The German doctorate enjoys an outstanding reputation in all disciplines. In Germany some 25,000 graduates successfully complete their doctoral studies every year – far more than in any other European country.

Most universities in Germany have not the right to award Ph.D. titles in Engineering. These universities also offer good master programs, but if graduates want to do a Ph.D., they must then apply to a different university, for example, one of the „Technischen Universitäten“ (www.tu9.de). The TU Berlin belongs to the group of universities where a Ph.D. can be done.

Usually in Germany and also at the TU Berlin, a doctorate in engineering includes a research period of three to five years. The Ph.D. students / Ph.D. candidates work at this time on their university research project and thus drive forward their own dissertation topic.

In Germany, after a successful Ph.D. most doctorates go to work in the in industry where they assume leadership positions. After a successful PhD, GPE graduates often return to universities and research institutions in their home countries in order to pursue an academic career.

Annually about 500 students obtain a Ph.D. at the TU Berlin, of which a third are women. About 10% of GPE graduates also opt for a doctorate and pursue an academic career. Presently GPE alumni are doing a Ph.D. at the TU Berlin, the Fraunhofer Society, the University of Cambridge, the University of Bremen, the University of Freiburg and the University of Bielefeld.