Your dissertation with our PhD programme
Volkswagen supports you in your doctorate with our three-year doctoral programme. Here you find all the information.
Our programme offers you the opportunity to scientifically develop company-relevant future topics and to obtain your PhD under the best conditions in cooperation with your university.
Your university and Volkswagen: A strong team
You complete your PhD in the conventional way at your university. Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the PhD regulations and for your acceptance as a doctoral candidate lies solely with your university. We at Volkswagen will support you in practice as a reliable partner within the framework of our three-year PhD programme. In this respect, Volkswagen is guided by the joint position of BDA, BDI, HRK (German Rectors’ Conference of 21 March 2018) and the Stifterverband on doctoral degrees offered in partnership between doctorate-conferring universities and companies.
We at Volkswagen will support you in practice as a reliable partner
The programme in detail
Requirements
Identifying a topic
Support
Duration & working hours
Programme sequence
Your first year usually begins with the introductory interview and getting to know the department and the Society of Doctoral Researchers. In consultation with your supervisor at Volkswagen, you will work on your research project during this time.
Interdisciplinary seminars support you in this and prepare you for writing your dissertation. The “Introduction to the world of Volkswagen” seminar also gives you an exciting and valuable insight into the company.
To let you get to know as many different facets of Volkswagen as possible, you will also be deployed in production in the first year, so that you can then justifiably say that you have also built cars. :-)
Throughout the year, your supervisor at Volkswagen will conduct feedback meetings with you to review the current status of your research and resolve any issues early.
Your second year with us is dedicated to the preparation of your dissertation. To best combine theory and practice, you will also work on projects in your supervising department. At the same time, interdisciplinary seminars should help you to approach and implement your dissertation in the best possible way.
On PRO.MOTION day, our annual PhD event, you can present your dissertation project with a poster to numerous managers and board members for the first time.
Regular feedback meetings with your supervisor at Volkswagen are also an integral part of the second year, as are the annual employee appraisal.
In the third and final year of the PhD programme, you will complete your research up to the “preliminary draft”. This means that all the results of your research have been completed and formulated to the greatest possible extent. In this year, you will also be supported by interdisciplinary seminars. In addition, you can also present your work with a poster and a presentation at the PhD day PRO.MOTION. You will then also present your research to your department.
Together instead of alone
The Volkswagen Doktorandenkolleg (Society of Doctoral Researchers)
If you participate in our PhD programme, you are automatically part of the Society of Doctoral Researchers, a Group-wide network of all doctoral students who, like you, are working on their PhD. Here you will always find someone to exchange ideas on technical and interdisciplinary topics, to get tips or valuable advice and instructions.
The Society of Doctoral Researchers also organises numerous events, such as the PhD day, excursions abroad and the legendary dragon boat race, which takes place between the Group brands. You can also actively participate in the various working groups of the Society of Doctoral Researchers, for example:
- Organising events
- Taking photos and videos
- Creating podcasts
- Curating Intranet presence
- Representing PhD candidates to the company
The benefit to you is that you can expand your professional skills, get to know new people and build up your personal network in no time. And it’s fun too.
Benefits: That’s what we offer you
If you participate in the Volkswagen PhD programme, you can concentrate entirely on completing your dissertation. In addition to excellent support, you can also look forward to a number of benefits, including regular remuneration and holidays.
Remuneration & holidays
Good remuneration for good performance. We think this is only fair. As a PhD student, you will receive a monthly basic salary, which will be increased after 12 or 24 months.
So that you have sufficient time for recovery, you will receive:
- 30 days holiday
- 2 additional days off (24 and 31 December)
But that’s not all. To make you feel as comfortable as possible as a PhD student, we offer a number of other benefits*. For example:
*May depend on site, tasks performed and/or contractual relationship
Accommodation
New to town?
Housing offers from Volkswagen Immobilien (currently only in Wolfsburg).
Shared flats
If you would like to live in a shared flat (WG) during your time in our PhD programme, Volkswagen Immobilien has something for you (currently only in Wolfsburg). You can easily rent a low-priced room for periods of time that reflect your needs. You can learn more on the website of Volkswagen Immobilien.
Furnished temporary living
If you would prefer to live within your own four walls, to better focus on your dissertation, then the following offer from Volkswagen Immobilien might interest you: a fully furnished temporary flat with a short notice period. You can find out more about this offer here:
Travel and commuting
If you are not staying at one of our locations, then take a look at our site on travel and commuting.
The inside story
Who could be better qualified to provide a clear and credible report about our doctoral programme than a doctoral candidate at Volkswagen? Take a look here at an interesting report.
Sounds good?
Application process
