# Prospective International Doctoral Candidates

**Source**: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/cfov/lidx/1
**Parent**: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Vor-dem-Studium/~bdpsux/Internationale-Studieninteressierte/lidx/1/

- [Enrollment for Internationals](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Nach-dem-Studium/Promotion/Informationen-fuer-Promovierende/Internationale-Promovierende/Internationale-Promotionsinteressierte/~dsqh/Einschreibung-zur-Promotion-fuer-Interna/lidx/1/)

All faculties at RWTH Aachen University are entitled to award doctoral degrees. In order to obtain a doctoral degree, candidates have to conduct an independent research project and publish their results in form of a dissertation or doctoral thesis (Doktorarbeit). Subsequently, they have to pass an oral examination. A doctoral degree is primarily awarded for producing a substantive, independent research thesis under the supervision of a university professor; lectures and coursework only play a minor role in the dissertation process. Thus doctoral studies at RWTH do not commence with a coursework phase.

### Graduate Schools and Research Training Groups

Structured PhD programs as offered by American universities, for example, are rather the exception at RWTH Aachen University – doctoral projects conducted at RWTH are usually quite different from doctoral programs based on the Anglo-American model. Only a few 
[Graduate schools](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/ohl/lidx/1)
 affiliated with RWTH offer such structured doctoral programs. 
With the exception of those research schools and training groups, the education of doctoral students is not centrally organized within a graduate school: undergraduate and graduate students alike are taught within the same institutional framework (that is, within the same faculty). Doctoral candidates may enrol as students, but they don't have to do so; frequently, doctoral candidates are employed as research assistants at university departments or institutes.

The first decisive step for students who wish to embark upon a doctoral project is to find a suitable supervisor for their research and dissertation: the formal application for a PhD position made to the faculty in question must include a written confirmation by a RWTH professor that he or she is willing to act as the candidate's academic supervisor.

## How Do I Find a Supervisor for My Dissertation?

- Use the contacts of the teaching staff at your home university, who may know a professor in their field in Aachen and can provide you with a referral.
- Contact RWTH professors via mail or email.
- Send a letter to the academic advisor or doctoral office of the faculty in question.
- Use the RWTH website to find out about potential institutes, research areas, teaching staff, and the relevant contact information.

### Finding a Supervisor for your PhD Project and Thesis

First, conduct a thorough exploration of the research fields of RWTH professors online. The websites of the various [faculties](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/oha/lidx/1) provide access to all university departments and institutes, where you can discover the key research interests of RWTH staff and departments. Once you have identified a professor whom you consider well-suited to supervising your thesis, feel free to reach out with your application via email. It is important to keep in mind that well-known professors may receive over a thousand applications per year, of which they can accept only a very small percentage. On the other hand, RWTH consistently hosts over 600 international PhD candidates, which indicates that excellent doctoral students are always very welcome at our University. This means that if you stand out as outstanding applicant, your chances are favorable. Additionally, consider reaching out to the doctoral delegates within the faculties for further guidance and support:

[Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences](https://www.fb1.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/gao/lidx/1)

[Architecture](https://arch.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bmis/lidx/1)

[Civil Engineering](https://www.fb3.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/cbaz/lidx/1)

[Mechanical Engineering](https://www.maschinenbau.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/nafi/lidx/1)

[Georesources and Materials Engineering](https://www.fb5.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bcpd/lidx/1)

[Electrical Engineering and Information Technology](https://www.elektrotechnik.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/fhv/lidx/1)

[Arts and Humanities](https://www.philosophische-fakultaet.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bavyxy/lidx/1)

[Business and Economics](https://www.wiwi.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/ial/lidx/1)

[Medicine](https://www.medizin.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/cofc/lidx/1)

## External Links

- [DAAD webpage on doing a PhD in Germany](https://www.daad.de/deutschland/promotion/en/)