A doctorate is a challenging and time-consuming undertaking. It requires sustainable motivation. Social work students often ask themselves what the advantages of a doctorate are. However, there are numerous good reasons for doing a doctorate - especially in social work. First of all, a doctorate - regardless of the subject area - opens up new fields of activity. Anyone who wants to work academically at a university, possibly even aspiring to a professorship, naturally needs a doctorate. A doctorate can also be an entry point for those interested in research. Finally, a doctorate is interesting for politically engaged social workers: it offers space to deal intensively with a topic - and to aspire to a management position or a position as a consultant in a relevant department.

Apart from career options, professional and academic policy motives can also play a role: Those who identify with the image of social work as a profession and an independent science can contribute to (further) developing research and theories of social work. This requires academics and professors from the field of social work. In addition, a doctorate always offers the opportunity for personal and professional development. The intensive time spent researching, writing and networking with the academic world is enriching for many doctoral students. They want to deepen their knowledge and are curious about a subject area. In this way, social workers become experts and are also recognized as such in the professional field.

The first questions that people interested in doing a doctorate often ask are: How does a doctorate actually work? What are the first steps? And how long does it take? Examination regulations often stipulate that a doctorate must be completed within three years. Although this is possible, this time frame can also be exceeded. It is more realistic to reckon with three to six years for a doctorate (see Schmitt 2018).

At the beginning of a doctorate, the first thing to do is to work in depth on a topic and make contact with potential supervisors. Questions of funding also need to be clarified (see below). Finally, a lot of space is taken up by writing an exposé in which the doctoral project is described in detail. The exposé is often not only important for potential supervisors, but also for the doctoral committee of a university, which decides on acceptance as a doctoral candidate. The examination regulations of the institutions entitled to award doctorates specify criteria to be met (e.g. final grades) as well as other requirements that students must fulfill before being accepted as a doctoral candidate (examinations, taking certain subjects). This preparation phase should not be underestimated in terms of time and organizational effort and can easily take a whole year - or even longer.

Once this initial phase has been successfully completed, admission to the doctorate is granted by the doctoral committee. This is followed by the research, writing and publication phase. During this phase, regular close contact between the doctoral candidate and their supervisor is particularly important. Students are usually already familiar with researching and writing from the Master's degree program. However, publishing their own articles in specialist journals, holding thematically relevant courses and actively participating (also as speakers) in conferences and workshops is usually new. It therefore makes sense to start these activities, which are also part of a doctorate, at an early stage. This is because you can make important contacts, learn from the experiences of other doctoral candidates and also receive important feedback on your own research. The list of links (see below) provides some tips on how to find relevant events or thematically appropriate networks.

As soon as the dissertation has been completed, it is submitted to the relevant examination board and assessed. If the thesis is assessed as at least "satisfactory", the doctoral candidates are invited to a so-called defense (also called "Rigorosum" or "Disputation"). Here, a presentation on their own research work is given in front of the examination board and, if applicable, the public, which is then discussed. If the doctoral candidate also passes this examination, there is only one step left before the doctorate is awarded: the publication of the dissertation either in print or online.

Many doctoral students from the field of social work are currently choosing the cooperative doctorate route. In a cooperative doctorate, the university and UAS join forces to carry out the doctorate. In this case, the first supervisor comes from a university and the second supervisor from a university of applied sciences. There are a few aspects to consider with this form of doctorate: Firstly, the right to award doctorates lies with the university. For this reason, the university is the institution that awards the doctoral degree and whose doctoral regulations are decisive. Since the majority of social work degree programs in German-speaking countries are located at universities of applied sciences, social workers often do their doctorate in a thematically appropriate related discipline, e.g. educational science, social pedagogy, sociology, etc. In this case, the doctoral title is also awarded in the related discipline, not in social work. Secondly, due to the change of discipline and institution, additional conditions may apply in addition to the usual admission criteria (quality of the exposé, final grade). This may be an oral examination in the subject in which the doctorate is to be awarded or attendance of additional courses (e.g. in the field of research methods).

The situation is slightly different if there is an official cooperation agreement between the HAW and the university. In cooperation agreements, easier access (e.g. reduced requirements), supportive measures (such as joint courses, colloquia, etc.) and joint supervision structures are agreed. In this case, there are also already links between professors at both universities. Facilitating doctorates for HAW students is a declared common goal. This increases the chances of being accepted as a doctoral candidate. For this reason, it makes sense to find out about existing cooperation agreements between the universities. For example, there is a cooperation agreement between Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society in collaboration with Mannheim University of Applied Sciences. The contact person is Prof. Dr. Ellen Bareis. We are also working on establishing further structures for cooperative doctorates. The contact person for questions about doctoral studies is Prof. Dr. Marion Ott, Research and Doctoral Studies Officer, Department of Social Work since 2023.

The clear advantage of the cooperative doctorate (with or without a cooperation agreement) is that it is possible at any HAW, in any federal state. In addition, students can remain in their existing academic environment. This is advantageous if there are already contacts with professors who can act as supervisors and reviewers and who can also provide support in making contact with universities and first reviewers. In addition, the costs of a doctorate are manageable with this option: there are usually only tuition or semester fees.

Another option is to do a doctorate at a doctoral center. A doctoral center is an association of several universities (universities and HAWs) that can and must demonstrate particular research strength. The fact that universities of applied sciences can acquire the right to award doctorates in this way is a new development and is not yet established in every federal state. One of the first and best-known doctoral centers in social work is the Social Work Doctoral Center in Hesse. Also in Hesse, a mentoring program supports networking among doctoral candidates and accompanies prospects after the doctorate.

If a graduate decides to take this path, they should ideally make contact with thematically suitable supervisors at the doctoral center. Depending on the doctoral regulations, certain regulations such as a good Master's degree and the preparation of an exposé must also be met. Some doctoral centers also offer aptitude tests if the final grade does not meet the requirements.

What is particularly appealing about this option is that you can do your doctorate in the field of social work, so there is no need to switch to a related discipline or adapt to its perspectives and issues. The disadvantage, however, is that doctoral centers often set fixed deadlines for the doctorate (e.g. 5 years in the case of the doctoral center in Hesse), so the doctorate is fixed in time. In addition, there are currently only a few doctoral centers for social work in Germany, so that this choice may involve a change of (residential) location.

Another option is to complete a doctorate via a structured doctoral program. Doctoral programs include graduate schools, research training groups, doctoral colleges or doctoral programs. What they all have in common is that they offer a program on a more or less narrowly defined topic or set of topics within the framework of which a doctorate can be completed. The subject matter is often interdisciplinary and open to different disciplines.

Structured doctoral programs are institutionally based at universities or HAWs. They begin before acceptance as a doctoral candidate by a university authorized to award doctorates and provide support during the introductory phase. Prospective doctoral candidates must apply for the few places available. For acceptance as a doctoral candidate, which usually takes place after one year, the same regulations apply as for a cooperative doctorate or a doctorate at a university.

In addition to usually very intensive supervision and an (obligatory) accompanying program (lectures, courses, workshops, colloquia), structured doctoral programs also offer further support. For example, there are often accompanying scholarships or support in finding accommodation, especially for international doctoral candidates. Structured doctoral programs are often limited in time and change relatively quickly. In order to find a suitable doctoral program, those interested would have to do their own research, for example via the Social Work (FH) academic and doctoral mailing list.

Students with a Master's degree in social work can also enrol at universities and complete a doctorate. Since many HAW students lack contact with professors at universities, this step can be a hurdle. However, you can contact possible first supervisors either yourself or via a professor at your university whom you already know. Second reviewers are often selected and approached at a later stage. In this case, first and second reviewers are members of a university department (for cooperative doctorates where second reviewers are based at a UAS, see above). In addition, the same conditions and regulations apply as for cooperative doctorates: The doctoral degree is awarded in a university-related discipline and oral aptitude tests or the completion of additional courses (e.g. methods of social research) are often required before acceptance as a doctoral candidate. Details can be found in the doctoral degree regulations of the respective university/department.

One option is funding via a scholarship. Scholarships are awarded by foundations that attach various conditions to the scholarships, e.g. performance or social commitment. An overview of foundations and scholarship opportunities can also be found at Initiative Arbeiterkind.de. This type of funding has the advantage that doctoral candidates can concentrate exclusively on their doctorate. In addition, networking and publication opportunities are made possible and supported by the funding foundation. However, many scholarships are limited in time. The same applies to the amount of the scholarship. Some scholarships can cover living expenses, but some scholarships only finance part of the costs incurred during the doctorate and are intended as additional support. In addition, very good performance (final grades, exposé), social commitment and a doctoral topic that fits in with the foundation's mission statement are often prerequisites for acceptance. The same applies to funded doctoral colleges, although the thematic focus is more predetermined here than with an individual scholarship. It is also important to mention that no social security contributions are made with a scholarship - with consequences for later pension entitlements.

Colleges and universities frequently advertise so-called qualification positions in accordance with the German Academic Working Hours Act (WissZeitVG). The law stipulates that in addition to the work at the university, a doctorate is sought. The majority of the regular working time is legally defined as qualification time, i.e. during this time, doctoral candidates can freely dispose of their working time and concentrate on their own doctorate. Unfortunately, these positions are still rare, especially at universities of applied sciences, due to the different university genesis (cf. critical campaign of the Hochschullehrerbund). Qualification positions offer an opportunity to combine a doctorate with initial teaching experience - usually a prerequisite for a professorship at a university. (Another way to gain teaching experience is through - poorly paid - teaching assignments. At universities, Master's graduates are allowed to take on teaching assignments for courses in Bachelor's degree programs). In addition, such a position facilitates networking with other academics and professors. In addition to the doctorate, the employee also has other obligations to fulfill (education, self-administration, etc.), which may take up a maximum of two-thirds of working hours. The period during which doctoral candidates can be employed in such a position is also limited by law to six years under the Academic Temporary Employment Act (cf. critical comments by the Network for Good Work in Science). The time limit in combination with the double workload can be challenging for doctoral candidates. Extensions are possible in special cases such as pregnancy, parental leave and similar (§2 para. 2 WissZeitVG). Qualification positions can be found on the homepages of colleges and universities or on academics, the Zeit job portal with free access to the weekly newsletter. The academic and doctoral newsletter Social Work (FH) also contains job offers.

It is also possible to complete a doctorate as part of a research project. This option is often explicitly mentioned in job advertisements. In this case, there is little freedom to choose the topic, and the question of the research methods used is often already predetermined. On the one hand, this can have a restrictive effect, but on the other hand it can also make the work easier. These positions in research projects are also usually limited in time. Doctoral candidates (and research teams) are often under great pressure to present results at certain times. One positive aspect is the exchange within a team, including about the doctoral topic. This facilitates the connection to a scientific community.

It is also possible to do a doctorate while working. The advantage here is firstly the connection to practice, which can lead to a good theory-practice transfer. However, the content of the position must match the topic of the doctorate. Secondly, there are no time restrictions in this case, at least from the sponsor's point of view. And thirdly, the practical professional experience required for a professorship at a university of applied sciences is also gained. However, this form of funding can be challenging and exhausting. It requires a great deal of self-discipline and motivation. Networking with other researchers and doctoral candidates is also more difficult than with a direct connection to a university or college.

Unfortunately, scholarships and support programs aimed exclusively at women often only apply to female doctoral candidates in STEM subjects or the medical field. Beyond that, however, there are a few scattered, temporary or less well-known scholarships and support offers that are often initiated by universities or are located at the state level (such as the female professorship program at the HWG Ludwigshafen). Because of these regional differences, it makes sense to contact the equal opportunities officer at your university if you are looking for financial and non-material support specifically for women. It is also worth taking a look at the websites of the science ministries of the federal states, which often list their funding programs for women. For social work doctoral candidates, the following scholarships, which have been running for several years, may be of interest under certain regulations: In Bavaria, three scholarships are awarded annually to women who have either a FH degree, professional experience or a diploma and a connection to Bavaria (place of residence or study).

To our knowledge, specific or intersectional consideration of people from the LGBTIQ+ and BIPOC community is not yet visibly anchored institutionally. Project-related grants can be applied for from the Hannchen-Mehrzweck-Stiftung. Paderborn University regularly awards scholarships for dissertations in the field of gender studies. The Gender and Queer Studies in Social Work section of the German Society for Social Work (DGSA), for example, offers idealistic and theoretical/professional networking.

Family-friendly universities in particular offer special support to students and employees with children. At the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, for example, there are childcare facilities (morning or all-day) for university members, several parent-child rooms and e-learning modules on the topic of reconciling work and family life (see Center for Research & Cooperation).

In some federal states (e.g. Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate), there are re-entry grants for mothers and (usually also) fathers who have taken a break from academic work to care for their children/pregnancy. Universities and colleges also award scholarships from time to time. However, these must be researched in detail. In the case of general scholarships or graduate funding, the regulations depend on the donors. There are no legal entitlements. There may be the option to interrupt a scholarship for a maximum of one year due to pregnancy or parenthood or to extend it to twice the duration by reducing it by half of the basic funding. In addition, there are sometimes child supplements or childcare supplements. The conditions and possibilities must be inquired about in detail and negotiated if necessary.

If the doctorate is financed via a qualification position or a third-party funded position, all the usual employment law protection conditions regarding pregnancy, maternity protection and parental leave apply. Qualification positions in accordance with the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz even allow a legal entitlement to a contract extension for the period of maternity protection/parental leave. Further information can be found in §2 para. 2 WissZeitVG.

Doctoral candidates with physical and/or mental impairments often experience the requirements of a scholarship or doctoral regulations as a particularly high hurdle. It is often difficult to reconcile very high performance in a very short time with long-term illnesses. There is a non-discrimination requirement, compensation for disadvantages and, depending on the university, other support services resulting from inclusion agreements. However, these often only relate to doctoral studies to a limited extent. Nevertheless, it is advisable to make full use of the legal possibilities and to demand the support to which you are entitled. At the same time, for obvious reasons, it is not easy for many of those affected to decide whether they want to disclose or not, especially if the impairment is not visible. The website sag-ich's, developed by a team at the University of Cologne, can help with this decision.

There are two potential contact persons at the HWG LU. If you are affected by chronic illness or a disability and are enrolled as a doctoral student at the HWG LU, the representative for the concerns of students with disabilities is your contact person. She can advise you and support you with regard to your legal entitlements. If you are employed in a qualification or staff position at the HWG LU, the representative for employees with severe disabilities is responsible for your concerns.

The highly recommended website of the Promi - Promotion inklusive project of the University of Cologne offers a national contact point for those interested in a doctorate with physical and/or mental disabilities. It provides very well-prepared, up-to-date information on the topic of doctorates with disabilities and several networking opportunities. The project is also active on a social level. There is also a lot of information and advice on the topic of financing a doctorate, e.g. a list of links for special scholarships or legal claims. However, it is often not advisable for doctoral candidates with disabilities to finance their doctorate via a scholarship/sponsored college, as they have to insure themselves and for this reason there is no legal entitlement to necessary professional rehabilitation benefits in connection with their academic work. For this reason, the Promi project at partner universities has already created a number of qualification positions for people with disabilities that are subject to social insurance contributions.

We would like to point out (with thanks to Johanna Leidich for the details) §112 SGB IX (benefits for participation in education). This is a (still) relatively unknown entitlement to benefits in the higher education sector (in the case of a disability in the social law sense (see §2 SGB IX)). The concrete spectrum of benefits ranges from the assumption of costs for specific aids that are primarily required to achieve the personal educational goal (e.g. PC programs, reading aids, microphones & headphones, ...) to personal assistance. However, it is important to note at this point that the responsible social welfare office determines which benefits are granted or denied based on the results of the needs assessment and overall plan conference (§§ 117 ff SGB IX). It is advisable to seek advice and/or support from the nearest ISL center (Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Leben) or - if a membership exists or is possible - from the VdK social association during the procedure.

The website arbeiterkind.de is probably the most prominent and most important point of contact for general information, ideational and financial support for first-generation academics. It also provides information and tips on financing a doctoral thesis as well as information on cross-location doctoral student groups.

There are foundations that have an adapted admission procedure for people with a history of flight and international students. Most of the 13 major foundations/scholarship providers expressly welcome applications from doctoral candidates with a history of migration. Some study programs take migration history into account in their selection process. In addition, there are many small scholarship providers with special programs that need to be researched in detail.