Stage 3 of 8 · 9 lessons · ~4 weeks
Choose programmes and supervisors
Build a shortlist of 6 to 10 programmes chosen on what you will actually learn, who you will work with, where graduates end up and what it costs to live there. For research degrees, find the groups and supervisors whose work fits yours.
Start: Using rankings carefullyLessons· one lesson for each topic, in this order
Do this
- Pull 20 candidate programmes from official portals and subject rankings.
- Read the module list or handbook of each and cut the ones that do not fit.
- Check entry requirements for your country and your converted grades.
- Look up where recent graduates of each programme work, especially international ones.
- Compare total cost including city living costs.
- For research degrees, list 10 researchers and read two recent papers by each.
- Email up to 5 potential supervisors with specific, short messages where the programme expects it.
- Fix a final list of 6 to 10 in three tiers.
Start with
- GuideFreeStudy and Research in Germany (DAAD)
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)
Its programme search covers international degree programmes taught in English
Practise
Keep handy
Also worth your time
- EURAXESSGo deeper
The EU portal for research jobs, including many paid PhD positions
Before moving on: A shortlist of 6 to 10 programmes in three tiers, each with modules or a research group that fits, graduate outcome evidence, total cost and entry requirements checked, plus a list of 10 researchers with papers you have read if you are applying for a research degree.
In Europe, read the module list and the admission rules of each university: many German universities check your degree against specific course credits, and some PhDs are advertised jobs with a closing date. The programme where two professors work on exactly your topic often beats a famous name.