on the distinction between International Research Training Groups and Research Training Groups (DFG form 1.312(interner Link)).

Experience has shown that an IRTG functions best when both partners make an equal and complementary contribution. You should therefore only apply for an IRTG if the cooperation is an equal one and your international partners have the same degree of interest in the collaboration and the exchange. Rather than applying for an IRTG, it is also possible to apply for an RTG with a strong international orientation and plan a transition to an IRTG in the second funding period, which you can work towards during the first period.

For more advice, please contact the responsible contact person(interner Link) at the DFG Head Office.

In order to apply for an IRTG it is usually an essential requirement that you have already collaborated successfully with your international colleagues in a particular framework. You and your partners should also consider the question of complementary funding from the outset (see matching funding).

In the case of preparing an IRTG proposal you can apply to the DFG for funds for a preparatory workshop. Please note the guidelines on applying for funding for preparatory meetings for International Research Training Groups (DFG form 1.306(interner Link)). Please direct any questions you may have to the contact person(externer Link) responsible for your federal state.

To be successful, IRTGs need equally strong groups in both countries with complementary interests and expertise. It is also important that the partners have the necessary means to ensure that the collaboration and the doctoral exchange work well. Applying for matching funding is your partner's responsibility. It does not matter what source these funds come from.

The DFG has agreements with various research funding organisations abroad regarding applications and bilateral funding for IRTGs. However, in the case of countries with which there are currently no such agreements, suitable solutions can normally be found. Please get in touch with the contact person(externer Link) at DFG Head Office responsible for the relevant country at an early stage.

Applying for matching funding is always your partner's responsibility. The partner should make contact with a funding organisation in their home country as early as possible to find out about opportunities and conditions relating to matching funding.

Please get in touch with the contact person(externer Link) responsible for the relevant country at DFG Head Office in advance to find out about the details of the process.

No, there are no quotas for either research areas or countries. All proposals for the establishment or renewal of an RTG or IRTG are subject to the same conditions in the review process and compete against one another.

The application and review process is identical for IRTGs and RTGs. During the review process, special attention is given to the implementation of the collaboration in the research programme and the joint supervision and qualification programme. For IRTGs, in some cases there is cooperation with international partner organisations of the DFG during the review stage. Before applying for an IRTG, please refer to the guidelines on Research Training Groups and International Research Training Groups (DFG form 50.07(interner Link)).

Proposals for Research Training Groups are submitted by the university or equivalent institution which acts as the applicant. The proposal is signed by the designated spokesperson and the university leadership. Please submit a copy of the proposal through the responsible ministry in your federal state to give the ministry the opportunity to comment.

There are two stages in the decision-making process for Research Training Groups.

In the first stage, a draft proposal is reviewed in a written process. On the basis of the draft proposal and the review, the responsible DFG Review Board discusses the draft proposal in its regularly occurring meetings and formulates a recommendation for the Senate Committee on Research Training Groups. On the basis of the draft proposal, the written reviews and the recommendation of the Review Board the Senate Committee on Research Training Groups makes the final positive or negative recommendation about the submission of an establishment proposal. This recommendation-decision.

In the second stage, an establishment proposal is submitted and reviewed in situ at your institution. The results of the review form the basis for the funding decision that is prepared by the Senate Committee on Research Training Groups and decided by the Grants Committee on Research Training Groups. The meetings of the Senate and the Grants Committee on Research Training Groups take place twice a year, usually early May and early November.

If you would like to submit a draft, do not hesitate to get in touch with the contact person(externer Link) for your location for advice.

You should expect it to take between one year and 18 months from the submission of the draft to the decision on the full proposal. This includes time spent getting advice, possibly a preparatory workshop in the case of International Research Training Groups, and the review of the draft and full proposal. The Grants Committee on Research Training Groups meets twice a year, usually in early May and early November. Here you can find the Meeting dates of the Grants Committee on Research Training Groups(interner Link) (in German only).

Please get in touch with the contact person(externer Link) for your federal state in good time to allow exact time planning.

Research Training Groups can determine their organisational and management structure flexibly within and align this structure with the needs of the Research Training Group as appropriate. A Research Training Group can be managed by one or more individuals. The internal management and organisational structure can be presented externally (e.g. on the RTG’s dedicated website), and can also be outlined and evaluated accordingly at review sessions.

However, the role of spokesperson within the Research Training Group may only ever be assumed by one of the researchers involved. This individual acts as the central contact person for the DFG. In the course of the funding period, the role of spokesperson can be re-assigned among the researchers involved in the RTG.

The Research Training Group should include between five and ten researchers. The responsible participation of early career researchers is expressly encouraged. These are for example advanced Postdocs, Leaders of a research group or Juniorprofessors experienced in supervision.

Yes, it is possible. Please note that multi-location cooperation can be more challenging the greater the distance between the different locations. You should therefore only propose a multi-location RTG if the joint research topic requires it and if the locations are contributing to the RTG in a complementary and synergetic manner.

If you would like to propose a multi-location RTG, please make sure to describe the value added by such multi-location cooperation in your proposal. This should also include information about why the topic to be explored does not allow for the project to be realised with a group of researchers at your location. Please provide details of how the cooperation between the locations involved is to be realised in practical terms, and how multi-location communication between the participating and doctoral researchers involved is to be ensured in connection with the qualification programme in particular. This account should be more detailed the further apart the locations in question are.

Involvement of individual researchers from another location in a Research Training Group is possible in exceptional cases, if the group’s discipline-specific expertise is enhanced as a result. Necessity of such involvement must be based on the planned research topic and should be explained. Independent of this type of involvement, it is assumed that the research and qualification programme is realised for all group members at the RTG’s location. Involvement of individuals from another location does not give rise to a multi-location Research Training Group.

If the topics of the Collaborative Research Centre and the Research Training Group are closely related, it is both advisable and necessary to fund them together. For Research Training Groups established separately from a Collaborative Research Centre, the usual DFG procedural rules to prevent duplicate funding apply. Thematic overlap is permitted if the Research Training Group offers sufficient unique features in terms of content or structure. A structural unique feature might be the establishment of an International Research Training Group, for example.

Information about the review criteria is available in the information sheet, which is also handed out to the reviewers (DFG form 1.304 - Establishment Proposals(interner Link) or DFG form 1.305 - Renewal Proposals(interner Link)).

Establishment and project renewal reviews are carried out at the university where the RTG is to be set up, or is already located.

Please refer to the proposal preparation instructions for information about objectives and the agenda of the review. 

• DFG form 54.05 - Proposal Preparation Instructions - Proposals to Establish Research Training Groups and International Research Training Groups)(interner Link)
• DFG form 54.07 - Proposal Preparation Instructions - Research Training Groups and International Research Training Groups (Renewal Proposals)(interner Link)

Collaboration with a company, a non-profit organisation or a public institution as (application) partner can be greatly beneficial for doctoral researchers. This is why this type of cooperation is expressly welcome and encouraged. It is important in this context that the general conditions of collaboration, and in particular matters related to commercial use of research results and publication activities, are contractually agreed in advance. 

Please observe the following guidelines and use the templates specified below if you are planning to cooperate with any commercial enterprises.

• DFG form 4.02 - Guidelines on the Participation of Commercial Enterprises in Research Projects(interner Link)
• DFG form 41.026 ‒ Model of a Cooperation Agreement between Academic Research Institutions and Commercial Enterprise(interner Link)

In principle it is possible to apply for one or more transfer projects within a funded Research Training Group. For more information, please refer to the guidelines on Research Training Groups and International Research Training Groups (DFG form 50.07(interner Link)) and the guidelines on knowledge transfer projects (DFG form 54.06(interner Link)).

We recommend that you seek advice from DFG Head Office beforehand. For an initial consultation, please get in touch with the contact person(externer Link) in the Research Careers division responsible for knowledge transfer.

You can publish advertisements for posts in DFG-funded projects(interner Link), including Research Training Groups, on the DFG website. The European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (KoWi)(externer Link) also publishes information about available jobs at German research institutions. On the European mobility portal Euraxess(externer Link) you can both publish job advertisements and view the curriculum vitae of people who are interested in doctoral research.

Doctoral researchers whose post or fellowship is not funded by RTG funds but by other means can join the Research Training Group as associate members. As such, they can benefit from the facilities and funds (e.g. travel funds) of the RTG. The acceptance and supervision of associate members is subject to the same criteria and requirements as for doctoral researchers funded from RTG funds.

The Research Training Group itself is responsible for the selection and acceptance of doctoral researchers. Questions relating to residence, visas etc. should be discussed in plenty of time with your university's International Office or Welcome Centre. You will also find useful tips on the European mobility portal Euraxess(externer Link).

One of the features of Research Training Groups is that they offer doctoral researchers an excellent environment for research and intensive supervision. However, it is still advisable to document in writing the responsibilities and obligations of both parties, supervisor and supervisee, the basic principles of the supervisory relationship and other framework conditions. The DFG has compiled recommendations as to what points to take into consideration in a supervision agreement (DFG form 1.90(interner Link), in German only). 

The use of funds in a Research Training Group is subject to budget year earmarking. This means that funds allocated for a specific budget year may only be used during this budget year. All funds left over at the end of the calendar year are returned to the DFG. Only in exceptional cases it is possible to carry a limited amount over to the next calendar year.

However, to allow flexibility in the use of funds, all funds not earmarked for specific purposes may be used for other cost items. This includes both direct project costs and funding for staff. However, funds must always be used in a way that serves the aim of the Research Training Group – i.e. the qualification of doctoral researchers – and the scientific quality of the research and qualification programme. Rejections or partial rejections in the award letter must not be circumvented. Please note the principles regarding budget year earmarking and repurposing in the guidelines for use for Research Training Groups with rules of good scientific practice (DFG form 2.22(interner Link), in German only).

If possible you should request all the funds required for the Research Training Group in the establishment proposal and renewal proposal. Additional proposals are only possible in certain cases, which are described in appendix III of the guidelines for use for Research Training Groups with rules of good scientific practice (DFG form 2.22(interner Link), in German only). 

Please direct any queries to the contact person(externer Link) at DFG Head Office responsible for your Research Training Group.

During the current funding period more principal investigators can be appointed, either in a cost-neutral way or with additional costs. In both cases a supplemental proposal suitable for review must be submitted.

In the supplemental proposal you must state how the new principal investigator is to be integrated into the research and into the qualification programme. And the scientific CV of the PI should be included. If additional means are requested a justification of these means is necessary. The research project and its fitting into the research programme of the research training group as well as its suitability for a PhD-project needs to be stated.

In case the number of principal investigators exceeds the maximum number of ten through this supplement, please justify.

Formal conditions and timelines for a supplemental proposal with additional means due to additional PI(s) can be found in the DFG form for Proposal Preparation Instructions (DFG form 54.05 - Establishment Proposals(interner Link) or 54.07 - Renewal Proposals(interner Link)), respectively. More information can be found in appendix V of the proposal preparation instructions.

The DFG programme contacts(externer Link) in your field of research will be happy to provide you with further information.

If support is necessary, e.g. if the expectant mother handles substances which are toxic to reproduction as part of her research and is not allowed to carry out the work herself, the funds needed for support can usually be provided from the funds already approved by the DFG. If necessary, additional funding can be made available. For further information please have a look at the detailed information on equal opportunity in DFG funding(interner Link).

It goes without saying for the DFG that people with a chronic illness or disability should also be allowed to participate in DFG-funded Research Training Groups on an equity basis. Please note that for members of the Research Training Group with a recognised severe disability or whose condition has equal status to that of a severe disability, priority must be given to the benefits provided under the social security system and the relevant agencies on site should be consulted for advice where relevant. This might be the works council, the Integration Officer or the local representative body for severely disabled employees at the research institution. Support is also available for those concerned and for the employer from the authorities responsible (e.g. the Integration Office(externer Link), in German only). Those affected by health-related restrictions in particular should refer to the so-called “Complementary Independent Participation Counselling”(externer Link) (EUTB).

Originally set up in connection with a research project, the external website “PROMI – Promotion inklusive”(externer Link) (in German only) also provides information geared specifically to the target group on the topic of doing a doctorate with a disability. In addition to an introductory accessible video, detailed information is provided (in German and English) for those taking a doctorate who have health-related restrictions. Specific information is also provided for supervisors of doctoral candidates with disabilities and for the employing institution.

If you have any special questions regarding DFG funding for a Research Training Group relating to a disability or chronic illness, please contact the DFG Head Office for advice.

In the case of doctoral researchers who are unable to work due to illness where there is no statutory or collectively agreed entitlement to continued payment of remuneration, for example, it is possible to reactivate unused staff funding at a later date on a person-specific basis. There is also the option of working part-time for personal reasons such as a disability or chronic illness while at the same time extending the term of the contract. If there is any indication of such a situation arising, please contact the person responsible for your Research Training Group at the DFG Head Office right away so as to have the use of funds approved.

The contact persons(interner Link) at Research Careers are happy to help if you have any questions about the proposal and decision-making procedure for Research Training Groups.

The contact persons(interner Link) at Finance are happy to help if you have any questions regarding financial administration of Research Training Groups.

If you have any questions about the proposal submission and decision-making procedure for Research Training Groups, please contact Research Careers(interner Link).

The majority of Research Training Groups offer posts. In accordance with the relevant collective bargaining agreement for public employees in Germany, the remuneration for these posts is 65% to 100% of a full-time post at TV-L E13 level and is usually based on alternative posts available in the same geographical area and research area. Please contact the individual Research Training Group for information about the specific conditions.

In addition, you may receive funding for consumables and travel expenses from the funds of the Research Training Group in order to carry out your research and present it at conferences. The Research Training Group is responsible for deciding how funds are allocated.

If you want to undertake a doctorate you can receive funding in Research Training Groups, Graduate Schools or in DFG-funded projects. In addition, some Collaborative Research Centres offer 'Integrated Research Training Groups'. Available posts are advertised on our website with the job advertisements from DFG-funded projects.

Posts are awarded by Research Training Groups, Collaborative Research Centres or project leaders themselves. Please apply directly to the persons in charge of these institutions or projects.

You cannot apply to the DFG for individual funding for your doctorate, as one of the basic requirements for submitting proposals to the DFG is that you must already hold a doctorate.

To find out about the funding opportunities offered by the DFG at different career stages, please see the information pages on research careers.

• Job advertisements from DFG-funded projects(interner Link)
• Funding / Research Careers(interner Link)

The DFG is not involved in the awarding of posts for doctoral researchers. Please contact the persons in charge of the institution or project you want to join. They will also be able to tell you if there are any available posts.

You can search for a thematically suitable group in the list of currently funded Research Training Groups. All DFG-funded projects are also listed in the GEPRIS information system. Here you can search by research area, individual researcher, university or type of programme.

The website lists job advertisements from DFG-funded projects.

• GEPRIS: List of currently funded Research Training Groups(externer Link)
• Job advertisements from DFG-funded projects(interner Link)

The DFG cannot fund doctorates abroad. However, as a doctoral researcher in a Research Training Group you can benefit from international contacts and spend time researching abroad. In the programme variation of International Research Training Groups, research visits of several months (usually 6 to 12 months) to the international partner institution form part of the programme. However, a doctorate entirely carried out abroad is not possible with a post in a Research Training Group.

Specific requirements are defined by individual Research Training Groups and projects as well as the applicable doctoral regulations. In general terms, you should have a very good university degree, completed within a fairly short space of time, a genuine interest and talent in research. Your main area of interest and your qualifications should also be relevant to the topic of the group or project. You should have demonstrated motivation and scientific interest in your studies so far and, preferably, you should have some initial experience of research work. Your doctorate should also form a logical link with your professional career so far and your future career plans.

If you hold a bachelor’s degree or other degree that is not recognised as a doctoral admission requirement according to the respective examination regulations, you should consult the spokesperson of the Research Training Group to enquire about admission requirements. Some Research Training Groups offer qualification fellowships (€934/month) for a maximum of 12 months in order to enable rapid admission to doctoral studies for those interested in such cases.

No. The selection of suitable applicants in Research Training Groups and other DFG-funded projects should take place in a performance-based, transparent process which is focused on the qualities offered by candidates and not their age.

Yes, of course. The leaders of Research Training Groups and projects welcome applications from international applicants. Many DFG-funded projects and institutions run their study programmes in English and offer language courses for international doctoral researchers.

To find out what language skills you will need as a doctoral researcher, please contact the leaders of Research Training Groups and DFG-funded projects directly.

The individual funding period for doctoral researchers in a Research Training Group is usually at least 36 months. In addition, it is possible for the individual funding period in certain Research Training Groups to be extended to up to 48 months, or else a longer individual funding period of up to 48 months can be enabled from the outset. To find out the details, get in touch with the spokesperson of the Research Training Group you are interested in.

You normally enter into an employment contract with the university. The DFG recommends that a supervision agreement should be signed in which the responsibilities and obligations of both parties, supervisor and supervisee, the basic principles of the supervisory relationship and the general framework are defined.

• DFG form 1.90 ‒ Recommendations on the writing of supervision agreements (in German only)(interner Link)

Research Training Groups and projects must submit concepts for the support of equal opportunity in order to obtain DFG funding. DFG research groups can apply for money which is specifically used to support women in their research careers. It is also expected that women will be represented in an appropriate number at all levels of the group. Additional support is available for doctoral researchers with families.

• Equal opportunity in DFG funding(interner Link)

Research Training Groups must submit concepts for ways of balancing family and research in order to obtain DFG funding. The usual statutory requirements and benefits for a university post apply. The university is also expected to make suitable childcare measures available. More detailed information is available from the equal opportunity officer at your university.

For parents in receipt of a fellowship, the maximum individual funding period may be extended by up to 12 months if they share a household with their children up to the age of 12 years. If you do not use this extension, or do not use the full extension, you may receive financial resources for childcare instead.

If you are funding your doctorate through a post, the usual statutory requirements and benefits apply. The university is also expected to make suitable childcare measures available. More detailed information is available from the equal opportunity officer at your university.

It goes without saying for the DFG that people with a chronic illness or disability should also be allowed to participate in DFG-funded Research Training Groups on an equity basis. Please note that for members of the Research Training Group with a recognised severe disability or whose condition has equal status to that of a severe disability, priority must be given to the benefits provided under the social security system and the relevant agencies on site should be consulted for advice where relevant. This might be the works council, the Integration Officer or the local representative body for severely disabled employees at the research institution. Support is also available for those concerned and for the employer from the authorities responsible (e.g. the Inclusion Office or Integration Office, for further details see: www.bih.de(externer Link)). Those affected by health-related restrictions in particular should refer to the so-called “Complementary Independent Participation Counselling” (EUTB) (www.bmas.de/DE/Service/Publikationen/Broschueren/a772e-ergaenzende-unabhaengige-teilhabeberatung-englisch.html(externer Link)).  

Originally set up in connection with a research project, the external website “PROMI – Promotion inklusive” also provides information geared specifically to the target group on the topic of doing a doctorate with a disability. In addition to an introductory accessible video, detailed information is provided (in German and English) for those taking a doctorate who have health-related restrictions. Specific information is also provided for supervisors of doctoral candidates with disabilities and for the employing institution: https://promi.uni-koeln.de/(externer Link). 

If you have any special questions regarding DFG funding for a Research Training Group relating to a disability or chronic illness, please contact the DFG Head Office for advice.

In the case of doctoral researchers who are unable to work due to illness where there is no statutory or collectively agreed entitlement to continued payment of remuneration, for example, it is possible to reactivate unused staff funding at a later date on a person-specific basis. There is also the option of working part-time for personal reasons such as a disability or chronic illness while at the same time extending the term of the contract. If there is any indication of such a situation arising, please contact the person responsible for your Research Training Group at the DFG Head Office right away so as to have the use of funds approved.

As a doctoral researcher in a DFG Research Training Group, you can organise workshops with members of thematically related RTGs to discuss research results and experiences and to network. If you are interested, please talk to the spokesperson of your RTG.

Thanks to an agreement between the DFG and the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes), as a doctoral researcher in a Research Training Group you have the chance to participate in doctoral forums run by the Foundation in your research area. Doctoral forums in the three areas of society, culture and nature are held twice a year. If you are interested, please speak to the spokesperson of your Research Training Group in the first instance. The contact person at the German Academic Scholarship Foundation is Guy Tourlamain (tourlamain@studienstiftung.de(externer Link); +49 228/82096-282).

• Information about doctoral forums on the website of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (in German only)(externer Link)

The RISE programme enables doctoral researchers in Research Training Groups and Collaborative Research Centres in the natural and engineering sciences to invite and host research fellows from North America. If you are interested, please contact the spokesperson of your RTG.

• Further information about the RISE programme(interner Link)
• Information about RISE on the website of the DAAD(externer Link)

No, the DFG does not award any funding for completing a doctorate. Research Training Groups are expected to ensure that doctoral researchers are able to complete their doctoral theses swiftly within the planned timeframe by providing close supervision, a favourable research environment and suitable doctoral topics. If the doctorate is not completed during the period of funding under the Research Training Group, the supervisors or the university are called upon to grant or arrange for final funding.

If you are a member of a Research Training Group, you can share in the publication funds available to the group. The participating researchers are responsible for deciding how these funds are allocated.

If you are not a member of a Research Training Group, it is not impossible in principle to obtain assistance with printing costs from the DFG for a dissertation, but the hurdles are fairly high. More information is available in the guidelines "Publication Grants" (DFG form 51.10).

If the DFG is unable to help you, there are various other foundations and organisations which may be able to offer assistance.

• Publication Grants (DFG form 51.10)(interner Link)
• List of foundations and organisations(externer Link)

Your topic should be in an area that interests you and in which you are qualified. Discuss possible ideas with experienced researchers to make sure of the feasibility and quality of your final choice. Most importantly, you should speak to your supervisor to ensure an effective supervisory relationship. In spite of careful preparation, doctoral topics often change and crystallise during the research process.

If you want to undertake your doctorate in a Research Training Group your topic must fit into the research programme of the RTG. The GEPRIS information system is a database that provides details of all DFG-funded Research Training Groups, Graduate Schools and projects. Here you can search by research area, individual researcher, university or type of programme. If you are interested in a programme, please contact the person in charge directly.

There are also job advertisements from DFG-funded projects.

• Link to GEPRIS(externer Link)
• Job advertisements from DFG-funded projects(interner Link)

Your choice of supervisor should firstly be based on the area in which you want to undertake doctoral research. You should also consider how much time your supervisor will have to work with you and how much experience he or she has in supervising doctoral researchers. It is worth discussing these things in a preliminary meeting and also talking to other doctoral researchers who have already been supervised by the individual in question. It is usually helpful and often standard practice to have a second adviser.

If you are undertaking your doctorate as part of a structured programme such as a Research Training Group, there will already be a defined supervision programme which governs the supervision framework.

Generally speaking, it is difficult to predict the quality of the supervision you will receive. Like all interpersonal relationships, the supervisory relationship depends to a large extent on the dynamics and understanding between the two individuals involved. There is also a certain responsibility on your part to build up the relationship. The rights and responsibilities of both parties can be defined in a supervision agreement.

For help with these matters, please contact the International Office or the Welcome Centre at your chosen university. Useful tips for researchers who have newly arrived in Germany can also be found on the European mobility portal Euraxess and the portal “Research in Germany”. For international fellows, the DAAD offers group insurance on relatively low-cost terms.

• Link to European mobility portal Euraxess(externer Link)
• Link to Research in Germany(externer Link)
• Link to DAAD group insurance(externer Link)

While you are working on your doctorate, your research may seem to demand all your attention and it may seem impossible to look beyond the submission of your dissertation. However, it is worthwhile considering from an early stage what you want to do after completing your doctorate. Talk to your supervisors and other people in your field, both academic and non-academic. Take advantage of the university's advice services. This will enable you to make useful contacts while you are still researching and weigh up options which will benefit you later on.

If you plan to stay in research, it is important to know that once you have successfully completed your doctorate you are entitled to submit proposals to the DFG and can submit proposals for your own projects. To encourage early independence on the part of their graduates, some DFG-funded Research Training Groups and also many other DFG joint projects offer what is known as 'start-up funding'. This enables outstanding graduates to receive financial support immediately after completing their doctorates to allow them to develop their own research topics with a view to then submitting independent project proposals. If you are interested in this type of funding, you should contact the leader of the Research Training Group or DFG project to discuss the possibilities. Some universities now offer start-up funding too.

For an idea of what funding opportunities the DFG can offer you at each stage of your career, please visit the information pages on research careers.

• Funding / Research Careers(interner Link)