DKFZ International PhD Program

The DKFZ International PhD Program lays the foundation for a career path as a world-class researcher for the Center’s over 500 PhD students.

The DKFZ International PhD Program is a fully funded, structured program within the DKFZ Cancer Research Academy, providing all DKFZ doctoral researchers (PhD students) with tailored mentoring and training in cancer research. The doctoral research projects are conducted at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg or Dresden, or its partner sites across Germany within the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), National Centers for Tumor Disease, the Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology and the DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim.

Reflecting the breadth of scientific topics represented within the Program, our doctoral researchers are enrolled in top universities across Germany, pursuing doctoral titles that best suit their scientific expertise. These range from Dr. rer. nat. (natural sciences) to Dr. sc. hum. and Dr. med. (human sciences and medicine) and Dr.-Ing. (engineering sciences).

The DKFZ International PhD Program has a lively network of active members, who organise regular scientific networking activities and social events. In collaboration with the DKFZ Career Service & Alumni Relations, the Program offers comprehensive guidance and career development resources, providing a strong foundation upon which our members take their next career step. Our alumni pursue diverse career paths in both academia and industry.


General Information

The typical duration of the doctoral studies at the DKFZ is three to four years. More than 52 % of our PhD students are international, so the curriculum is in English and includes scientific and professional training.


Degree

Once you have completed and defended your PhD project and attended the necessary courses, you are granted your degree by the university with which you initially registered. For most PhD students at the DKFZ, the doctoral degree is awarded by the Biosciences Faculty, Medical Faculty or Physics Faculty of the prestigious Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany (founded in 1386). The degree you are awarded depends on your area of research and the university faculty you registered with. In Germany, although the term "PhD" is used to refer to the doctoral project (as in this website), the actual doctoral title that is conferred is not the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), but rather an equivalent doctoral title. For example, a Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) is conferred by the Biosciences or Physics Faculties and a Doctor of Human Sciences (Dr. sc. hum.), or in some cases where the candidate has a medical background a Doctor of Medicine (Dr. med.) is conferred by the Medical Faculty.


Funding

All PhD positions at the DKFZ are fully funded for (at least) three years. The salaries are competitive by (inter)national standards. There is no tuition fee.

Candidates awarded a PhD Program position through the biannual selection rounds are funded by a DKFZ PhD contract, which includes social security contributions (pension, health insurance etc). The amount of this contract is approximately equivalent to a TVöD contract with 65% working time, in the E13 level. Candidates may also receive offers of funding from a PhD supervisor directly, or obtain their own scholarship from foundations or funding agencies.

All PhD students at the DKFZ are enrolled in the DKFZ International PhD Program, regardless of how they are funded.