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Funding for a PhD

Current calls for applications:

Further current calls for applications can be found in the Research Department’s newsletter (service available only to HTWK and FTZ members).

Pursuing a PhD as part of a research project

Doctoral students are often involved in the university’s research and development projects, which are usually funded through grant schemes or research contracts, and they carry out their research as research assistants. In most cases, these projects are applied for by the supervising professors.

In addition, there are funding programmes that focus specifically on supporting doctoral studies:

Research at Universities of Applied Sciences
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR) runs funding programmes specifically designed to support doctoral studies at Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) in Germany, which are advertised at regular intervals. The focus is on the research- and practice-oriented training of engineers, as well as on establishing research-intensive teams of early-career researchers at universities of applied sciences within the framework of innovative research and development projects, often in close collaboration with industry and partners from the academic sector. Professors at universities of applied sciences are eligible to apply.

ESFEarly-Career
Research Groups Early-career research groups are projects that enable early-career academics, through collaborative research, to expand their expertise in relation to topics in the fields of sustainability and digitalisation, to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer, and to foster networking between Saxon universities and businesses. In order to maximise individual educational potential, this also includes the opportunity to work on research topics that may, in the long term, lead to the award of a doctoral degree.

Doing a PhD with a scholarship

Around a third of all PhD students fund their work on their thesis through a scholarship.

Scholarships from HTWK Leipzig

HTWK Doctoral Scholarship

HTWK Leipzig uses the funds allocated under the HTWK N-Promotion funding programme to provide financial support in the form of a scholarship to early-career researchers at the university who are currently undertaking their doctoral studies. The funding is aimed at outstanding researchers who hold a degree from HTWK Leipzig that qualifies them to undertake doctoral studies, provided that the main focus of their doctoral research and supervision is at HTWK Leipzig.

The scholarship is awarded for a maximum period of three years.

Applications may be submitted in response to separate internal university calls for applications.

The next round of applications for an HTWK doctoral scholarship is scheduled for spring 2026.


HTWK Doctoral Completion Scholarship

HTWK Leipzig uses the funds allocated under the HTWK N-Doctoral Completion funding scheme to provide financial support in the form of a scholarship to early-career researchers at the university, specifically during the final phase of their doctoral studies. Eligibility for funding requires that the majority of the doctoral research be carried out at HTWK Leipzig and that a supervision agreement with HTWK Leipzig for the doctoral programme be in place.

The scholarship is valid for a maximum of 12 months.

Applications may be submitted at any time and must be made in good time, at least 8 weeks before the planned start of funding.

Scholarships from the Free State of Saxony

State scholarships 

Under the State Scholarship Regulations, the Free State of Saxony supports early-career researchers and artists in carrying out a collaborative doctoral project, provided that this is conducted predominantly at a university of applied sciences and in cooperation with a Saxon institution authorised to award doctorates.

The scholarship is awarded for a maximum period of three years.

Applications may be submitted in response to separate internal university calls for applications, which the university is invited to issue by the awarding body – Studentenwerk Freiberg – subject to the availability of funds.

For the current call for applications for a state scholarship:

 

Funding from the European Social Fund

ESF PhD Scholarships

The European Social Fund (ESF) provides funding to support doctoral studies with the aim of realising individual educational potential – particularly among women – thereby improving their prospects of entering the academic and business sectors in Saxony. Funding is available for projects under the State Innovation PhD Programme, the Industry PhD Programme or initiatives aimed at reconciling family life with an academic career. Eligibility for funding is subject to the criteria set by the ESF.

The scholarship is awarded for a maximum period of four years.

Applications may be submitted on the basis of separate funding notices issued by the Sächsische Aufbaubank by the deadlines specified in the respective notice. No application deadlines are currently planned.

Organisations for the promotion of gifted pupils

The Association of Organisations for the Promotion of Gifted Children in the Federal Republic of Germany comprises the following 13 organisations. They are characterised by differing ideological, political or religious values.

Politically, denominationally and ideologically independent foundations:

Foundations with close ties to political parties:

Foundations supported by the social partners:

Religiously affiliated funding organisations:

These 13 organisations are united by a shared commitment to shaping the next generation of academics who are capable of nurturing and helping to safeguard our democratic society. This is achieved through

  • financial support in the form of monthly scholarships and grants for study periods, language courses and work placements abroad,
  • a wide range of interdisciplinary seminars, symposia, academies, conferences and workshops,
  • contacts with academic mentors.
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