Registration and Enrolment at University
► Doctoral researchers at the IMPRS-GM must register as doctoral candidates at the faculty of the university where they plan to earn their doctoral degree. The Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology is not a degree-awarding body, which means that the formal process of obtaining the doctorate as an academic title has to be done at a university.
Registering as a doctoral candidate is not the same thing as enrolling as a student at the university. Doctoral candidates in Germany are not required to be enrolled students.
However, there are numerous benefits of having student status, such as access to university resources, discounts at university dining facilities, a semester ticket for public transportation, and reduced student rates for exhibitions and cultural events. Enrolment comes with a fee – currently around €200–€300 per semester – to cover the costs of various student services and the semester ticket. Enrolling is often worthwhile just for the semester ticket (e.g., if you will be travelling frequently between Leipzig and Halle to attend events and seminars). As of 2024, the semester ticket (or “bayerisches Ermäßigungsticket” for students at FAU) is valid on local and regional transportation throughout Germany.
Please note that registering as a doctoral student and enrolling as a student are two different processes, each with their own deadlines and regulations. The specific procedures and requirements are determined by each university. Links to the relevant pages of each university can be found below and on the left-hand sidebar.
Registration and Enrolment at ...
... Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
As a doctoral candidate, at FAU you are obliged to register at the beginning of your doctoral project. You can register yourself with your doctoral project online here.
Enrolment as a student at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is optional, but comes along with some advantages. More information on the advantages can be found here.
... Leipzig University
In Leipzig it is also necessary to register on the list of doctoral candidates. As the IMPRS-GM cooperates with two different institutes, which are part of two different faculties within Leipzig University, it is important to register as a doctoral candidate in your respective faculty:
Enrolment as a student at Leipzig University is voluntary, too. However, it is strongly recommended due to the included regional public transport ticket, which will be useful for visiting seminars and events that take place at Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropoloy in Halle (Saale).
... Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Some general information on a doctorate at MLU and on enrolment in particular, as well as necessary documents, you can find on the blog of the International Graduate Academy.
Registration as a doctoral candidate has to be carried out through MLU’s Löwenportal.