Applying to take a doctorate in Wuppertal (International Students)
You are an international graduate intending to apply for a doctoral program at UW.
If you are an international graduate intending to take a doctorate at UW, you should first contact the relevant faculty, department or institute and clarify that you fulfill the required conditions and that you will find a professor at UW to supervise you.
Send your potential supervisor a letter or e-mail with the following information:
- outline of your proposed research
- details of your experience in that field
- personal resumé / curriculum vitae.
If the response is positive, you should apply to UW's Student Admission and Registration for International Students for admission and enrollment. The final decision on admission and/or any further conditions to be fulfilled is taken by the doctoral degree examinations board.
For application of admission and enrollment at the International Office the following documents are required:
- personal resumé / curriculum vitae
- degree certificate(s)
- abstract of your Master\'s thesis or degree thesis
- written confirmation of acceptance (international PhD students) for supervision by a UW professor
- (where applicable) confirmation by your future supervisor that you may write your thesis in a language other than German
- (where applicable, and where the thesis is to be written in German) evidence of command of the German language
- evidence of university attendance (list of subjects/courses studied and grades attained, transcripts etc.)
- if you are or were already enrolled at a German university, the most recent certification of enrollment or renewal of registration must be submitted, with details of subject and semester
- completed application of admission.
Please note
- a German translation must be submitted with foreign certificates written in a language other than English or French
- all certificates should be submitted in the form of attested copies
- You can apply for admission by sending the documents listed above (attested copies) by post to the UW's Student Admission and Registration for International Students. The enrollment can also take place at the Office in person.
Application deadlines :
- summer semester: 15.04.
- winter semester: 15.10.
Enrolment for a doctorate
Would you like to enroll for a doctorate at the University of Wuppertal?
The online enrolment always takes place during the following periods:
- for the winter semester: May 15th - October 15th.
- for the summer semester: December 15th - April 15th.
In special cases, it is also possible to request a registration at a later date from the students' office. The request can be made by email or by post. However, all the necessary documents need to be handed in by November 30th (winter term) or May 31st (summer term) at the latest.
Renewal of enrolment always takes place between the following dates:
- for the winter semester: June 15th – August 15th
- for the summer semester: December 15th – February 15th.
Complete the appropriate form below (in German only!), ask your future supervisor to sign it, and ask your schoolto stamp it (all three steps are necessary):
Enrolment form (2 School of Human and Social Sciences)
Enrolment form (3 Schumpeter School of Business and Economics)
Enrolment form for all remaining faculties:
for holders of a German diploma (Bildungsinländer*innen)
for holders of a foreign diploma (Bildungsausländer*innen)*
*In addition, holders of a foreign diploma need to fill in an application for admission.
Hand in the completed, signed and stamped form at the Student Administration Office (Studierendensekretariat) or the International Student Administration Office (Internationales Studierendensekretariat) at Grifflenberg Campus.
External applicants – i.e. those who have taken their first degree at another university – must initially register at UW online. In addition to the above-mentioned form, further documentation is required. You will receive an actual list at the end of your online-registration (after you logged out) with a receipt of the "Einschreibebogen" ("enrollment-form").
Semester and tuition fees
Doctoral students are exempted from UW tuition fee, but they must pay the Semester fee on initial registration and on renewal of registration for each sub-sequent semester. The deadlinen for the renewal of registration is March 15th (summer terms) and September 15th (winter terms). Click here (in German) for information about the NRW Semester ticket.
Refund of semester ticket costs
A refund of semester ticket costs is possible under certain conditions. For further details, please contact the Students' Union of the UW: www.asta.uni-wuppertal.de.
Enrolment renewal for doctoral students
Enrolment renewal until the 8th semester
Up until the eighth semester of your doctoral studies, you can renew your enrolment by simply transferring the semester fee by 15th August (for the winter term) or 15 February (for the summer term).
Enrolment renewal after the 8th semester
For a renewal of your enrolment for your 9th semester, you have to hand in a document where your your supervisor confirms the necessity to renew your enrolment further to the Student Administration Office (Studierendensekretariat)* by the deadline for transferring the semester fee. You can then renew your enrolment three more times (up until your 12th semester) by simply transferring the semester fee.
The CGS provides a form for the re-enrolment after the 8th semester (in German only, please contact us if you need help):
- for holders of a German diploma (Bildungsinländer*innen)
- for holders of a foreign diploma (Bildungsausländer*innen)
Enrolment renewal after the 12th semester
For a renewal of your enrolment after the 12th semester, you are required to hand in a statement by your doctoral degree examination board approving the renewal for each new term.
The CGS provides a form for the re-enrolment after the 12th semester (in German only, please contact us if you need help):
- for holders of a German diploma (Bildungsinländer*innen)
- for holders of a foreign diploma (Bildungsausländer*innen)
*International PhD students with a foreign diploma (Bildungsausländer*innen) need to hand in the relevant documents for a renewal of their enrolment after the 8th or 12th semester at the International Student Administration Office.
