Programs

Structured doctoral programmes in Germany from the official DAAD International Programmes database. 157 of them charge no tuition.

171 of 171 programmes

• a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne (opens in new tab)

  University of Cologne · Köln

  German · English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Summer semester

  Deadline: Applications for the regular doctoral programme are accepted at any time. The structured doctoral programme "Integrated Track" offers a scholarship opportunity, which is announced annually in late summer (the application deadline is around the end of October). If granted, funding begins in April.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: German, EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Summer semester
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• Abbe School of Photonics – PhD/Doctoral Programme (opens in new tab)

  Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Jena

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Any time
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• Albrecht Mendelssohn Bartholdy Graduate School of Law (opens in new tab)

  University of Hamburg · Hamburg

  German · English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: Register by 14 June 2027 + 1 more

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: German, EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences (BAGSS) (opens in new tab)

  University of Bamberg · Bamberg

  No tuition fees

  Deadline: No deadline stated

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: Not statedTuition: No tuition feesDuration: Not statedStart: Not stated
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• Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS) (opens in new tab)

  Freie Universität Berlin · Berlin

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: The application period begins in December of each year. Specific dates will be posted on the programme's website.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies (opens in new tab)

  Freie Universität Berlin · Berlin

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 1 November 2026

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• Berlin Mathematical School — PhD Programme (opens in new tab)

  Technische Universität Berlin · Berlin

  English · No tuition fees · 9 semesters or more · Winter semester

  Deadline: Phase I (Master's studies): Deadline for applications requiring admission with scholarship: 1 December 2026 Deadline for general admission without funding: 1 April 2027 Phase II (Doctoral research): For Phase II applicants, the BMS serves only as a "matchmaker" with BMS/MATH+ faculty members in Berlin. The BMS itself does not award funding. The starting date for Phase II depends on the start o

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 9 semesters or moreStart: Winter semester
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• Berlin School of Economics PhD Programme (opens in new tab)

  Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Berlin

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: The application deadline for the Berlin School of Economics PhD Programme is in mid-January each year.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS) (opens in new tab)

  Bielefeld University · Bielefeld

  German · English · No tuition fees · 9 semesters or more · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: Register by 15 June 2027 + 1 more

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: German, EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 9 semesters or moreStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• Bielefeld Graduate School in Theoretical Sciences (opens in new tab)

  Bielefeld University · Bielefeld

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Bonn Graduate School of Economics (BGSE) (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  English · No tuition fees · 9 semesters or more · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 15 January 2027

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 9 semesters or moreStart: Winter semester
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• Bonn International Graduate School Clinical and Population Science (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  No tuition fees

  Deadline: No deadline stated

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: Not statedTuition: No tuition feesDuration: Not statedStart: Not stated
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• Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR) (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  English · No tuition fees · 7 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 31 August 2026

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 7 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• Bonn International Graduate School Neuroscience (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  No tuition fees

  Deadline: No deadline stated

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: Not statedTuition: No tuition feesDuration: Not statedStart: Not stated
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• Bonn International Graduate School of Mathematics (BIGS-M) (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  English · No tuition fees · 9 semesters or more · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: Register by 15 November 2026 + 1 more

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 9 semesters or moreStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• Bonn International Graduate School of Oriental and Asian Studies (BIGS-OAS) (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  German · English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Register by 1 July 2027

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: German, EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• Bonn International Graduate School — Land and Food (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

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• Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy: PhD in Astrophysics/Astronomy (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy: PhD in Physics (opens in new tab)

  University of Bonn · Bonn

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy: PhD in Physics (Cologne) (opens in new tab)

  University of Cologne · Köln

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Chemistry (PhD) (opens in new tab)

  University of Göttingen · Göttingen

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Winter semester, Summer semester

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Winter semester, Summer semester
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• CiM-IMPRS PhD Programme in Life and Natural Sciences (opens in new tab)

  University of Münster · Münster

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Application start: early March

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• Collaborative Research Center 1278 PolyTarget – Polymer-Based Nanoparticle Libraries for Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Strategies (opens in new tab)

  Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Jena

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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• Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (opens in new tab)

  University of Cologne · Köln

  English · No tuition fees · 8 semesters · Winter semester

  Deadline: Our annual call for PhD positions usually opens in mid-August and closes in November. Our annual call for the Master’s fellowship programme opens in April and closes mid-July.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 8 semestersStart: Winter semester
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• DASHH Data Science in Hamburg – Helmholtz Graduate School for the Structure of Matter (opens in new tab)

  Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY · Hamburg

  English · No tuition fees · 6 semesters · Any time

  Deadline: This programme has no deadline.

  Requirements

  Language of instruction: EnglishTuition: No tuition feesDuration: 6 semestersStart: Any time
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