Doctoral research at TUM
There are different paths for Ukrainian junior scientists to continue or to start their doctoral research at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Depending on your individual preferences and academic background, there are different ways for us to welcome you to our university.
If you wish to study at TUM (bachelor, master), please contact the Student Counseling Service for international students at https://www.tum.de/en/studies/international-students/ukraine.
Ukrainian citizens- seeking refuge in Germany, who have started their doctorate at a university in Ukraine, Russia or Belarus and wish to continue and submit their dissertation at their home university in the future, may, during their time in Munich/Germany, conduct research at TUM for a limited period of time as a guest doctoral candidate.
Guest doctoral candidates do not need to apply for formal admission incl. recognition of their foreign university degree, but may start their research period at TUM any time after they have found a hosting professor. Details like start date, duration or content of the guest research phase will be discussed directly between the hosting professor and the guest doctoral candidate. Please contact our Welcome Office (supportukraine@gs.tum.de) if you need assistance on how to identify and contact a suitable doctoral supervisor.
TUM offers Ukrainian doctoral candidates seeking refuge in Germany/Munich the possibility to enroll as visiting doctoral students for their research period at TUM. Enrollment is voluntary and enables prompt legal integration into the TUM research environment and access to TUM research infrastructure, as well as access to student discounts. In case of voluntary enrollment, the semester fee of currently 147 Euro (for Munich, Garching and Freising), 62 Euro for TUM Campus in Straubing and 92 Euro for TUM Campus Heilbronn must be paid per semester. Please note that enrollment as visiting doctoral student is optional. You may also conduct your research stay at TUM without enrollment. Please contact us via supportukraine@gs.tum.de for further information about whether enrollment as guest doctoral student may be beneficial in your individual case.
Further information about guest research stays at TUM can be found at https://www.gs.tum.de/en/gs/applicants/welcome-office/information-for-guest-doctorate/.
Ukrainian citizens seeking refuge in Germany due to the war in Ukraine may transfer to TUM for the continuation of ongoing doctoral research projects. Therefore, if you have started your doctorate at a university in Ukraine, Russia or Belarus but wish to transfer to TUM for the continuation and completion of your doctorate (and obtain a TUM doctoral degree), you may start your doctoral application right away. As an alternative, you may also start as a guest doctoral candidate and familiarize yourself with TUM first before preparing your documents for doctoral application and admission.
Please note that at TUM the “traditional” model of individual doctorate still prevails. With very few exceptions, TUM does not have doctoral programs (like bachelor or master’s programs) for which you can directly apply with your degree certificates. Instead, you will have to contact a TUM professor who conducts research in your research field. There are no application deadlines for doctoral research at TUM. You may contact TUM professors anytime to discuss your dissertation project, your previous/current state of research, as well as possible steps towards graduation. Please contact our Welcome Office (supportukraine@gs.tum.de) if you need assistance on how to identify and contact a suitable doctoral supervisor.
If you have found a TUM professor to supervise your doctoral project, you will have to apply for formal doctoral admission. Your non-German university degree will be subject to a recognition of equivalency during this formal admission process. TUM seeks to provide Ukrainian doctoral candidates/master’s graduates affected by the war in Ukraine with a simplified doctoral application and admission procedure. Please contact our Welcome Office at supportukraine@gs.tum.de for further information on this matter.
Extensive information and guidance for finding a doctoral supervisor, as well as information about doctoral application and admission can be found at https://www.gs.tum.de/en/gs/applicants/application/.
Are you a Ukrainian citizen seeking refuge in Germany with a master’s or equivalent degree obtained from a university in Ukraine, Russia or Belarus? Do you wish to pursue your doctorate at TUM? Please note that at TUM the “traditional” model of individual doctorate still prevails. We do not have doctoral programs (like bachelor or master’s programs) for which you can directly apply for with your degree certificates. Instead, the most important step for you is to find a TUM professor who agrees to be your doctoral supervisor. There are no application deadlines for doctoral research at TUM. You may contact TUM professors anytime. Please contact our Welcome Office (supportukraine@gs.tum.de) if you need assistance on how to identify and contact a suitable doctoral supervisor.
If you have found a TUM professor to supervise your doctoral project, you will have to apply for formal doctoral admission. Your non-German university degree will be subject to an equivalency test during this formal admission process. TUM seeks to provide Ukrainian junior scientists affected by the war in Ukraine with a simplified doctoral application and admission procedure. Please contact our Welcome Office at supportukraine@gs.tum.de for further information on this matter.
Extensive information and guidance for finding a doctoral supervisor, as well as information about doctoral application and admission can be found at https://www.gs.tum.de/en/gs/applicants/application/.
TUM does not charge any tuition fees for a doctorate or guest research stay. To cover their living expenses, doctoral candidates at TUM have the opportunity to be employed as research associates at the chair/research group of their doctoral supervisor. However, funding options provided by TUM are not always available and doctoral candidates may have to apply for doctoral scholarships. TUM does not have own scholarship programs for doctoral candidates on a large scale. Therefore, you may have to search for external scholarship providers like the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Further information on how to fund your doctorate at TUM can be found at https://www.gs.tum.de/en/gs/applicants/funding/. If you have already found a TUM professor to be your doctoral supervisor, you may also directly contact him*her to inquire about possible funding options.
Contact us!
TUM Graduate School Welcome Office #SupportUkraine
E-mail: supportukraine@gs.tum.de
Phone: 089 289 10603, office hours Monday-Friday 10:30 am- 5:00 pm.
Extended welcome services by the TUM Graduate School
The Welcome Office of the TUM Graduate School (TUM-GS) offers extended support for Ukrainian doctoral candidates affected by the war in Ukraine:
- Introduction to TUM research portfolio, different TUM locations and TUM research environment in the Munich Metropolitan Region
- Advice on doctoral research opportunities and guest research stays at TUM
- Advice and assistance on how to identify and contact a suitable doctoral supervisor
- Information about doctoral funding options/funding options for guest research stays
- Information about funding schemes, services and transferable skills trainings offered by the TUM Graduate School
- Advice on legal integration into the TUM research environment and access to TUM research and service infrastructure
- Advice on arrival and living in the Munich Metropolitan Region
- Information about central TUM services to support balance of research and family life, to foster equal opportunities and various networking opportunities within and outside of the TUM community
- Information about how to find suitable accommodation (no accommodation offers!)
- Furthermore, the TUM-GS Welcome Office may (in individual cases) offer extended assistance for administration formalities, completion of registration forms, opening of bank accounts etc.
Financial support by the TUM Graduate School
The TUM Graduate School has implemented two special funding schemes for Ukrainian doctoral candidates affected by the war in Ukraine. The funding schemes aim to support Ukrainian doctoral candidates in the initial phase and/or last phase of their dissertation at TUM.
#SupportUkraine Bridge Financing Support
The #SupportUkraine Bridge Financing was introduced by the TUM-GS to support Ukrainian doctoral candidates affected by the war in Ukraine to bridge the financial gap between the actual start of their doctoral research at TUM and the start of their doctoral funding, e.g. in form of a TUM employment contract/employment at the TUM University Hospital or a scholarship. The Bridge Financing of 1.000 Euro per month for a maximum period of three months aims to support Ukrainian doctoral candidates to settle in and familiarize themselves with TUM while preparing documents for doctoral admission and/or TUM employment.
Application requirements:
- Ukrainian citizenship
- Master’s degree obtained from and/or doctoral research initially started at an accredited higher education institution in Ukraine, Russia or Belarus. The higher education institution in question must be assessed as equivalent to a higher education institution in Germany (anabin database, assessment of institution with H+)
- Refugee in Germany due to the war in Ukraine
- Confirmation of supervision from a TUM professor
- Proof of secured doctoral funding, e.g. confirmation of employment from TUM supervisor, scholarship confirmation or at least proof of ongoing scholarship application.
#SupportUkraine Degree Completion Support
Ukrainian refugees who have transferred to TUM for the continuation of their ongoing dissertation project may apply for the TUM-GS #SupportUkraine Degree Completion to support the last phase of their dissertation at TUM. The Degree Completion can only be awarded as part of a 50% co-funding scheme with the research group/department/school and amounts to 1.200 Euro per month for a maximum of 12 months.
Application requirements:
- Ukrainian citizenship
- Doctoral research initially started at an accredited higher education institution in Ukraine, Russia or Belarus
- Refugee in Germany due to the war in Ukraine and continuation of doctoral research at TUM
- Successful doctoral admission at TUM (no preliminary admission), and
- Thesis submission by the end of the Degree Completion Support funding period probable.
General information for Ukrainian junior scientists affected by the war in Ukraine
The information and websites provided are not exhaustive. The TUM Graduate School is not responsible for the content of the linked pages.
Information for Ukrainian refugees, City of Munich: https://stadt.muenchen.de/infos/ukraine.html (German/Ukrainian/partly in English)
Information for Ukrainian refugees, Munich District (Landkreis München): https://www.landkreis-muenchen.de/themen/auslaenderrecht-und-integration/ukraine-krieg-informationen-hilfen-aktuelles/ (German/Ukrainian)
Information for Ukrainian refugees, District of Freising (Landkreis Freising): https://www.kreis-freising.de/aktuelle-informationen-zur-ukraine-krise/ (German/Ukrainian)
Basic information about arrival in Germany, where to stay or medical care can be found at the offical support website "Germany4Ukraine" provided by the German Federal Government: https://www.germany4ukraine.de/hilfeportal-en (German/English/Ukrainian/Russian)
Frequently asked questions on entry and residence for Ukrainian refugees provided by the Integration Commissioner of the German Federal Government: https://www.integrationsbeauftragte.de/ib-de/staatsministerin/krieg-in-der-ukraine (German/English/Ukrainian/Russian)
Information for Ukrainian refugees provided by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior for Sport and Integration: https://www.stmi.bayern.de/mui/ukraine_hilfe/index.php (German/Ukrainian)
Information for Ukrainian refugees provided by the European Commission, e.g. on onward travel in the EU: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/eu-solidarity-ukraine/eu-assistance-ukraine/information-people-fleeing-war-ukraine_en (multiple languages, e.g. German/English/Ukrainian/Russian)
Ukraine Hotline Bavaria provided by Freie Wohlfahrtspflege Bayern: As a first point of contact, the hotline supports Ukrainian refugees, their families and relatives. Phone: 089 54497199, https://www.ukraine-hotline-bayern.de/ukraine-hotline-english/ (German/English/Ukrainian)
The following Transition Guide for Refugees offers tips and instructions on arriving in Germany, working life, educational opportunities as well as liability insurance, health insurance and opening a bank account. The material is available in German, English and Ukrainian: https://www.financescout24.de/wissen/themen/transition-guide-fluechtlinge
StudiMetsch – eine Initiative Studierender der Hochschule München (HM): Studierende bieten ehrenamtliche Dolmetscherservices an für die Verständigung zwischen ukrainisch- sowie russischsprachigen Geflüchteten und Hilfskräften, Behördenpersonal, Ärzten, Therapeuten etc.: https://studimetsch.com/ (German)
#Unterkunft Ukraine: Online platform for private housing offers for Ukrainian refugees: https://unterkunft-ukraine.de/ (German/English/Ukrainian/Russian)
Ukraine Take Shelter: https://www.ukrainetakeshelter.com/ is an independent platform helping to connect Ukrainian refugees with potential hosts and housing (multiple languages)
Kulturzentrum Gorod - GIK e.V.: Founded in 1998 by Russian-speaking immigrants in Munich, the culture center offers counseling for Ukrainian refugees, as well as events and classes for children: https://de.newgorod.org/ (German/Russian)
Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Parish Maria Schutz und Hl. Apostel Andreas in Munich: http://www.ukr-kirche.de/ (German/Ukrainian)
International tracing service for missing relatives by the German Red Cross: Phone: 089 680 773111 (German and English; Monday-Friday 9:00 am- 4:30 pm), https://www.drk-suchdienst.de/en/aid-worldwide/initiate-tracing-requests/international-search/ (German/English/Russian)
Information provided by the Kiev Office, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): https://www.daad-ukraine.org/de/studieren-forschen-in-deutschland/ (German/Ukrainian)
Research in Germany, offered by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, provides an introduction to the German research and innovation landscape and overview of possible funding sources: https://www.research-in-germany.org/en.html (German/English)
Study in Germany, offered by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, provides helpful information about first steps in Germany, introduction to the German higher education system, living in Germany, as well as an overview of all German university cities: https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/ (German/English)
Research in Bavaria, offered by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, provides an overview of the Bavarian research landscape, Bavarian higher education institutions, as well as doing research and living in Bavaria: https://www.research-in-bavaria.de/ (German/English)
Bavarian Academic Center for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (BAYHOST) Coordination office for Ukraine: overview of support and assistance offers for Ukrainian students and scientists: https://www.uni-regensburg.de/bayhost/english-1/bayhost-coordination-office-for-ukraine/index.html (German/English)
EURAXESS- Researcher in Motion: Compilation of useful information per EU member country for Ukrainian researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ukraine
Information about support and assistance for Ukrainian students and scientists, provided by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): https://www.daad.de/en/the-daad/hilfsangebote/ (German/English)
Science for Ukraine: https://scienceforukraine.eu/table.html
Chance for Science: Social network for Ukrainian students and scientists affected by the war in Ukraine: https://home.uni-leipzig.de/~chanceforscience/index.php?lang=de
Ukrainische Akademische Gesellschaft- The Ukraine Network: Support for students and researchers from Ukraine: https://ukrainet.eu/2022/02/25/support-for-academics/