In order to do a doctorate, you should have a very good qualification equivalent to a Masters Degree or Diploma on university level, with at least eight semesters of study (in exceptional cases you may abe accepted with a very good Bachelor degree of a fast-track program).

Degrees from institutes outside of Germany or studies in research subjects not represented at RUB, have to be recognised by the respective faculty. In all faculties, you should apply for acceptance as a doctoral candidate right at the beginning of your doctorate to ensure that you fulfill the formal requirements.

The formal requirements, responsibilities and procedures of a doctorate (including the application to be accpeted as doctoral researcher) are defined by the doctoral regulations of the faculty responsible for your field of research. Please check the doctoral regulations carefully. You can contact the dean's office of the faculty if you have questions concerning the formal requirements and the doctoral regulations.

Doing a doctorate also depends on your personal motivation and interest. Therefore, it could be helpful to claify your personal motivation to do a doctorate - related to your research qualification and interests but also related to your skills and strategies to work self-organised, self-reliable and with a high responsibility for advancing your own research project.

In general:

• Get an overview of the research fields and areas at RUB and decide which professor you would like to be your supervisor.
• Get acquainted with the faculties and institutes and their doctoral-degree regulations and requirements - do you fulfill them?
• If you are taking part in a structured doctoral program, such as IGB, GSCB, IGSN, faculty-wide programs in Philosophy etc., check the regulations of this program in detail.
• If you are not a native speaker, you should have English or German language skills enbling you to conduct your research project successfully in your research field and environment. You have to agree upon the language skills with your first supervisor right at the beginning. They will formally be proofed by the respective faculty.
• Try to clarify your motivation to work independently, self-reliable and self-organised.