In order to be accepted as a doctoral candidate at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, you need to fulfil the following requirements:

1. Doctor of Administrative Sciences (Dr. rer. publ.)

A completed university degree in administrative science, law, economics, history or social sciences at a German university, university of applied sciences or comparable institution of higher education, as evidenced by passing a diploma, magister (German university degree awarded mainly in the humanities) or master's examination qualifying for higher public service in Germany or a university examination at least equivalent to the latter, or by passing a state examination.

2. Doctor of Law (Dr. jur.)

A university degree in law by passing the first examination according to § 5 para. 1 of the German Judicature Act or the completion of a comparable degree in law at a university, university of applied sciences or comparable institution of higher education. Upon justified application by the supervisor, the doctoral committee may also admit applicants who have completed other studies which entitle them to a doctorate in law at the higher education institution at which the final examination was taken.

3. Doctor of Public and Economic Sciences (Dr. rer. pol.)

A  university degree in administrative science, history, social science or economics at a German university, university of applied sciences or comparable institution of higher education, as evidenced by passing a state examination, diploma, magister (German university degree awarded mainly in the humanities) or master's examination qualifying for higher public service in Germany or a higher education examination at least equivalent to the latter.

Exceptionally, applicants who have passed an equivalent examination in another field of study may also be admitted.

The university degree results, as stated in 1., 2. or 3. (see above), must range within the best third of the successful graduates of the final examination in the respective examination year or examination round.

Furthermore, applicants must find a professor or a private lecturer at Speyer University who is willing to supervise the dissertation. This supervisor is usually also the first examiner of the dissertation.

In accordance with the Senate resolution of 21 January 2008 dissertations, on the basis of which a candidate seeks to obtain a Dr. iur. or Dr. rer. pol. degree may only be supervised by those who typically represent the degree subject in research and teaching at a university.