Prerequisite for the doctorate at the Faculty of Science is a German university degree in the form of a diploma, a Master's degree, a Magister degree with the main subject and the final thesis in the chosen scientific discipline or a certificate of the 1st state examination for the teaching profession at grammar schools (secondary level I and II) for a subject of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences that can be assigned to the scientific discipline in which the doctorate is sought. As a rule, the German university degree should have been awarded at least the grade "Good". Foreign qualifications should be at least equivalent to this grade.

For applicants with a university degree from a non-EU country, one of the following three types of proof will be mandatory starting September 1st 2025:

1. preliminary examination documentation (VPD) via uni-assist 
The procedure via uni-assist includes:
- the authenticity check of the documents
- the assessment of equivalence with a German university degree
- the conversion of the final grade into the German grading system

Procedure:
→ Registration at https://my.uni-assist.de 
→ Selection: “Universität Potsdam - VPD”
→ “Vorprüfung für die Promotion”
Costs: 75 euros (to be borne by the applicant)
Processing time: approx. 4-6 weeks

2. own proof by e.g. supervisor via anabin + grade conversion
A waiver of the VPD is possible if the following evidence is submitted completely and comprehensibly:
- a complete excerpt from the anabin database with H+ assessment of the degree. 
- a comprehensible grade conversion, e.g. according to the modified Bavarian formula (HU-Berlin grade conversion calculator or IO suggestions for grade conversion (access via intranet)

This option is particularly suitable for institutions with relevant experience in recognizing international degrees.

3. certificate of equivalence from the ZAB
Alternatively, an official certificate of equivalence from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) can be submitted:

A VPD is not required for degrees from EU countries, except in justified individual cases where equivalence cannot be clearly established. In such cases, one of the three above-mentioned routes can also be used.

!Attention! The original supervision agreement must be submitted to the doctoral office (by post or in person). The subject representative must sign in the original (wet signature). Digital signatures of the doctoral candidate and the supervisor team are accepted.

subject representatives (far down on the page) in the Doctoral Committee

Please send then the following documents in ONE e-mail to prommnf@uni-potsdam.de.

1. signed CV
2. Scan of the Master's degree certificate

If the documents were submitted before the deadline, your application will be voted on at the next meeting of the doctoral committee.

After approval by the doctoral committee, you will receive a confirmation of admission ("Promotionsanzeige") from us by postal mail.

The supervision agreement and other submitted documents will also be returned to you by postal mail. Keep them in a safe place! The supervision agreement must be submitted together with your dissertation.

Doctoral Candidate:

• Increasing autonomous research concerning the topic of the dissertation and composition of the doctoral thesis
• Presentation of the progress and the further planning of the doctoral project to the Principal Supervisor and the Second Supervisor/Mentor at least once a year on the occasion of the progress review meetings
• Requesting and participating in supervision meetings
• Participation in at least one doctoral seminar (duration: one semester)
• Engagement to gain teaching experience (usually teaching to the extent of 2Semersterwochenstunden SWS for 1 term = ~30h)
• Compliance with the regulations for safeguarding good scientific practice at the University of Potsdam
• Publications that originate from the doctoral project are (also) to be published in the name of the University of Potsdam

Principal Supervisor: (Professor or post-doctoral degree, has to be a member of the Faculty of Science of the University of Potsdam)

• Definition of the doctoral topic, according to agreement with the Doctoral Candidate
• Provision of infrastructure necessary for the realization of the doctoral thesis
• Specialist advice and support for the doctoral thesis
• Participation in annual progress review meetings (please protocol meeting)
• Offer supervision meetings, to be undertaken generally once a month
• Continued survey of the working progress

Second Supervisor: (Professor or post-doctoral degree, does not have to be a member of the University of Potsdam – The Doctoral Committee can nominate eligible scientists via a case-by-case decision; this must be formally decided.)

• Coaches and advises the Doctoral Candidate
• Participation in annual progress review meetings
• Interlocutor if problems occur in the relationship between Principal Supervisor and Doctoral Candidate

Mentor:(at least awarded with a doctor’s degree, does not have to be a member of the University of Potsdam)

• Advises the Doctoral Candidate
• Participation in annual progress review meetings
• Interlocutor if problems occur in the relationship between Supervisor(s) and Doctoral Candidate