PhD in Germany: The 5 Things I Wish I Knew

The 5 things I wish I knew before starting a PhD in #Germany, from #germanhealthcare to #studentvisa.

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Episode 5 | #studyabroad #phd in the​ Germany | Filmed July 3rd, 2021

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Originally from the Midwest of the USA, we moved to the #blackforest in 2013 and quickly embraced #expatlife. As American expats living in #Germany, things weren't always easy, but we've grown to love our life in Germany. We started this #travelvlog​ to share our experiences with friends and family, and to help those who are interested in moving overseas! Whether you are interested in moving abroad, working abroad, studying abroad, raising a family abroad, or just want to #traveleurope, we're here to give you a first person look at what lies ahead. 😊🎥🌎

[lilsriegerson]

It's intersting to see how different this is for different fields in Germany. In Biology most people start their PhD right after their master so if everything goes as planned they are finished before they turn 30. Also they at least have a part time job at the university and do all their research there and are supervised by a mentor.

[amandashuman]

I have a few additional comments/clarifications. Healthcare isn't a family plan, it's a single-payer system. Student visas (i.e., non-EU) further limit you on how much you can work while here. However, it's a different visa if you're hired by and work for the university as an employee. I would hesistate recommending a non-EU student come for a PhD here without working on a project at the university.

As for hand-holding/independence, I've found that that largely depends on the university, discipline, department, and even advisor(s). I would hesitate to even call it a "PhD program" at almost any Germany university, especially since the majority of students are hired to do a PhD as part of a larger funding project from the ERC or DFG (etc). Their project must then align with the goals of that larger funded project. In the US, at least in most humanities and social science programs that I'm familiar with, you usually have more independence with choice of topic and research, but the funding scheme is totally different: the university pays you as a TA or RA but then you need to find outside funding to go off and do your own research. Oh, also, I find that the structure of PhD programs in the US often includes more coursework and takes longer because students either get their MA/MS along the way, or because they simply haven't taken the same kind of coursework before. Whereas in Germany there is an assumption that you've taken coursework as part of your master's and no longer "need" it - you are expected to come in with a PhD proposal that's more or less ready to go (indeed, you often apply here with a proposal directly to a professor). This is quite different from many programs in North America that form cohorts that go through much of the coursework together, then only later are expected to e.g., go through oral, written, and/or language exams and then produce a PhD proposal. So, if you feel your coursework is done and proposal ready to go, essentially meaning you have the tools necessary to self-guide, Germany can be great for doing a PhD. Unfortunately, if you come from a master's program that did little to prepare you, it can be a disaster.

[noellewest]

Wow. That was so informative, and I've been working in Germany as a doctoral candidate (from the US) for three years. I came as a "Wiss Mitarbeiterin" (research associate) and was required to work toward a PhD as part of my contract. I never got a student visa because my status was "skilled worker". But I had no idea what kind of restrictions a student visa would place on a non-EU doctoral candidate here until I saw this.

As for healthcare, thank goodness this wasn't something I had to be concerned about. I have huge respect for those students pursuing a German PhD with no job and no central source of funding. My experience here has not been easy at all, but after seeing this video and realising what many if not most people in this situation must go through, I realise I've had quite the smooth ride in Germany.

[a.p.]

It really depends on what kind of PhD you are working on. It is entirely different thing, if you are doing a history PhD or PhD in engineering.

[rapsack]

About the independence: There is a history behind it. Our university system traditionaly based on the "independent student". The school student is teached and close supervised and the teacher is asking for work and you have to be presend etc.... At the university it is/was completly different. There is no one asking you for anything. They just give you the chance to deliver them your work. And you are free if you want get teached. No one is presure you to any thing. Lots of things you need to organice for your self. Often you have to find out for your self how to deal with a problem. Often there is a student organised help for students.
That traditional kind of university is more and more changed to become more a school like and you get told what to do and closly supervised. Back in the 90´s when i studied (chemstry dipl. and law) we were extremly free compared to the US System. Even if that changed a lot in the last 30 years you still can find it. In some subjects more in some less. There are many, many belivers that the "extrem" independency has a big value. Because you learn and show that you can work independent and that is a skill a future employer does value.

[proy]

As commented by you and others, it greatly depends on the field. I do not know a single person doing a PhD in biological sciences that does not have a 65/50% contract or a stipend. I have even known engineering PhDs that get a 100% contract, which gets then almost 3k Netto per month!! In addition, people who come with a contract get a job visa, which has many advantages.. I guess that unfortunately the situation is different for social/human sciences. Nice video, thanks!

[carstenlechte]

In physics and probably many other natural sciences, you usually meet your supervisor many times per month; if your advisor/Doktorvater is leading a large institute, you will only meet them a few times per year. And most physics PhD students will be employed by a university or research lab.

[berndegert]

I didn't thought about it, how difficult it might be to make your Ph. D. in Germany as a foreigner. I wrote my thesis in the seventies, when I was in my twenties ... the old way ... isolated ... six semesters and was lucky ... had not to work on experiments ... just pure mathematics ... paper and pencil. Compared to what you had to go through it was easy, fast and quick and the final part of my way through university. Thanks God, not as an expat today. I wish you all the best.

[behzadclan]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with everyone!
I am from Afghanistan. I completed two master's degrees in Russia with honours and I applied for PhD programme in Free University in Berlin (Structured programme). I hope they accept my application !!
Again, thank you very much for sharing everything and I wish you best of luck 🤞 🤞

[PalmyraSchwarz]

I followed only one other expat, who made her PhD in Germany, but she had only a few of your described problems, because she was under 30. Your story is very interesting.

[otterlydorky]

This is so interesting. When I did my phd I went for programmes that already had funding and were looking for a phd student to do the work on that particular research topic. I was automatically employed by the university on a 65% salary position (which is rare in life sciences) and enrolled at the university as a phd student to get the semester long public transportation ticket ;) Friends from my master course had vastly different experiences were they were not employed and had to take a large cut out of their stipend for health care. Due to them being on a scholarship they had to pay more for healthcare than I did, though they had no trouble finding insurance due us being under 30.

[James-isdr]

Back in early 80s we would often get (at least once a month it seemed) to reconsider if planning to go to Freiburg on the weekend as university students etc would be doing mass demonstration(s) in the city. Never bothered to find out what they were about but heeded the advice.

[michaelgrabner]

I just want to mention that with a working Visa instead of a study Visa it wouldn´t be that complicated in behalf of some things you mentioned.
You are then allowed to work any job of your choice which additionally provides automatically full healthcare and you have no income restrictions and you are allowed simultaneously to study as well.
But there is a downside as well of course = for a permant resident status with a working visa you have to have a job that means you simply can´t then quid working and just soley study
It soley depends on the personal needs which is better a working Visa or a study Visa.

[dekev]

For the issue of public healthcare, you are still Eligible, but only at the minimum rate for self employed which is almost twice the rate of what under 30 students pay.

[ninaandianfan]

LOL I'm almost 28 and a bachelor student at the moment xD. Good to know that my benefits end when I turn 30 🤣 I had no idea. It shouldn't be a problem as I do not intend to continue uni after I'm done in a couple of months but LOL xD

[knopka_v_pope_Milova]

2:05 That is *very* inaccurate! She probably misunderstood the point back than.
You are *always* eligible for public helth insurance. What really happens after 30, is that you cease to be eligible for _special discounted fixed rate for students._ However, you still may join as a so called _voluntary_ participant. Your rate will then depend on income, with minumum of €205 at the tim point I am writing this.

[smilingbandit]

Don’t be so polite and talk about „complicated“ things. It’s just pure bureaucratic stupidity.
We all know in Germany.

[Hoxgene]

All points are really useful. thank you

[emilwandel]

I think you didn't get it quite right with healthcare. The problem is that most insurances clerks don't know much about these special cases.
If you are a student you can choose at the start of your stidies if you want to be insured private health insurance or free will public health insurance (which you have to have insurance it just means you pay 100% yourself normally your employer would cover the other half.
These two systems are vastly different and have some implications for later in life. So think that through.
Also I thought that the age cap is 27 for the cheapest student public health insurance.
Keep in mind it is not an option in Germany not to have health insurance.
It so complicated that you shouldn't really relay on some Germans or first level suppoet clerks from insurances. You should get help from a lawyer or a financial adviser who specializes in this kind of law and expats and students.

[ThefamousMrcroissant]

This information is very niche. Similar to other commenters I did not struggle with the health insurance at all - you basically just end up using TK because it's on-site public health insurance, regardless of your age. When it comes to the student visa; true - but only if you're from outside the EU. I was an expat as well, but from the neighbouring country. I did not have to apply for any such thing. I have never heard of a PhD student who just "did their own thing" for three years and then handed in their dissertation. Ever. I'm unsure how you got to this knowledge but it's completely alien to me. Of course you are expected to spearhead initiatives, but they are often part of some strategy orchestrated by the professor of the group. Independence varies mostly based on the professor.

One thing that shocked my socks off when I first started in Germany is the INSANE health insurance prices. Coming from the Netherlands Germans practically pay almost double what dutch people pay, which is a huge dent in what would otherwise be a pretty good salary (4200EUR brutto for engineering degrees).