Requirements for admission fall into two categories:

First Degree

Admission to the three-year study programme normally requires a first degree awarded by an accredited university, based on a course lasting four years or more (e.g. master's degree) in a relevant discipline (philosophy, sociology, Catholic theology, Protestant theology or comparative religious studies).

Subject to the discretion of our Ph.D. commission, graduates who have completed a three-year degree course (e.g. bachelor's degree) may be admitted to the study programme. Under certain circumstances, degrees issued by non-university institutions of tertiary education (e.g. polytechnics) may also be accepted, again on a discretionary basis. In such cases a preparatory year will be added on to the study programme, making its total duration four years.

Graduates in other disciplines who wish to join the programme may also do so. In these cases a preparatory year will also be required, during which time you would need to acquire an additional qualification in one of the aforementioned disciplines.

Languages

Doctoral theses may be written and submitted either in English or in German (or, under certain circumstances, in another international language). So you will need to possess a near-perfect command of the language in which you choose to write your thesis. Secondly, you will need to demonstrate an excellent command of the language(s) required to access the primary sources you will be studying in the course of your research. Thirdly, if you choose to write your thesis in German (or another international language), you will nevertheless require a good working command of English. Otherwise you will have difficulty in gaining full benefit from the course of study. Finally, although it is clearly advantageous to possess a sound knowledge of German before joining the programme, it is not absolutely necessary, nor is it a formal admission requirement. You are nevertheless strongly encouraged to make inquiries with the Goethe Institute in your own region concerning the local availability of German courses.

Applicants whose mother tongue is neither English nor German will be required to submit either English or German language certificates.

Language courses offered

Both German and English courses can be provided for programme participants. These will be designed and implemented on a needs-oriented basis, once participants' ability levels have been assessed. Whilst these courses will certainly help you get the most out of lectures and seminars, and enable you to manage your social life and day-to-day business in Germany more smoothly, it should not be assumed that these courses alone - without a sound, prior knowledge of English or German - will suffice to enable you to complete your thesis in either of those languages.