Welcome to the Graduate Academy
Doctoral Studies in Heidelberg
We provide information about the academic prerequisites for doctoral studies in Heidelberg, the steps necessary for beginning your studies, language requirements, funding and doctoral regulations.
News and Events
Check our news section for updates about events for doctoral students, fellowships, doctoral programmes etc. Stay up-to-date – subscribe to our newsletter!
Advising and Support
Our service center team is happy to advise you both in the planning phase as well as during your doctoral studies.
Funding
The Graduate Academy awards doctoral fellowships as well as grants for doctoral candidates and postdocs. Our service center team can also help you with your search for external funding opportunities (information about funding agencies, support with research proposals etc.).
Career Development
Take part in the Graduate Academy seminar program and obtain the skills needed to begin or finish your doctoral studies.
International doctoral candidates
The multilingual team in our service center can provide information about visas, residence permits, housing, and general questions about life in Heidelberg.
The Graduate Academy is the central coordinating body for all support services related to general advising, professional and academic development and financial assistance for doctoral candidates at Heidelberg University. On our website, you will find information about pursuing a doctoral degree at the University, about the courses offered by the Graduate Academy, about sources of funding for doctoral candidates as well as many other relevant topics.
The Graduate Academy is also the first point of contact for University professors and researchers who wish to create new training opportunities and programs for doctoral candidates.
Current News and Events
+++++ UPDATE: CORONA VIRUS +++++
Because of the current measures to contain the coronavirus infections, we have suspended our open office hours until further notice. We are happy to continue to help you by email or by telephone. Please stay healthy and feel free to contact us!
Email: graduateacademy@uni-heidelberg.de
Telephone: +49 (0) 6221 54-19765 or 54-19763 or 54 19768
Coronavirus - Information from Heidelberg University
Heidelberg University has compiled information about the coronavirus on the following webpages:
Frequently asked questions about study courses (contains information for doctoral candidates, too)
Information about the coronavirus
Because of the current closures due to the precautions against the further spread of the corona virus, there have been temporary changes in the procedures for applying for admission to the university and for enrolling.
Application for admission to the university:
As we have temporarily suspended our open office hours, you can send your application documents for admission to the university by regular mail to our office. We will check your application and either forward it to the appropriate university office or let you know if there are any problems. A complete list of the application documents can be found here at "Step 5: Admission to the University". Please note that you will need to submit certified copies as specified in the list. Please also make sure to clearly indicate your contact information on the application form so that we can reach you if needed.
Enrollment at the university:
If you have already received your letter of admission to Heidelberg University for the summer semester 2020, please be aware that the enrollment procedure has been changed due to a new ordinance passed by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts. In the current situation, enrollment will be carried out by regular postal mail. Please find detailed information about the new enrollment procedure here: enrollment by regular post.
Coming (back) to Germany – what procedure needs to be followed when you are arriving or returning from abroad?
Based on standard criteria applicable nationwide, everyone returning after a stay of several days abroad is required to go straight into domestic quarantine for a binding period of 14 days. Immediately on arrival, persons entering Baden-Württemberg by land, sea or air from another country outside Germany are obliged to make their way directly to their homes or another suitable accommodation and to self-isolate there continuously for a period of 14 days; this also applies to persons who have first entered another state of the Federal Republic of Germany. Furthermore, they are obliged, without delay, to contact the health authority responsible for them and to report their entry. Excerpt taken from the website of Heidelberg University.
The Foreigners’ Registration Office of Heidelberg has provided the following information about their current situation:
Due to staff shortages, only urgent services can be provided at the moment. We kindly ask you to contact us by email at: zuwanderung-servicepoint@heidelberg.de
Please drop applications and other documents in the mailbox or send them electronically. In particularly urgent cases you can call us at 5817520.
Writing Contest „Super-Vision – Successful PhD Partnerships and Where to Find Them“ – deadline for submissions extended: June 15, 2020
The Graduate Academy and the Heidelberg Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HGGS) are happy to announce the first writing contest for doctoral canidates at Heidelberg University. Under the motto “Super-Vision – Successful PhD Partnerships and Where to Find Them” we are looking for original, creative and inspirational texts (max. length: 8,000 characters) portraying your positive experiences of doctoral supervision.
The extended deadline for submission is June 15, 2020. By participating you will have the chance of winning one of three vouchers for the amount of EURO 150 (to be spent on coaching, materials, or professional mobility such as conferences, research visits etc. related to your academic work).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some prospective participants of this competition indicated that for avoiding any kind of conflict of interest or bias they prefer to remain anonymous and/or to use a pseudonym for their text. This is absolutely fine with us, but please be reminded that we need your full contact information for the submission in order to establish eligibility and handle the prizes for the winners. Furthermore, we would kindly request you to also check with any actual people who may appear in your text whether or not they wish to remain anonymous. For any further questions on the matter, feel free to contact us directly.
► Complete information about the writing contest is available online.
New! +++ Digital services of the Graduate Academy in the summer semester 2020
In order to continue providing the best possible opportunities for your career development, we have assembled a collection of online workshops and digital resources for self-study, which we will be updating continuously from now on. We will also be able to offer some of the workshops from our summer semester 2020 seminar program as online courses and we have added new modules to our e-learning program.
Training in online teaching methods – free access to the Epigeum e-learning course "University Teaching" until 31 May 2020
In light of recent developments at many higher education institutions, Epigeum has made the online course "University Teaching" freely available until the end of May. Anyone tackling an unexpected or abrupt transition to digital course delivery is welcome to make use of the following modules which are part of the course:
- Teaching Online presents the fundamental principles of online pedagogy, guiding users through the “nuts and bolts” of designing, delivering, and evaluating online courses for the first time. It also includes a stand-alone course to support students in making the most of their online learning experience.
- Blended Learning explores the strategic and practical implications of integrating face-to-face and online methods in teaching and learning, covering a range of models and approaches, and including advice on fostering a blended learning culture.
- University Teaching: Core Skills, Planning and Preparing Learning Activities instructs those who are new to teaching on designing, structuring, and sequencing learning, with practical strategies for facilitating active learning in online and blended environments
- University Teaching: Core Skills, Addressing Barriers to Student Success provides guidance on developing an inclusive and supportive learning environment, including advice on navigating stressful periods, and delivering online wellbeing support
Further details (including on how to access the course) can be found here
+++ Online-Workshop und -Sprechstunde "Schreibberatung für internationale Doktoranden/innen" am 6. Mai +++
Der nächste Workshop zur Schreibberatung für internationale Doktorandinnen und Doktoranden, die ihre Dissertation auf Deutsch schreiben, wird online durchgeführt. Er findet am 6. Mai von 14:00–16:00 Uhr statt. Davor bietet unsere Tutorin Julia Fauth ab 13 Uhr eine offene Online-Sprechstunde an.
Kontakt:
E-Mail: ga-sprachberatung@uni-heidelberg.de
ZEIT Campus: Ratgeber Promotion (only in German)
Der vor kurzem erschienene Promotionsratgeber von ZEIT Campus richtet sich an Doktorandinnen und Doktoranden in allen Promotionsphasen und stellt viele Tipps für die Disseration vor. Der Ratgeber liegt kostenfrei bei der Graduiertenakademie aus und steht ansonsten auch online zum Download bereit.
Mehr Informationen:
► ZEIT Campus Ratgeber Promotion
► Online-Ausgabe – ZEIT Campus: Ratgeber Promotion 
Our E-Learning program
We are offering a wide range of E-Learning courses - please register by email, if you are interested in obtaining a license for any of these courses!
Registration: Please by email to ga-seminare@uni-heidelberg.de.
