PhD Programme in Computer Science (PCS) at University of Göttingen University of Göttingen in Germany

The PhD Programme in Computer Science (PCS) at the University of Göttingen offers a high-quality doctoral education within the Georg-August University School of Science (GAUSS), part of the Faculties of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The programme is designed for students seeking advanced research training in computer science, with the official language being English. German is not required, and the PhD thesis is typically written in English.

Students can pursue either the Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr rer nat) or an equivalent PhD degree. The PCS programme is research-focused, allowing students to join one of the university's diverse computer science research groups based on their interests and strengths. Research groups include Computational Neurosciences, Computer Graphics and Ecological Informatics, Computer Networks, Computer Security, Databases and Information Systems, Data Fusion, Data Science Infrastructures, Didactics of Informatics, Digital Humanities, Distributed Systems, High-Performance Storage, Machine Learning, Medical Informatics, Neural Data Science, Practical Informatics, Scientific Information Analytics, Software Engineering for Distributed Systems, Telematics, Theoretical Computer Science, and Optimal Transport.

Upon admission, students begin work on their chosen research topic within their selected group. The programme typically lasts three years, during which students must present their thesis progress annually to a committee. Additional achievements such as conference publications and lecture organisation are expected, reflecting integration into the scientific community. After three years, students should be ready to submit their thesis.

International elements include specialist literature in other languages and projects with partners in Germany and abroad. There are no tuition fees, but a semester contribution of about 400 EUR covers regional transport and cultural discounts. Living costs in Göttingen are moderate, estimated at 850–900 EUR per month for accommodation, food, health insurance, and books. The university does not provide funding opportunities for this programme, so students must secure their own financial support.

Applicants must have completed at least eight semesters of study in computer science, including a consecutive Master's degree programme with at least 240 ECTS credits or an equivalent qualification from a German or Bologna signatory university. Alternatively, a closely related technical degree is accepted. While there are no formal language requirements, IELTS, Cambridge Main Suite, or TOEFL are recommended.

The application process is open year-round. Prospective students should apply online via the university portal and consult the DAAD programme page for further information. The Accommodation Service assists international students in finding housing, and early contact is advised due to limited availability. The university offers structured research supervision, career advisory services, and a range of support for international students, including orientation, study buddy programmes, and free German courses.

For more information and to apply, visit the application portal or the DAAD programme page.