Scholarships are awarded by the organisations for the promotion of young talent (Begabtenförderungswerke in German) but also by various other state and private funding organisations. Scholarships do not constitute an employment relationship and are generally tax-free.
Advantages
- No obligations, you can devote yourself fully to working on your doctoral dissertation
- High flexibility in terms of location and time (e.g. good compatibility with care responsibilities or if there is a long distance between the university and your place of residence)
- Scholarship programmes are usually highly selective, therefore proof of excellence
- Usually access is available to additional non-material funding programmes (workshops, networking meetings) where you can make contacts
- In addition to the scholarship, a research allowance is usually paid to cover various material costs. Additional funding may be available for doctoral-related stays abroad.
Disadvantages
- High demands on self-management, as little structuring and control from outside
- Little involvement in the academic community
- No acquisition of relevant work experience, but secondary employment, especially in academia, is permitted to a small extent for many scholarships
- In addition to academic excellence, personal factors often play a role in the awarding of scholarships (voluntary commitment, age, speedy pursuit of qualification objectives)
- Since you are not subject to social insurance contributions, you have to take out your own health and long-term care insurance and are not entitled to sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, etc.
- Some funding/support benefits are only available to doctoral candidates employed at the university, not to scholarship holders or those employed outside the university.
- Scholarships often do not cover the entire duration of the doctorate. The project must be well developed for a successful application. Lengthy decision-making processes by funding bodies, therefore early application required.
