PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Salaries in Germany

Germany is one of the leading countries for research and a hub for innovation. The country’s high quality of life combined with lower cost of living make it an attractive destination for international researchers. Are you contemplating a move to Germany? Here is a breakdown of the most common German academic jobs and their salaries. All salary statistics in this article are in Euros per month and are pre-tax.

Doctorate Degree

In Germany applicants must apply for a preset doctoral project that is usually tied to a professor’s own research. Students do not do any coursework; they start working on their project immediately. They are also required to take on some teaching responsibilities. The time it takes to earn a doctorate depends on the field, but three to five years is typical.

The salaries of PhD students are based on the federal wage agreement ( Tarifvertrag der Länder or TV-L). There are several pay scales ( Entgeltgruppe ) within the TV-L but PhD students are usually paid at the TV-L E13 level. Within this level, there are three factors that determine the student’s actual salary. The first is the pay grade ( Stufe ) which is based on the number of years of experience you have. Most PhD students start at Stufe 1 and progress through the grades as they gain years of seniority. The next factor is the working hours (50%, 67%, 75%, or 100%) and the final factor which federal state the university is in. You can find the salary calculators for each state here . For example, the salary range for a 100% PhD student is €4,053-€5,701 per month while the range for a 67% PhD student is €2,729-€3,820 per month.

Postdoctoral Researcher/Fellow

After earning their doctorate, researchers go on to a postdoc. A postdoc is a continuation of the researcher’s training that allows them to further specialize in a particular field and learn new skills and techniques. It may require them to take on teaching responsibilities. German postdocs typically last two to four years.

Like all non-tenured academic positions in Germany, postdoc salaries are fairly rigid. They are based on the same TV-L federal wage agreement as PhD salaries. The salaries are determined the same way too, taking into account pay scale, pay grade, working hours, and state. You can find the salary calculators for each state here . Postdocs are paid at the E13 or (less commonly) E14 level , with the exact starting pay grade depending on how their years of experience (bachelor's, Master’s, and PhD) are counted. The salary range for a 100% E13 postdoc is €4,053-€5,701 per month and the salary range for a 100% E14 postdoc is €4,419-€6,076 per month.

Juniorprofessur/Juniordozent

Junior professors positions offer early career academics the opportunity to research, supervision, administration, and teaching experience on equal terms to other university instructors. Junior professorships are usually for three to four years and can be extended for a total of six years. It is often a temporary position, however, certain universities offer a tenure-track option. Germany has recently signed an agreement to create 1,000 tenure-track junior professorships by 2032.

Junior professors, like all German professors, are paid according to the W- Besoldung salary table . This scale dictates base salaries according to which state the university is in. Unlike the PhD and postdoc pay scale, there are no pay grades within this scale. A W1 professor will make minimum €4,713-€5,301 per month.

Professur (W2)

To become a professor, an academic needs to have completed the Habilitation, have a positive evaluation as a junior professor, or have led their own junior research group. W2 professors are considered independent researchers and generally have permanent positions. Internal promotion to these positions is not encouraged in Germany. With the exceptions of junior professors, academics cannot be appointed a professor at the university they did their Habilitation.

The base salary for a W2 professor is €5,365-€6,676 per month depending on which state the university is in. In Bund, Bayern, Hessen, and Sachsen there are multiple pay grades within the W2 band meaning the professor’s salary will increase in five or seven years in the position. Salaries can also be increased by family allowances, retention payments, and performance bonuses. As professors are civil servants with high job security, they do not typically pay the same social insurance contributions as other employees.

Professur (W3)

A W3 professor is the highest German academic position that usually involves responsibility of a chair or for an institute. The requirements to become a full professor are very demanding and as a consequence, there is often a minimum age requirement for this sort of professorship. Professors in Germany are public servants and as such have permanent positions at their universities.

The base salary for a W3 professor is €5,343-€7,578 per month depending on which state the university is in. In Bund, Bayern, Hessen, and Sachsen there are multiple pay grades within the W3 band meaning the professor’s salary will increase in five or seven years in the position. Salaries can also be increased by family allowances, retention payments, and performance bonuses. As professors are civil servants with high job security, they do not typically pay the same social insurance contributions as other employees.

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Doctorate salaries What does a doctoral candidate earn in Germany?

A doctoral degree will certainly only help you to become rich in an idealistic sense. The first contract for a PhD position should have a term of at least one year - after which, graduates are rewarded with their first salary increase.

Envelope as a metaphor for the PhD salary in Germany

What determines the salary of doctoral candidates in Germany?

Which pay band applies to doctoral students in germany, what is the salary of doctorate students in germany, what are levels of experience and how do i gain relevant professional experience during my phd degree in germany, does changing to another research project or institute in germany have an impact on postgraduates' experience level, if doctoral candidates go abroad, become temporarily unemployed or receive a scholarship, what effect does this have on their experience level, what additional salary benefits are there for postgraduates in germany.

Most doctoral candidates are appointed at a university or non-university research institution through a third-party centre or funding centre. These are all civil service institutions, so the salary for employed doctoral candidates is either based on the collective agreement for civil service (TVoeD) or the collective agreement for the civil service in the individual federal states (TV-L). Hesse, which is not a member of the collective agreement community of the federal states, has its own TV-H collective agreement. Other ways to finance your own PhD as a junior scientist include a PhD scholarship, an industrial PhD programme at a research institute in the private sector or an extra-occupational PhD. Even in the case of an industrial PhD programme, postgraduates are usually paid on the basis of a collective agreement. For example, if you are completing your PhD while working for a car manufacturer, the company collective agreement that IG Metall has concluded with the company will apply.

In the case of the TVoeD, TV-L and TV-H, employees are paid according to their professional qualifications and the demands of their job. There are 15 pay bands in this area. Postgraduates are paid in accordance with pay band 13. PhD positions with a classification in pay band 14 are the absolute exception. Advanced postdocs are usually only promoted to a higher pay band if the they take on additional research responsibility. PhD status is no guarantee of promotion to the next pay band.

The collective bargaining agreements between employers and unions are regularly renegotiated. These negotiations aim to improve working conditions and increasing the monthly gross salary of all civil servants. This means that even postgraduates can look forward to a slightly higher salary. As postgraduates rarely fill a full-time position, their actual gross salary needs to be adjusted on the basis of their working hours.

There are newcomers and old hands in every profession. For researchers with a PhD in science, this breadth of experience is taken into account in the experience levels, which each come with a significant salary increase, as is the case for all employees of the civil service. All three collective agreements for civil servants provide for six levels of experience. The time spent at each stage, the stage duration, increases by one year at each stage. According to this scheme, graduates are entry-level applicants. Accordingly, postgraduates start at experience level 1 with the lowest salary. In their first postgraduate position, it is essential that PhD graduates ensure that the contractual term is at least 12 months and that they will be employed for a full year with no interruptions. Employment contracts of less than one year do not qualify as relevant professional experience according to civil service regulations.

When starting in a new position, you are therefore allocated back at Experience level 1 – without taking the progress you have already made into account. This applies even if the change of contract is seamless and remains within the same facility. Experience level 1 must be fully completed in a single employment contract to qualify for Experience level 2. However, once these twelve months have been served, shorter contractual terms then apply as relevant professional experience. Students who are awarded their doctorate within the allocated six years and are employed as a research associate at the same time can therefore also achieve Experience level 4 with a considerable salary when they graduate. It is not important whether you have a full-time position while completing your doctorate or, as is the case for most PhD positions, have a part-time job (50%–75% position).

Employment contracts of less than one year do not qualify as relevant professional experience according to civil service regulations. When starting in a new position, you are therefore allocated back at Experience level 1 – without taking the progress you have already made into account. This applies even if the change of contract is seamless and remains within the same facility. Experience level 1 must be fully completed in a single employment contract to qualify for Experience level 2. However, once these twelve months have been served, shorter contractual terms then apply as relevant professional experience. Students who are awarded their doctorate within the allocated six years and are employed as a research associate at the same time can therefore also achieve Experience level 4 with a considerable salary when they graduate. It is not important whether you have a full-time position while completing your doctorate or, as is the case for most PhD positions, have a part-time job (50%–75% position).

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Many doctoral candidates are employed in third-party funded projects are required to move from job to job to secure their income. Graduates who have been employed for at least a year with one single employment contract and has therefore gained the required professional experience is in fact in a secure position in terms of their experience level. After this point, shorter contractual terms then apply as relevant professional experience. Even switching between different employers, states and collective agreements is no longer a problem, and the duration of each stage remains the same for doctoral candidates and other researchers from now on. However, they must submit an application to their new employer. In the case of a difficult candidate situation, institutions can even accommodate their future employees to some extent, for example by classifying them into the next experience level earlier than usual. However, in such cases, postgraduate must also have completed their first twelve months without interruption. Employees who change from one collective agreement to another as a postgraduate should inquire in advance whether this will have any detrimental effects on their salary. The collective agreements also stipulate a range of very different salaries within Pay band 13.

How do postgraduates fund their studies?

Many doctoral students want to spend a period of time abroad, as this is required in many scientific professions. Others are awarded a scholarship and finance themselves or take a break from their doctorate if they are offered a good job in the private sector. Some things should be kept in mind with regard to the experience level: Employment contracts at foreign universities and research institutions are generally recognised automatically. However, more caution should be taken with scholarships, even if the scholarship is affiliated with an institute and the same work is performed as employed researchers. This time may be included in the duration spent at each stage, but this is not necessarily always the case. After all, this time is considered "beneficial" rather than a "detrimental interruption". The latter is the case, for example, when a doctorate student enters the private sector for several years to continue their doctorate studies there. Only professional experience gained with a public employer is considered relevant. If such an interruption lasts more than three years, the employee may even be punished when returning to public service by downgrading them to a lower experience level. On the other hand, this does not apply to postgraduates on maternity leave or paid leave. This is also true of incapacity for work up to a maximum of 39 weeks. Time spent at the particular stage is still counted in such cases. Parental leave, however, is considered to be an interruption and is not counted for transition to the next experience level.

Postgraduates who hold a PhD position at a research institution receive and annual special payment, like all other employees in the civil service. This varies depending on the collective agreement and tariff area (East or West), but ranges between 33 and 60% of the average gross salary. Postgraduates who already have children and are paid on the basis of the TV-H, which is only valid in Hessen, will also benefit from a child supplement. The collective agreements also allow for additional compensation for services rendered, such as special services associated with the acquisition of third-party funds. However, there is no standard practice among the federal states and the various institutions.

PhD Position (f/m/x) on non-equilibrium physics in quantum materials

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Wissenschaftler (m/w/d) - Metallorganische chemische Gasphasenabscheidung (MOCVD) Nitrid-Halbleiter

Wissenschaftler (m/w/d) - Metallorganische chemische Gasphasenabscheidung (MOCVD) Nitrid-Halbleiter - Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Festkörperphysik (IAF) - Logo

Doctoral position on ultrafast charge and exciton processes in organic semiconductors (f/m/x)

Doctoral position on ultrafast charge and exciton processes in organic semiconductors (f/m/x) - Universität zu Köln - Logo

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phd candidate salaries in germany

phd candidate salaries in germany

Calculated on the basis of a full-time position, doctoral students receive between 46,000 and 56,000 euros gross per year, depending on how much experience the doctoral student already has. It should be noted that an employment contract often only covers 50% of the positions.

  • The tariff structure for the salary of scientists and scholars in Germany is very transparent. If a doctoral student is a research assistant at a state university or research institution, he/she is automatically a public sector employee and his/her salary is therefore regulated by a collective agreement.
  • Depending on the institution, this is either the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector (TVöD) or the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Länder (TV-L). These collective agreements are renegotiated every one or two years.
  • All state universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutes thus pay comparable wages. As government-funded research organisations, the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society and the Helmholtz Association also follow the regulations of the collective agreement for the public sector with regard to employment, pay and social benefits.
  • Doctoral students are classified in the lowest salary group E13 for scientists. Since salary group 13 has a very wide range (from newly started doctoral students to experienced postdocs), the salary groups are differentiated according to experience levels. Since 2018, all public sector wage agreements have differentiated between six experience levels, each with increasing duration.
  • Doctoral students starting at experience level 1 should therefore make sure that their contract runs for at least 12 months, as employment contracts of less than one year are not considered relevant professional experience. In the event of a new position, you will be re-grouped in experience level 1, regardless of the length of time you have already worked at that level. This is true even if the change of contract is made seamlessly at the same institution. The problem, however, is that employment contracts at universities are often limited to a very short term. Around half of the contracts of academic staff in the doctoral phase are shorter than 12 months.
  • The Federal Report on Young Academics and Scientists of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of 2017 points out that the average monthly net income of doctoral students is 1,261 euros per month. This is at the lowest end of the official standard salaries.

Salaries of doctoral students in Euro per month according to collective agreements, July 2020 the salaries are based on 100% employment

Source: academics.de, public service.info

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Master, PhD and Postdoc Scholarships

In this post, we have provided you with all essential information of PhD and Postdoc salary in Germany.

Salary of PhD and Postdoc in Germany

In Germany, what can you expect to earn as a PhD or Postdoc? Interested in knowing the salary of a PhD or Postdoc in Germany? Did you receive an offer for TV-L E13 (75%)? Are you a Postdoc in TV-L E13 and would like to know deductions? Perhaps, a German University or Research Centre has offered you a PhD or Postdoc contract, but you’re not sure what TV-L E13 (50%), TV-L E13 (75%), or TV-L E13 (100%) mean? In this post, we describe which parameters determine the PhD and Postdoc salary in Germany.

We also make sure to explain so many terms (in German) about this subject. Therefore, this post is helpful for both new or senior PhD students and Postdocs!

Increasing PhD Stipend 2023-2024 in UK

In Germany , similar to other European countries, Universities hire PhD students, and postdocs are on a fixed-term contract. There is no cap on the length of the work contract and can be as short as three months up to three years. In exceptional cases, the employment contract of Postdocs can be five years. German Universities offer TV-L E13 to both PhD students and postdocs. However, the contract level (Stufe) and working hours (Arbeitszeite) are different which we explain in the following section. The typical work contract of PhD students is TV-L E13 (75%) while postdocs are on TV-L E13 (100%). In rare cases, the host institute can offer TV-L E14 to a postdoc.

  • Available Fully Funded PhD Positions in Germany
  • Available Postdoc Positions in Germany

The PhD and Postdoc salary in Germany is based on “Tarifvertrag für den Öffentlichen Dienst der Länder (TV-L)”. TVL translates to English as “the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the states”. So as a PhD student Postdoc or even professor, your salary will be defined in various Remuneration (Entgelt (E)) of TVL which will be explained in the next section.

What is Entgelt (remuneration/payment)?

Entgelt (remuneration) is the level of payment set by the employer. It reflects the formal duties of the job and the level of competencies that the employee in that group has. For instance, Entgelt 13 to 15 (TV-L E13-15) is for employees with academic higher education. Entgelt 9 to 12 (TV-L E9-12) is for those employees with a completed technical college education. Entgelt 5 to 8 (TV-L E5-8) is for workers who have vocational training. As an alternative to a funded PhD position, you can also apply for DAAD doctoral scholarship. The following video explains the 10 reasons why you should do your PhD in Germany in 2023.

How much is the net salary of PhD students and postdocs in Germany?

It is not an easy question to answer in a few words. In this post, we try to explain the first meaning of each term of the contract and taxing system in Germany. So at the end of this post, you will be able to find out how much your net salary (take-home money) will be.

Arebitszeit (working hours/ hours of work) of PhD students and Postdocs in Germany

The most important factor which determines the take-home money is Arbeitszeit (working hours). For PhD students, this value generally is either 50%, 67%, 75%, or in exceptional cases 100%. The Germans call these terms “halben Stelle” (half-appointment), “dreiviertel Stelle” (three-quarter appointment) and “vollen Stelle” (full-appointment), respectively. This number corresponds to the percentage of the working hours of the employees in comparison to the required working hours of a full-time employee. So, PhD students with a 50% working hours contract are being paid half of the salary of a full employee in the same Engelt group. Note that despite being employed on a half-term contract, the working expectation is similar to the full-time employee’s!

The postdocs are generally on full appointment (vollen Stelle) corresponding to TV-L E13 100%. The common practice is the person with a 50% working contract will have fewer teaching assistant duties than a 100% one. That means, your supervisor (Doktorvater in German) will load you with fewer jobs such as Tutoring, Lab instructor or co-supervision of undergraduate students than other colleagues with 100% contract. 

Lohnsteuerklasse (Wage Tax Class) of PhD students and Postdocs in Germany

The second factor which largely influences your net salary is “Lohnsteuerklasse” which means the level or grade of your tax in English. Lohnsteuerklasse is indeed the category of salary tax which is a number from “I” to “VI”. The taxing authority assigns you to certain Lohnsteuerklasse based on your circumstances.

A married PhD student or Postdoc will be on Lohnsteuerklasse IV, or V provided that his/her partner is on a paid-working contract. However, if your partner is not working, then you can enjoy Lohnsteuerklasse III. In the very last part of this post, you can see some example calculations of net salary for people with different tax grades to understand the differences. 

What is “Stufe” in salary calculation?

Stufe is a German word that means level or grade. In salary calculation, it reflects the experience of the employees. A fresh PhD student will be in Stufe 1, after finishing the first year, you will promote them to Stufe 2. If your PhD takes more than three years, from the start of the fourth year, your Stufe will be 3. The Stufe 4 is for a person with more than 6 years of experience under TVL.

In short, a Postdoc who has lived and worked in German Universities as a PhD student, is generally placed on Stufe 3 at the start. However, Postdocs from abroad (outside of Germany) will be on either Stufe 1 or 2 irrespective of their earlier experiences. If you are an experienced Postdoc, you can discuss that with your employer (HR of the university) before signing your contract. Note that there is a big difference between Stufe 1 and 3. Hence, do not miss this opportunity to get paid better (see the tables at the bottom of the post).

The following video is a MUST-watch if you are planning to do your PhD in Germany. It covers information such as regulations, living expenses, salary and tax, benefits and allowances among others:

Using an online calculator for net salary calculation

Having known the meaning of Lohnsteuerklasse and stufe, you can precisely calculate your net salary. In the following video, you can find step-by-step guidance on how to calculate your take-home money. For doing that, you should visit the following “ Offentlicher Dienst website ” and enter the numbers based on the discussion above (as stands by  September 2020 ). As the website is in only German, watching the video below can make your job easier!

When you enter your data (watch the video above), click “brechnen” (calculate) at the bottom of the page, and then you can see your net salary details. On the page which appears (look at the following picture as an example), at the very bottom there is a table in which you can find “Grundgehalt” (Basic salary), “Brutto gesamt” (totally gross) as well as “Netto gesamt” (total net). Your monthly net salary would be the number that appears in front of “netto gesamt” in green (highlighted). At the same time, you can see how much would be your salary if you were promoted to Stufe 2, 3 and so on in the next columns of the tables.

Example: PhD student with contract TV-L E13 (75%)

Let us go through one calculation. For instance, assume you are a PhD student who starts working at a German University. Your contract is 75% (Arbeitszeit) and you are single. So, you have to fill the Arbeitszeit section with 75 and select Lohnsteurklasse I and choose Stufe 1.

After clicking “brechnen” (calculate), the following page appears.

TV-L E13 75% net salary PhD students in Germany

In this particular case, the monthly gross salary is 3001.70 Euro/month while the net salary is 1893.58 Euro/month (both are highlighted in Green at the bottom of the picture. In the second column from the right, the following information is detailed:

Lohnsteure (Income tax) of Klasse I (class I): 406.50 €

Solidaritätszuschlag (Solidarity surcharge): 22.35 €

Sozialvers. Brutto (Natioanl/Social Insurance pre-tax):

Krankenversicherung (Health Insurance): 241.86 €

Pflegeversicherung (Nursing Care Insurance): 55.39 €

Rentenversicherung (Pension Fund): 290.23 €

Arbeitslosenvers. (Unemployment Insurance): 37.45 €

Z-Vers. VBL:  54.33 €

Z-Vers. stands for “Zusatzversorgung des öffentlichen Dienstes” is compulsory insurance. VBLklassik ensures that you receive a company pension in addition to the statutory pension. The rest of the column is exactly a similar calculation for a year!

However, if you are married and your partner is not on a paid job, you can change your tax grade (Lohnsteuerklasse) to III. Let’s see how does it affect your net income (take-home money).

PhD student in Germany TV-L E13 (75%) Lohnsteuerklasse III

As you can see in the picture above, your net income becomes 2162.10 Euro per month which is 268.52 Euro per month more than a person in tax-class I!

Example: PhD student with contract TV-L E13 (50%)

In this example, we consider a single PhD student (Lohsteuerklasse I) with TV-L E13 (50%). As explained in the previous section, upon entering the corresponding values to the calculator, you will see a page as shown below.

phd student salary germany

You can see the meaning of the terms in the previous sub-heading. the monthly gross salary is 2001.13 € while the net salary is 1370.49 €  (both are highlighted in Green at the bottom of the picture.

However, a married student whose/her partner is not on a paid job can take home more as shown in the following picture.

phd student salary germany

As you can see in the picture above, your net income becomes 1553.26 Euro per month which is 182.77 Euro per month more than a person in tax-class I!

Example: PhD student with contract TV-L E13 (100%)

Let’s look at the example of a PhD student with a TV-L E13 (100%) contract. The results are as follows:

PhD student salary germany TV-L E13 (100%)

In this case, the gross (before-tax) and net (after-tax) salaries are 4002.26 and 2379.31 Euro per month, respectively.

Again, a married student whose/her partner is not working can take home more by paying less tax (see image below).

PhD student salary germany TV-L E13 (100%)

So, for a married employee with TV-L E13 (100%) which is on Lohnsteuerklasse III, the gross (before-tax) and net (after-tax) salary are 4002.26 and 2702.31 Euro per month, respectively. Note that you can see the corresponding salary for the same contract when your “stuff” rises to 2, 3, 4 or 5.

Example: Postdoc with contract TV-L E13 (100%)

As explained earlier, if your employee put you on “stufe” 1, your net salary is exactly as the one shown above. However, if you are on “Stufe” 2, 3 or 4, your salary becomes much higher. The picture below shows the salary of a Postdoc with TV-L E13 (100%) on Lohnsteuerklasse I.

Postdoc salary Germany TV-L E13 (100%) 2020

Here, the before-tax monthly salary is 4560.37 Euro whereas the after-tax money is 2642.82 Euro. For the same person but on Lohnsteuerklasse III (married postdoc whose partner is not working), the picture below shows the salary details.

Postdoc salary germany 2020 TV-L E13 (100%) Lohnsteuerklasse III

In this case, the monthly net salary (after tax) is 3009.34 Euro. This is almost 358 Euro more than the same postdoc but on Lohnsteuerklasse I.

Hope that will help you to understand all you need to know about PhD students and Postdocs’ salaries in Germany in 2023.

Available Fully Funded PhD and Postdocs in Germany

Below are other German universities with academic positions available (PhD and Postdoc:

  • Fully Funded Master, PhD and Postdocs at Max Planck Institutes
  • Available Fully Funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at University of Stuttgart
  • Fully funded PhD and Postdoc Position at the University of Hamburg
  • EU Funding of PhD and Academics in Germany
  • Fully Funded Master, PhD and Postdocs at Helmholtz Centers
  • Fully funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at the Berlin Institute of Technology
  • Fully funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at the Aachen University (RWTH)
  • Fully Funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at the Technical University of Munich
  • Fully Funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at the University of Cologne
  • Fully Funded PhD and Postdoc Positions at University Bremen (univ Bremen)
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Fully Funded PhD Positions with Salary

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We will update all different types of academic positions, so if you’re looking for a position, think about checking out our Home Page and our Academic Jobs page . You can also follow us on Facebook to be the first to know when we post any new vacancies. But if you are not a fan of reading text, and instead prefer to watch, join our PhD and Postdoc-related videos on our Youtube Channel .

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Higher pay for doctoral researchers

Max Planck funding contracts remunerated according to the DFG funding rates since 1 January 2021

What had been prepared over a long period of time has finally come to fruition: the Joint Science Conference (GWK - Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz ) has granted the Max Planck Society its approval to apply the DFG-German Science Foundation’s gold standard in compensation for doctoral researchers. The new contract details were published on December 14, 2020 within the Max Planck Society's Organisational Manual (OHB).

Whether in the library, lab, or in field work  - in future, all doctoral students will be paid at least 65 per cent of TVöD 13.

Whether in the library, lab, or in field work  - in future, all doctoral students will be paid at least 65 per cent of TVöD 13.

© Stígur Már Karlsson / Heimsmyndir / istock

As of January 1, 2021, all doctoral researchers with Max Planck funding contracts will be compensated according to the DFG’s funding rates. This applies to both new and already running contracts, which will be adjusted accordingly. If there are delays in signing contracts due to home office regulations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, the regulation and payment will be applied retroactively. In addition, institutions may also set higher basic salaries to reflect subject-specific remuneration. The possibility of individual recruitment boni will remain unaffected by the new regulation.

The new regulation will apply to all Max Planck Institutes throughout Germany, as well as the Netherlands and Italy. The Institutes are expected to cover the increased costs for their own doctoral researchers from their local budgets.

"Currently centrally funded Max Planck Research Groups, which are in particular open-topic Max Planck Research Groups, Lise Meitner Groups, Minerva Max Planck Research Groups as well as Otto Hahn Groups, however, receive an annual grant of 7,500 euros per group. The same is provided for the ongoing, so-called institute-based Max Planck Research Groups. International Max Planck Research Schools receive a one-time grant," adds Ilka Schießler-Gäbler from the Department of Human Resources Development and Opportunities at the Administrative Headquarters in Munich.

"The new contract regulations are a great step forward as they will not only ease the financial situations of PhD students, but also bring more equality to the salaries of doctoral researchers because they reduce the Section- and gender-specific pay gaps – a discrepancy which was also reflected within the last PhDnet surveys", said Lea Heckmann, the new PhDnet spokesperson of 2021. "We're very pleased that this milestone of improving the situation for doctoral students has now been reached. We're very grateful to the many generations of PhDnet steering committees who have driven this project, as well as the staff at the MPG’s Administrative Headquarters and the General Secretary Rüdiger Willems, who have been instrumental in paving the way for this progress", summarized former PhDnet spokesperson Lindsey Bultema.

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Ph.D. Stipend in Germany: Things you need to know

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All countries provide some form of financial aid to Ph.D. students , but Germany places a premium on doctorate research. The variety of ways you can accomplish a Ph.D. in Germany is reflected in the various forms that German Ph.D. financing might take. The nation’s Ph.D. programs are well-organized and have a practice-oriented curriculum, offering students the chance to study a subject from the ground up.

Ph.D. Stipend in Germany Things you need to know

In Germany, the most searched Ph.D. programs are in mathematics, computer science, physics, economics, and engineering. International students have the freedom to complete their English-language Ph.D. theses and easily transition into their chosen fields of employment. Learn more about Ph.D. scholarships .

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Furthermore, conventional academic scholarships and fellowships are frequently used to support doctoral students, but German universities and research institutions also provide salary assistantships for Ph.D. researchers. Doctoral students take between 46,000 and 56,000 EUR gross ( INR 36,61,472 to INR 44,57,444 ) per year based on full-time employment, depending on the amount of prior experience the doctoral student has.

Ph.D. Stipend in Germany for International Students

Internship applications are accepted by foreign students both during and after graduation. You can apply for internships at the university as a research assistant in the lab or a professor’s assistant while enrolled in a degree program. Here, we’ve outlined some key details about the German Ph.D. student stipend:

  • German institutions provide a monthly payment to international Ph.D. candidates. In Germany, Ph.D. students receive an annual income of 24,500 EUR (about INR 19,53,189).
  • In addition to pursuing a Ph.D., one can work as an intern at public and commercial organizations for an average salary of 500 EUR per month (about INR 39,848 per month).
  • Since employment agreements that last less than a year do not count as relevant professional experience, doctoral students with little or no experience should confirm that their bond lasts for at least 12 months.

Job & Salary After Ph.D. in Germany

The salary of a student after earning a Ph.D. is based on a number of things. Industry, years of experience, candidate talents, and job positions are among these crucial considerations. We’ve included a few of the jobs available to Ph.D. graduates in Germany along with their typical yearly salary below:

High-Paying Jobs in Germany

After finishing their Ph.D. program at a prestigious university, overseas students can apply for a number of well-paying employment in Germany.

How to Find a Job After Ph.D. in Germany?

Many Ph.D. graduate students choose to live in Germany’s major cities because of the attractive employment environment. Let’s examine the best cities in the nation for foreign students.

  • Jobs in the marketing field are reportedly available in Berlin, the German capital.
  • Financial industry hubs include Frankfurt.
  • Munich’s car industry is well renowned.

Since there is 400,000+ people  skilled labor shortage in Germany, Ph.D. grads may easily get employment there. Here are some tips for foreign students looking to work in Germany after earning their degree:

1. Open German Job Sites

One of Germany’s major providers of recruitment services is the Federal Employment Agency. It has more than 700 locations around the nation and offers an international student employment platform called “ International Placement Service. ” In order to get matched with a job vacancy, create a profile on their website and include your qualifications.

2. German private job sites

Ph.D. graduates have access to a variety of websites where they can look for specialized employment.

  • Academics for openings in the management industry.
  • Staufenbiel and Stepstone for graduate employment and internships.
  • Students can also look up startups on Jobooh.

3. German Recruitment Companies

The “ German Yellow Pages ,” which features an employment section called “ Arbeitsvermittlung ” dedicated to recruitment agencies, is another resource for international students who have completed their Ph.D. program at German institutions and are looking for work. For international students, recruiting firms can be trusted if they are members of the Federal Employer’s Association of Personnel Service Providers.

4. Newspapers in German

Look through the employment sections in the Sunday editorials of the following newspapers for academic and government positions :

FAZ or Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

It has the largest newspaper readership in 148 countries in addition to Germany. It is a liberal, conservative journal on the center-right.

Süddeutsche Zeitung

It is published in Munich and is one of the biggest daily newspapers in Germany. It is a center-left, liberal-progressive newspaper .

It is printed in Bonn and serves as the Axel Springer publishing company’s main newspaper daily.

Handelsblatt

The Handelsblatt Media Group is the publisher of this business newspaper in German. Handelsblatt Global Edition is the name of the newspaper’s English-language edition .

One of the top 3 nations in the world to accept more than 30,000 students for Ph.D. programs in Germany. The depth of the Ph.D. courses promotes students’ overall growth and prepares them for the workforce. Additionally, this aids German Ph.D. stipend recipients.

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Visit our   website   for more articles related to studying in Germany . Follow us on   Instagram   and   Facebook   for more tips & information on studying in Germany.

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PhD Handbook

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PhD Stipend in Germany: How to Find a Good Job In Germany After PhD?

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All countries offer financial support to PhD students in their ways, but Germany takes doctoral research particularly seriously. German PhD funding takes numerous forms, reflecting the diverse ways you can complete a PhD in Germany. The PhD programs in the country are well structured and have a practice-oriented curriculum, giving students a chance to learn the subject from the grassroots level. 

phd student salary germany

The popular PhD programs in Germany are mathematics, computer science, physics, economics and engineering. International students have the flexibility to complete their PhD thesis in English and join their field of work without hassle. Also, Doctoral students are often supported by traditional academic scholarships and fellowships, but German universities and research institutes offer salaried assistantships for their PhD researchers. Based on a full-time position, doctoral students accept between 46,000 and 56,000 EUR gross per year ((INR 36,61,472 to INR 44,57,444), depending on how much experience the doctoral student already has.

PhD Stipend in Germany For International Students

International students can apply for internships during and after the degree. While pursuing a degree course, you can apply for internships at the university itself as an assistant to the professor or research assistant at the lab. Here we have presented some of the important points regarding PhD student stipend in Germany:

  • International students pursuing a PhD in German universities receive a monthly stipend. The average stipend for PhD students in Germany is 24,500 EUR/year (INR 19,53,189/year approximately).
  • Besides being a PhD student, one can intern at public and private organisations with an average stipend of 500 EUR/month (INR 39,848/month approximately).
  • Doctoral students starting at entry experience level should validate that their bond runs for at least 12 months, as employment agreements of less than 1 year are not measured as relevant professional experience.

Suggested: Types of Universities in Germany

phd student salary germany

Job & Salary After PhD in Germany

After completion of the PhD, the salary of a student is determined by several factors. These important factors are industry, years of experience, candidate’s skills and the job position. We have listed down some of the job positions offered to PhD graduate students in Germany with their average annual salaries -

High Paying Jobs In Germany

There are various high paying jobs in Germany that are offered to international students after completing their Phd course from top universities. 

Suggested: Part Time Jobs for Students

Top Recruiters & Salary After PhD in Germany  

Depending on a student's level of knowledge and years of experience, a plethora of job opportunities will come for a PhD graduate. Some of the important industries in Germany that offer placements to PhD students are as follows:

Suggested: Studying In Germany!

How to Find a Job After PhD in Germany?

The top cities in Germany attract a lot of PhD graduate students for their lucrative job market. Let’s look at the top cities in the country for international students.

  • Berlin, the capital of Germany is known to offer jobs in the marketing sector.
  • Frankfurt is a hub for the financial sector
  • Munich is known for its automobile industry

Since Germany has a skilled labour shortage of more than 400,000 people, PhD graduates can conveniently get a job in Germany. Here is how international students can find jobs in Germany post degree completion -

1. Public German Job Sites

The Federal Employment Agency is one of the largest recruiting service providers in Germany. It has more than 700 offices in the country and has a platform named “International Placement Service” through which international students can find work. Make a profile on their website and mention your qualifications to get matched with a job position. 

2. Private German Job Sites

There are several websites through which PhD graduate students can search for specialised jobs. 

  • Academics is a website where students can look for research-related work
  • Jobware for vacancies in the field of management
  • Staufenbiel and Stepstone for internships and graduate jobs 
  • Students can also check Jobooh for working in startups. 

3. German Recruitment Agencies

International students who have completed their PhH course from German universities can also look for a job position in "German Yellow Pages" which has an employment section named ‘Arbeitsvermittlung’ dedicated to recruiting agencies. If the recruiting agencies are a member of the Federal Employer’s Association of Personnel Service Providers, then they can be trusted for international students. 

4. German Newspapers

For academic and governmental jobs, look through the job sections in the Sunday editorials of the following newspapers -

  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

It has the widest newspaper circulation in Germany and 148 more countries. It is a centre-right, liberal conservative newspaper.

  • Süddeutsche Zeitung

It is one of the largest daily newspapers in Germany and is published in Munich. It is a centre-left, progressive-liberal newspaper.

It is the flagship newspaper daily of the Axel Springer publishing group and is printed in Bonn.

  • Handelsblatt  

It is a German-language business newspaper published by Handelsblatt Media Group. The English language version of the newspaper is known as Handelsblatt Global Edition.

Germany is one of the top 3 countries in the world to welcome more than 30,000 students in their PhD programs. The comprehensiveness of the PhD courses helps in the overall development of students and makes them job-ready. Wondering how to apply to the best universities for a PhD? Subscribe to Yocket Premium and get one-on-one personalised guidance on the admission and scholarship process. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Germany PhD Stipend

What is the PhD student salary in Germany after tax?

Usually, student stipend in Germany is tax-free when it is awarded from public sources like public universities or government scholarships. However, if you are doing internships at laboratories and private institutions, the average PhD student salary in Germany after tax is about 24,500 EUR per year (INR 19,53,189 per year approximately).

How can I work in Germany after PhD?

In order to work in Germany after your PhD, you will require a residence permit and a German work visa/employment permit. To apply for a Blue Card or work permit, you must have a job offer of 45,000 EUR/year (INR 35,87,490 approximately) before taxes.

Does the average PhD stipend in Germany increase?

The average PhD stipend in Germany per month is 2500 EUR (INR 99,305 approximately). The PhD fellowship stipend will be increased at the start of every academic year. 

What are the top academic jobs in Germany after a PhD?

The top academic jobs in Germany after PhD are that of professors, lecturers, scientists and researchers. The average PhD stipend in Germany for these jobs is between 60,000 EUR to 75,000 EUR per year (INR 47,83,320 to INR 59,79,150 approximately) depending on the candidate’s experience.

What are the top non-academic jobs in Germany after a PhD?

The top non- academic jobs in Germany after PhD are that of an actuary, data analyst, operation analyst, business analyst and product developer. The average PhD stipend in Germany for these jobs is between 68,000 EUR to 80,000 EUR per year (INR 54,21,096 to INR 63,77,760 approximately).

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PhD Stipend in Germany

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PhD Stipend in Germany

When it comes to being affordable, Germany is one of the best European countries for PhD stipend and research. Funding is made available with a wide range of options with almost no doctoral fees at public universities. As is evident from the way it takes PhD research particularly seriously, there are a number of established things Germany makes sure of when it comes to the students. These are the basics of PhD Research and PhD Stipend in Germany that everyone should be aware of. Let’s take a look at the below for a better understanding.

This Blog Includes:

Basics of phd in germany, phd funding and phd stipends in germany , phd stipend in germany for international students, application requirements , top universities for phd in germany, job & salary after phd in germany, top recruiters .

We cover the programme length, fees, number of international students present for PhD in Germany, etc; in short, key features.

PhD is accompanied by funding and opportune stipends . The following points expand on the basics of the same:

  • PhD funding in Germany is not limited to research conducted in public universities, independent research institutes also provide their own funding to PhD students, being a part of larger collectives. 
  • Furthermore, students can also earn a salary on their PhD apprenticeship (PhD stipend); something that financially and morally supports them. 
  • Next, it’s important to learn that PhD research is usually not charged in Germany, therefore PhD stipends in Germany are most commonly used for living costs.
  • PhD fellowships and scholarships in this country are tax-free.
  • Germany helps international students with exclusive awards when it comes to PhD funding. 

As mentioned in point 2 above, the concept of PhD stipend also enables students to separately earn via their salaried apprenticeship. So, the question arises, how about the PhD stipend for international students? Let’s learn.

  • The relevance of PhD Stipends in Germany is that it offers great opportunities to PhD students while they are doing their research and working on the PhD programme. Along with the zero cost of PhD in Germany, with options like apprenticeships, you can also earn a living to cover your other expenses, something that contributes to both your experience and growth level. 

Note : If a doctoral student is entering at starting level, they should make sure that their bond runs for at least 1 year. This is because job contracts lasting for less than 1 year are not considered valid professional experience. 

Also Read; Study in Germany: The Guide To Your German Dream!

  • Completion of the academic study of a minimum of 8 semesters. The final degree should be equivalent to a German Master’s degree. The good news for outstanding international students is that they can be admitted to a PhD program with a Bachelor’s alone, but for this, you need to complete an entrance examination. 
  • While there might be a need for you to prove your English Language Proficiency, like through IELTS or TOEFL ; traditional PhD programs could also check your level of German language fluency.
  • Statement from Doctoral Supervisor 
  • Academic Transcripts
  • Proof of Recognition 
  • 2 Academic references 
  • Some structured PhD programs conduct interviews , as well. 
  • Requirement of Student Visa
  • Valid Passport 

Top German Universities 2022 are as follows:

Must Read: Free Universities In Germany For International Students

Once you complete your PhD and have already had experience with PhD stipend in Germany, there are a number of job positions available that can be offered based on that experience, the industry, and job profile. We have listed some of them below:

Germany is one of the top countries to accept and provide PhD students with jobs. So who are some of these recruiters that offer placements after a student has completed PhD, including having received a PhD Stipend in Germany? 

Some of the German recruiters are as follows:

Yes, PhD Stipend in Germany allows PhD students to be paid. 

PhD Stipend in Germany ranges from ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per month during 4th and 5th year of the program. 

The monthly gross salary of a PhD professor is usually from 5,300 euros to 6,600 euros (INR 4 lakh to 5.3 lakh). 

Yes, PhD in Germany is usually free for all students, except for some other fees that you might have to pay during your study.

This was all about a PhD stipend in Germany. If you want to get into a high-ranked university, you may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.

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Sanya Chhabra

A hermit who prefers to stand true to her values of kindness, inclusivity; and reflects the same in her writing. With a degree in literature and multimedia journalism, she's on a forever pursuit to improve. Additionally, she's open to inputs that are not unsolicited. Welcome to her professional writing space, hope you enjoy your time.

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IMAGES

  1. Comparison of Salary of PhD Students in Europe

    phd student salary germany

  2. Salary of PhD and Postdoc in Germany

    phd student salary germany

  3. Comparison of Salary of PhD Students in Europe

    phd student salary germany

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  5. These are the German degrees that will land you the biggest salaries

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  6. Comparison of Salary of PhD Students in Europe

    phd student salary germany

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COMMENTS

  1. PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Salaries in Germany

    For example, the salary range for a 100% PhD student is €4,053-€5,701 per month while the range for a 67% PhD student is €2,729-€3,820 per month. ... Like all non-tenured academic positions in Germany, postdoc salaries are fairly rigid. They are based on the same TV-L federal wage agreement as PhD salaries. The salaries are determined ...

  2. Doctorate salaries: What does a doctoral candidate earn in Germany

    Postgraduates who hold a PhD position at a research institution receive and annual special payment, like all other employees in the civil service. This varies depending on the collective agreement and tariff area (East or West), but ranges between 33 and 60% of the average gross salary.

  3. phd candidate salaries in germany

    phd candidate salaries in germany. Calculated on the basis of a full-time position, doctoral students receive between 46,000 and 56,000 euros gross per year, depending on how much experience the doctoral student already has. It should be noted that an employment contract often only covers 50% of the positions.

  4. Salary: Phd Student in Germany 2024

    The estimated total pay for a PhD Student is €2,282 per month in the Germany area, with an average salary of €2,200 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is €82 per month.

  5. Salary of PhD and Postdoc in Germany

    In this case, the monthly net salary (after tax) is 3009.34 Euro. This is almost 358 Euro more than the same postdoc but on Lohnsteuerklasse I. Hope that will help you to understand all you need to know about PhD students and Postdocs' salaries in Germany in 2023. Available Fully Funded PhD and Postdocs in Germany.

  6. [OFFICIAL]Phd Student salary in Germany

    The base salary for a Phd Student in Germany is 30,400 €. Also known as: Doctoral Student, Doctoral Researcher. Start with 5 free searches. Responsibilities: • Conduct thorough literature reviews related to the research topic. • Contribute to the development of research objectives and design of the study.

  7. Salary: Phd Student in Germany 2024

    PhD Student Salaries in Germany. The average salary for PhD Student is €2,282 per month in the Germany. The average additional cash compensation for a PhD Student in the Germany is €82, with a range from €57 - €100. Salaries estimates are based on 1505 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by PhD Student employees in Germany.

  8. Salary: Phd Student in Germany 2024

    An additional €979 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a PhD Student in Germany as a good salary. How much does a PhD Student make over time in Germany? PhD Student professionals in Germany have a wide total pay range, between €19,560 and €45,222 depending on experience, with an estimated total ...

  9. Salary: Phd Student in Hamburg, Germany 2024

    The average salary for PhD Student is €2,083 per month in the Hamburg, Germany. The average additional cash compensation for a PhD Student in the Hamburg, Germany is €83, with a range from €54 - €154.

  10. Salary: Phd Student in Munich (Germany) 2024

    Average : €75 Range : €54 - €129. The average salary for PhD Student is €2,275 per month in the Munich, Bavaria. The average additional cash compensation for a PhD Student in the Munich, Bavaria is €75, with a range from €54 - €129. Salaries estimates are based on 197 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by PhD Student ...

  11. Higher pay for doctoral researchers

    The new contract details were published on December 14, 2020 within the Max Planck Society's Organisational Manual (OHB). Whether in the library, lab, or in field work - in future, all doctoral students will be paid at least 65 per cent of TVöD 13. As of January 1, 2021, all doctoral researchers with Max Planck funding contracts will be ...

  12. PhD Funding in Germany

    The value of a PhD work contract in Germany is based on the scale for public sector works and is typically between €3,000-4,000 a month (though most student contracts are part-time, pro-rata). Tax and social security are deducted from this salary, but you will receive access to benefits in return.

  13. Ph.D. Stipend in Germany: Things you need to know

    Here, we've outlined some key details about the German Ph.D. student stipend: German institutions provide a monthly payment to international Ph.D. candidates. In Germany, Ph.D. students receive an annual income of 24,500 EUR (about INR 19,53,189). In addition to pursuing a Ph.D., one can work as an intern at public and commercial ...

  14. PhD in Germany: Top Universities, Admissions 2024-25 ...

    PhD in Germany is a 3-5 year long program, available to international students across various top universities. You might need top pay a semester fee between 100 and 325 EUR (8,900 to 28,930 INR) to pursue PhD courses in Germany. ... PhD in Germany Salary. Students with PhD in Germany secure an average salary of 69,000 EUR per annum. The ...

  15. Salary: PhD Student in Germany 2023

    The average salary for a PhD Student is €3,250 per month in Germany. Salaries estimates are based on 1362 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a PhD Student employees in Germany. What is the highest salary for a PhD Student in Germany?

  16. PhD Stipend in Germany: How to Find a Good Job In Germany ...

    Usually, student stipend in Germany is tax-free when it is awarded from public sources like public universities or government scholarships. However, if you are doing internships at laboratories and private institutions, the average PhD student salary in Germany after tax is about 24,500 EUR per year (INR 19,53,189 per year approximately).

  17. Salary: PhD Student in Germany 2024

    The estimated total pay for a PhD Student is €2,281 per month in the Germany area, with an average salary of €2,200 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is €81 per month.

  18. Salary: Phd Students in Germany 2024

    The estimated total pay for a PhD Students is €2,283 per month in the Germany area, with an average salary of €2,200 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is €83 per month.

  19. Doctorate (PhD), Engineering Salary in Germany

    Gender Breakdown for Doctorate (PhD), Engineering. Male. 100.0 %. Avg. Salary: €0 - €0. This data is based on 4 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

  20. How much does a PHD student earn a month? : r/germany

    So, I have read that PHD students get salary based on Entgeltgruppe 13 (75% or 50%) in most cases. I have researched a bit and E13 came back to me as 2000 Euro nettor per month. ... I'm at PhD student in east Germany (Dresden) in semiconductor physics. At my university, all physics students basically have the same contract. 50% the first year ...

  21. PhD Stipend in Germany

    PhD Stipend in Germany ranges from ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per month during 4th and 5th year of the program. What is the salary of a PhD professor in Germany? The monthly gross salary of a PhD professor is usually from 5,300 euros to 6,600 euros (INR 4 lakh to 5.3 lakh).

  22. Salary: Phd in Germany 2024

    The estimated salary for a PhD is €48,500 per year in the Germany area. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data ...

  23. PhD Student (gn*) Experimental Pathology

    The University Hospital of Münster is one of the leading hospitals in Germany. Such a position cannot be achieved by size and medical successes alone. ... PhD Student (gn*) Experimental Pathology ...