A doctorate or PhD (Promotion) is the essential foundation of any career in the sciences. The PhD is the only degree recognised by the academic community as well as by business and industry throughout the world.

The Hasso Plattner Institute currently has about 120 doctoral candidates working on their PhDs. In order acquire a doctorate at the HPI, doctoral students are required to be registered at the University of Potsdam for the duration of their studies. The language of instruction can be either German or English depending on the student's own preference. The terms of graduation at the Hasso Plattner Institute are subject to the Doctoral Regulations (Promotionsordnung) outlined by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Potsdam. 

The following documents must be handed in to the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences:

• Request for registration (Immatrikulation) 
• Curriculum vitae in chart-form
• Written declaration from the student's academic supervisor including a description of the dissertation topic and research area
• Notification of the student's intent to graduate
• Copy of the student's authorisation to study at university 
• Certified copy of the student's university degree. Please note: certificates attesting to final examinations taken abroad will be examined with regard to their equivalency by the International Relations Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) of the University of Potsdam
• Copy of the certificate stating that the student is no longer registered at the last university attended in Germany (Exmatrikulationsbescheinigung)
• Proof of student health insurance (an original is necessary) from a German health insurance company or proof of release from the official health insurance requirement (copy) for each semester. Presentation of the chip card is not sufficient (see example)
• If applicable, a copy of the scholarship granted to the student
• For foreign students only: Residence title (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) for the purposes of pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Potsdam, or a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)
  

After all of these documents have been handed in, the dean's office will examine the application. If the student is accepted, the documents will be forwarded either to the Student Administration Office (Studierendensekretariat) or to the International Relations Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt), where the registration procedure will be carried out.

The following students enjoy the same rights as German doctoral candidates:

• Foreign students from EU countries
• Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
• Foreign students and stateless persons with official authorisation to attend university in Germany and/or students with a completed degree from a university in Germany

Further information for foreign doctoral students

For more detailed information, please visit the University of Potsdam´s International Relations Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt)