There is supposed to be an opportunity for state-level graduate funding in the future.

Yes, doctoral candidates have to pay the full semester fee until the date of the oral examination.

This must be checked in the conditions of the respective foundation.

This depends on the institution with which the employment contract is concluded – the HAW or the university. In the context of a cooperative doctorate, the first supervisor is a professor at the university, where the doctoral candidate is enrolled and can use the corresponding services and facilities for doctoral candidates. If the doctoral candidate has employee status, they also have access to the corresponding university services.

More information can be found here: Enrollment – For Doctoral Studies – Research & Transfer

If available, on the websites of the respective HAWs.

Fördermöglichkeiten an der Hochschule | HFT Stuttgart

Usually at HAWs that are members of the Doctoral Association or online. The speakers are usually professors who are members of the BW-CAR doctoral center of the association.

Qualification Program for Doctoral Candidates | HFT Stuttgart

The Doctoral Association has no specific guidelines for confidentiality agreements. So far, there are only provisions in the framework doctoral regulations, particularly § 15. However, these primarily concern embargo periods for the publication of the dissertation. Confidentiality agreements must be concluded individually with the respective research partners. 

Rahmenpromotionsordnung, Promotionsverband BW

In principle, the provisions of the State Travel Expenses Act of Baden-Württemberg apply. Combining a business trip with a private stay (vacation days) is generally possible. The private stay must be stated in the business trip application and covered by vacation leave.

The published dissertation must correspond to the approved version. The respective universities where the first supervisors are employed have publication guidelines.

An introduction to the topic can be found on the “PROMI – Promotion inklusive” website (https://promi.uni-koeln.de/). It is an information platform and network for pursuing a doctorate with health-related impairments.

Further information and advice can be found on the Accessible University | HFT Stuttgart website.

In principle, yes.

It is best to search the websites of the HAWs and universities that may be of interest to you. Job vacancies can be found, among other places, at www.academics.de. Current graduate schools funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) can be found in the DFG project database GEPRIS (https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/OCTOPUS). You can also search the DAAD website (www.daad.de).

The seminars are announced via the events of the Doctoral Association.

The doctoral degree is equivalent. It makes no difference for the entry in the passport. There is also presumably no difference in the general labor market. However, for applications for university professorships, the assessment may depend on the respective appointment committee.

After completing a doctorate, graduates have numerous career paths open to them, including academic careers, positions in research institutions, industry, and other areas of society. The DFG offers funding opportunities for various stages between completing a doctorate and becoming a professor in order to support academic careers. Doctoral graduates are highly sought after in the labor market, and the unemployment rate is significantly below average. The decision whether to pursue a career in research or industry is an individual one and should be planned at an early stage.