Doctoral Project
The Department of Mathematics at the TUM is delighted to welcome new graduate students who are interested in being part of an academic community known for its outstanding research teams and scholarly cooperation.
In good hands - not only academically
The Department offers a stimulating environment ideal for doctoral projects: from its courses and staff to the very structure of the TUM Graduate School and its Graduate Centers, our service has been designed to help its students succeed. The Dean's Office and the Graduate Office will support you at all stages of your graduate studies! Here you will find all players relevant for your dissertation project.
Contact
Graduate Office
Room MI 03.12.018
Boltzmannstr. 3
85748 Garching
ISAM: +49 (0) 89 289 17043
TopMath: +49 (0) 89 289 17495
IGDK: +49 (0) 89 28918352
Dean's Office

Lydia Weber, MBA
Dean's Office
Boltzmannstr. 3
85747 Garching
Room MI 00.10.044
Internal mail: Dek-MA
Good to know
Which version of the TUM Regulations for the Award of Doctoral Degrees applies?
- The new regulations of 1 October 2021 apply to all doctoral students who are enrolled into the doctoral candidacy list from 1 October 2021 on.
- For doctoral students who were enrolled into the doctoral candidacy list before 30 September 2021, the old doctoral regulations apply in those issues that are listed in paragraph 29 of the new regulations.
- You can change into the new doctoral regulations. Our checklist will inform you in which cases this makes sense.
- In regard to cumulative dissertations there will be no changes so far, because in this area the department defines its own regulations and there was no change.
- Further details
TUM GS: 2 years membership
To hand in your dissertation, you need to fulfill a 2-year-membership in a graduate center of TUM Graduate School (TUM GS), e.g. the International School of Applied Mathematics (ISAM).
Dr. vs. PhD
Although colloquially speaking you are interested in receiving a PhD, the department awards only the title Dr. rer. nat., not PhD. The German doctoral degree is internationally recognized and entitles to teach. The doctoral regulations (English version starting on page 58) are the legal basis for your doctoral procedure.
Offices and Services
Because each doctoral candidate has a variety of administrative needs, the TUM provides specialized administrative support depending on the nature of the inquiry. For administrative purposes, each graduate student is seen as having multiple statuses:
- From a legal perspective, each doctoral candidate officially belongs to the Department of Mathematics during his/her dissertation project. All inquiries relating to legally important administrative matters, such as registration as a doctoral candidate, dissertation submission, and doctoral examinations, should be directed to the Dean's Office.
- As a doctoral candidate in mathematics, each graduate student is a member either of the departmental Graduate Center ISAM or the Graduate Center most relevant to his/her dissertation topic. The individual Graduate Centers, all of which belong to the Graduate School, are responsible for general administration, student records, and special events. Further information can be found in the comprehensive list of graduate centers and staff.
- As a doctoral candidate at the TUM, each graduate student has various rights, obligations, and possibilities. For all general matters concerning promotion, study and degree regulations, professional development opportunities, etc., please visit the TUM Graduate School.
- Each doctoral candidate registered at the TUM can enroll as a doctoral student for a maximum of six semesters. Please apply via TUMonline.
- For support as scholars, doctoral candidates should look to their academic advisors within the department. Mentors and colleagues from the respective research group are also here to lend support in all matters of scholarly development.
- Doctoral candidates who are also employees at the TUM should consult the personnel office with all inquiries regarding matters of public sector employment law such as contracts, leave due to illness, vacation, etc.
- Doctoral students who are grant recipients should address any questions about related financial and legal matters to the provider of the grant.
- The doctoral examination office will be relevant for submitting your dissertation.
Here is an overview where to go with your questions:
Realize your doctoral project - step by step
The standard doctorate, offered at our Department, is coordinated through the International School of Applied Mathematics (ISAM) If you are interested in applying to the programs TopMath or IGDK, there are important steps to be taken prior to admission.
1. Formal degree requirements
To fulfill the formal requirements for a doctorate at our department, you must have completed your master's degree or diploma with at least the grade 2.5 in the German grading system. Applicants with a degree obtained from a foreign university must get a recognition to determine the equivalence of their degree by translating your Grade Point Average into the German grading system. With the Grade Conversion Tool you can check the result for your Grade Point Average.
For further information and advice concerning formal requirements, please contact the dean’s office.
2. Finding your supervisor
In order to be admitted to a standard doctoral program, you will need the supervision provided by a member of the Faculty of Mathematics. That's why we recommend external applicants to get in touch with a potential supervisor in advance, and present documents that support their abilities. If your dissertation topic is definite, fill in the supervision agreement together with the supervisor.
You can find information on the required procedure under Graduate Office.
3. Registration on the doctoral candidacy list
In order to receive the status of an official doctoral candidate, you have to apply for official registration on the Department's doctoral candidacy list. Please submit the application via the online platform DocGS. The registration is mandatory.
- Applicants with a German or foreign degree: Please submit the documents listed here to the dean's office.
- Applicants with a foreign degree: Inform yourself about the recognition procedure, which is integrated in the application for entry in the doctoral candidacy list.
- Here you find information which documents you need to hand in as certified copies.
- After your registration on the doctoral list you can decide yourself if you want to enroll as a doctoral student for student benefits.
4. Qualification program
According to the TUM doctoral regulations, any doctoral student has to fulfill the mandatory basic program during the promotion period. In the supervision agreement, you may declare further accomplishments to be achieved, such as scientific qualification, transferable skills, or international experience. Your graduate center will inform you about categories and requirements.
For more information, see the instructions on Graduate Office.
5. Interim evaluation
Interim evaluations are conducted after one to two years of work on the dissertation. At this time your supervisor will assess progress and help determine whether the dissertation should be continued in the planned form.
For more information about milestones and benefits, look at Graduate Office.
6. Submit your promotion
Once you have finished your dissertation, you can apply for your doctorate. Therefore, you have to submit your dissertation first electronically through the DocGS platform and then as a paper. Please note that an upload is possible only after you have successfully completed the respective requirements. To submit your dissertation, please read the instructions carefully and direct all remaining questions to the Dean's Office.