Recommendations for a future-oriented qualification of doctoral candidates in Germany

Recommendations for a future-oriented qualification
of doctoral candidates in Germany

English translation of the German paper „Empfehlungen für eine zukunftsorientierte Qualifizierung von Promovierenden in Deutschland“ (2025)

UniWinD e. V., the University Association for the Qualification of Early-Career Researchers in
Germany, published recommendations for doctorates at German universities in 2011. Many of
these have since been implemented and become standard practice (e. g. the introduction of su-
pervision agreements). In view of current developments and challenges, UniWinD aims to make
new recommendations for the further improvement of doctoral conditions in Germany. In doing
so, we draw on the experience of the graduate centres at our member universities. They act as
contact points for doctoral candidates and those interested in doing a doctorate, and also are
involved in shaping the doctoral process within their institutions.
The UniWinD recommendations 2025 complement similar positions such as those of the Ger-
man Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat 2023) and are aimed at all univer-
sities and higher education institutions, faculties/departments and graduate centres as well as
non-university research and funding organisations, third-party donors and higher education pol-
icy decision-makers.