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17 Best PhD Programs in Germany

Across Germany, 8 universities offer 17 PhD programs, typically lasting 4–6 years. The list starts with courses at Universität Hamburg, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover and Universität Hildesheim.

1PhD / Doctorate
UH Universität Hamburg logo
QS World #193 #14 in Germany Germany

Zahnmedizin

Universität Hamburg — Die Zahnmedizin an der Universität Hamburg ist ein umfassendes und innovatives Programm, das darauf abzielt, die Studierenden auf eine Karriere in der zahnmedizinischen W...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
WSIntake
Medicine & Health Sciences
2PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Auditory Science

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — The PhD program in Auditory Science at Medizinische Hochschule Hannover is designed for students who are passionate about understanding the complexities of hearing and au...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Professional Accounting & Finance
3PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Biomedical Data Science

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — The PhD in Biomedical Data Science at Medizinische Hochschule Hannover combines advanced methodologies in biology and data analytics, fostering innovative research that t...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Medicine & Health Sciences
4PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Epidemiologie

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — The PhD program in Epidemiology at Medizinische Hochschule Hannover offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the distribution and determinants of health-rela...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Medicine & Health Sciences
5PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Infektionsbiologie

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — Overview of InfektionsbiologieThe PhD program in Infektionsbiologie at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover offers an in-depth exploration of infectious diseases, their m...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Life Sciences
6PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Molekulare Medizin

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — Overview of Molecular MedicineThe PhD program in Molecular Medicine at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover delves into the intricate mechanisms underlying human diseases...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Medicine & Health Sciences
7PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Regenerative Sciences

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — The PhD program in Regenerative Sciences at Medizinische Hochschule Hannover is designed for students who are passionate about advancing healthcare through cutting-edge r...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Medicine & Health Sciences
8PhD / Doctorate
MH Medizinische Hochschule Hannover logo
#42 in Germany Germany

Systemische Neurowissenschaften

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover — The PhD program in Systemic Neurosciences at Medizinische Hochschule Hannover delves into the intricate connections between neural systems and their functions. This inter...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Science
9PhD / Doctorate
UH Universität Hildesheim logo
#99 in Germany Germany

Sozialpädagogik

Universität Hildesheim — The doctoral program in Sozialpädagogik at Universität Hildesheim offers an in-depth exploration of social pedagogy through a rigorous academic framework. This program is...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
3 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Social Sciences & Psychology
10PhD / Doctorate
FS Frankfurt School of Finance & Management logo
#111 in Germany Germany

Doctoral (Accounting)

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management — The Doctoral program in Accounting at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management is an advanced academic course designed to foster deep research skills and theoretical insi...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
5 YearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Professional Accounting & Finance
11PhD / Doctorate
FS Frankfurt School of Finance & Management logo
#111 in Germany Germany

Doctoral (Economics)

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management — The Doctoral Program in Economics at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management provides a rigorous academic framework designed to equip students with in-depth knowledge an...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
5 YearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Economics & Public Policy
12PhD / Doctorate
FS Frankfurt School of Finance & Management logo
#111 in Germany Germany

Doctoral (Finance)

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management — The Doctoral Program in Finance at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management is an academically rigorous course designed to equip students with advanced research skills in...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
5 YearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Professional Accounting & Finance
13PhD / Doctorate
FS Frankfurt School of Finance & Management logo
#111 in Germany Germany

Doctoral (Management)

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management — The Doctoral program in Management at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management equips students with advanced research skills and a robust understanding of management theo...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
5 YearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Business & Management
14PhD / Doctorate
EV Europa-Universität Viadrina logo
#113 in Germany Germany

Law

Europa-Universität Viadrina — The PhD program in Law at Europa-Universität Viadrina offers students an intellectually stimulating environment to conduct in-depth research in various areas of law. The...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
10 semestersDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Law
15PhD / Doctorate
EB Europäische Betriebswirtschafts-Akademie logo
#145 in Germany Germany

Doctor of Business Administration

Europäische Betriebswirtschafts-Akademie — The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Europäische Betriebswirtschafts-Akademie is designed for professionals looking to enhance their leadership capabili...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Business & Management
16PhD / Doctorate
FD Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft logo
#183 in Germany Germany

Doctor of Business Administration

Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft — The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft is a prestigious program designed for professionals looking to enhance their managerial skill...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Part TimeMode
FallIntake
Business & Management
17PhD / Doctorate
HF Hochschule für Künste Bremen logo
#190 in Germany Germany

PhD at the Binational Artistic PhD-Program

Hochschule für Künste Bremen — The PhD program at Hochschule für Künste Bremen is designed for students who are interested in pursuing advanced research in the field of the arts, with a focus on creati...

PhD / DoctorateLevel
4–6 yearsDuration
Full TimeMode
FallIntake
Arts, Design & Architecture

How these courses are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — Universität Hamburg at #193 — so it heads the list. The rest are ordered by research impact. Universität Hamburg has the largest research record in this group, with 21,096,395 citations and an h-index of 1,039.

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Medicine & Health Sciences (5), Professional Accounting & Finance (3), Business & Management (3) and Economics & Public Policy (1). The usual length is 4–6 years and 5 Years. 94% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (94% of courses with a stated intake). Medizinische Hochschule Hannover offers the widest choice, with 7 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Germany for PhD?

Universität Hamburg (QS World #193), Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (#42 in Germany) and Universität Hildesheim (#99 in Germany) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How long does a PhD course take in Germany?

Most listed courses run 4–6 years, with 5 Years the next most common.

When do PhD courses start in Germany?

Fall is the main intake — 94% of courses with a stated start date begin then.

Which university has the most PhD courses in Germany?

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, with 7, ahead of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (4).

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