To become part of the Graduate School Cyber Security you need to first be affiliated with KIT and already registered as a doctoral researcher at KIT. Please first apply for a doctoral position through jobs ∂does-not-exist.kastel kit edu

General Information for International Applicants

The Graduate School Cyber Security is a resource for doctoral researchers who are already affiliated with KIT. It is not a structured PhD program.

What we do:

  • Offer various kinds of support to KIT's doctoral researchers in Cyber Security
  • Provide an infrastructure for networking and training that supports doctoral researchers in achieving their PhDs

What we do not do:

  • Award PhDs
  • Provide funding for PhD projects
  • Accept potential doctoral researchers into KIT

Background information:

Most PhDs or doctoral degrees in Germany are achieved through what we call an individual PhD. Individual PhDs can either be accomplished by applying for a job as a doctoral researcher or by receiving a scholarship or having other external funds.

As an employed doctoral researcher you are a member of staff and receive a salary. The research for your doctoral thesis is part of your job's responsibilities but you will have additional tasks to fulfil that may include support in other research projects, teaching or administrative tasks. In most cases, though not necessarily, the PI who you are working for will also be your PhD supervisor. 

There is also the option to receive a scholarship or just provide your own funding (e.g. through a job outside of academia) and be affiliated with the university through a PI agreeing to be your supervisor and then registering with the university as a doctoral candidate. This will also give you access to the university’s facilities though the amount of access may vary.

In either of these cases you are not taking classes, having exams or the like. Your doctoral projects consist of you doing your own research with the guidance of your supervisor but largely you are responsible for structuring your day and approach.

Here you can find further information on doing a PhD at KIT and specifically at the Department of Informatics, including the official framework and regulations. Please be adviced that the legally binding versions of documents are in German.