Thesis Starter Grants

You can apply if

• you are in the final phase of your studies (graduation by 31.03.2024 at the latest), which you are expected to complete within the second level upper division, and are planning to do a doctorate at the University of Passau, or
• you have completed your studies within the second level upper division no earlier than 31.10.2022 and are planning a doctorate at the University of Passau.

If you wish to do a doctorate at the Faculty of Law, the overall examination grade of the First State Examination must be available at the time of application.

Please note that you must have completed a degree programme with a grade that qualifies you for a doctorate. The following information on final grades can serve as a first orientation for this. Additional acceptance requirements may be specified in the subject-specific doctoral regulations. Only the information in the currently valid version of the corresponding doctoral degree regulation is binding!

*Teaching students: A doctorate is possible after successful completion of the First State Examination if, within the framework of the teacher training programme, the term paper to be proven for admission to the First State Examination were assessed with at least the grade "good".

**The Board of Examiners for Doctoral Awards may exempt the candidate from the requirement of an above-average degree if the candidate has achieved above-average assessments in computer science or mathematics after graduation and two professors of the Faculty endorse the acceptance.

***4 years' law degree or a law degree which is considered as equivalent to the German first legal State Examination with the final grade of "Vollbefriedigend" (Full Satisfactory)

Yes. You can apply as long as you would like to do your doctorate at the University of Passau and have found a person who is willing to supervise your doctorate and support your application. As a rule, doctorates are supervised by professors.

The earliest possible start date is 01.11.2023, the latest possible start date is 01.04.2024. In principle, however, the start date for funding depends on your study progress. Funding can start when you have completed all your examinations, even if you have not yet received all your grades. If you would like to do a doctorate at the Faculty of Law, the overall examination grade of the First State Examination must be available at the time of application. A later start is possible in justified exceptional cases, but at the latest up to twelve months after graduation.

Thesis starter grants come with a contract as a graduate teaching and research assistant amounting to 30% of the regular working hours. In the case of funding, the contract is concluded for six months.

The funding can be extended by a maximum of three months. To apply for an extension, proof of an application to a doctoral scholorship provider or an external third-party funder must be submitted to the Graduate Centre office no later than six weeks before the end of the funding period. However, there is no entitlement to an extension.

Please enclose the diplomas, including the diploma supplements and transcript of records, off all degree programmes you have completed. The documents must contain an overview of grades as well as information on the topic and grading of the thesis of your university degrees.

Please submit a current Transcript of Records listing your examination achievements to date instead of your degree certificate. If you would like to do a doctorate at the Faculty of Law, the overall examination grade of the First State Examination must be available at the time of application.

Please contact us at least two weeks before the application deadline. Tell us which documents you are still missing, when you requested them and what the current processing status is. We will then get back to you and let you know whether an application during the current funding round is still possible and, if so, by when you should submit the missing documents. 

This is possible in principle. However, as with any other application, you should choose carefully and only attach supporting documents that have a concrete connection to your application.

The decision is made according to the following selection criteria:

• Scientific qualification and performance of the applicant, proven in particular by outstanding academic performance, prizes or other awards for previous achievements during studies.
• Scientific quality and comprehensible outline of the doctoral project
• Comprehensibility of the personal motivation for the doctorate and the contribution to further career planning

The Graduate Centre's collegial management decides on the awarding of the thesis starter grant. The committee is composed of professors and early career researchers from all four faculties.

Yes, that is possible.

After the application deadline, we forward all complete and formally admissible applications to the decision-making committee. After the applicants have been selected by this committee, you will receive an acceptance or rejection letter from the Graduate Centre office. As a rule, we endeavour to notify you of this decision within one month of the application deadline.

Funding is not possible if you are employed by the University of Passau during the planned funding period. It is irrelevant whether you are employed as a student assistant or doctoral research assistant or in a non-academic position during the funding period.

No, this is not possible. Via the thesis starter grant you will be already formally employed as a doctoral research assistant at the University of Passau.