PhD in Music or Performing Arts – University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” (HMT) Leipzig

Institution providing the doctoral degree

University of Music and Theatre (Hochschule für Musik und Theater) “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” (HMT) Leipzig

Location

Leipzig | Germany (Sachsen)

Name of PHD

PhD in Music or Performing Arts

Research Clusters

Performing Arts – Drama and Theatre Studies, Dance and Ballet, Performative Practices (Theory and/or Practice)
Musicology and Musical Heritage
Pedagogy of Music, Music Education and Music Therapy

Duration

Tipically 3-5 years. No official duration is mentioned but candidates are expected to complete their PhD within 5 to 7 years. After 5 years, candidates must dubmit a progress report to the committee. After 7 years, if insufficient progress is demonstrated, admission may be revoked.

Public / Private institution

Public university

Financial terms of the PHD position

Self-funded PhD – you must provide both tuition and your own maintenance
PhD Fully or partially externally funded, with a stipend, through private or public foundations, scholarships, grants, one or more companies, or public institutions that you have to find on your own

Fees: The doctoral regulations (Promotionsordnung) do not specify fees; however, there may be matriculation or dissertation-related fees.

Funding resources: PhD students must secure their own funding through external scholarships, grants, or sponsorships.

Depending on the topic of the project one may try receiving funds from the following scholarship foundations:
https://www.boell.de/
https://www.rosalux.de/
https://www.boeckler.de/
https://www.fes.de/
https://www.evstudienwerk.de/
https://www.studienstiftung.de/

The following database may as well help: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/

Final output

Dissertation

Language: The dissertation must be written in German. In exceptional cases, it may be written in English with permission from the doctoral committee, but a German summary is required.

Length: Not specified in the regulations; generally expected to be a substantial scholarly work (typically over 150–200 pages in line with German doctoral norms).

Content: Must be an original scholarly contribution to the chosen field.

Submission formats:

4 printed copies
An electronic version
A summary of key findings (10 copies)

Oral Examinations & Defense

Rigorosum (Oral Examination)

Consists of two exams: a main subject exam (60 minutes) and a secondary subject exam (30 minutes).

Exams are NOT related to the dissertation topic.
Language: Conducted in German.
Not public.

Disputation (Final Defense)

Public event, held in German and structured as follows (maximum total length: 90 minutes):

Candidate’s presentation (20 minutes).
Reviewers summarize their evaluation (without stating grades).
Candidate responds to the evaluation.
Open discussion (moderated by the chair). The audience may participate.

Publication Requirement

The dissertation must be published within two years of passing the defense.Candidates must submit either:

Electronic version (for online publication via the university).
2 printed copies from a commercial publisher (minimum 100 copies).
Other formats require committee approval.

Failure to publish on time results in loss of the doctoral title.

How to apply

Candidates must first obtain written confirmation from an HMT Leipzig professor before applying.

After securing a supervisor they can submit an application to the Doctoral Committee (Promotionskommission) with the following documents:

Research proposal (Exposé) detailing objectives, methodology, and work plan.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) including academic background and publications.
Supervisor’s confirmation of willingness to oversee the dissertation.
Copies of academic transcripts and degrees.
Proof of language proficiency, if applicable.

No fixed deadlines are mentioned; candidates should contact the committee for details.

Entry requirements

Academic Qualifications: A completed Master’s, Diplom, or Magister degree with above-average grades.
Language Proficiency: Non-German speakers must have C1 German proficiency (Goethe/Herder-Institut certification).
For dissertations in German, candidates must have C2 German proficiency.
For dissertations in English, non-native speakers must provide C2 English certification (Unicert 4 or Cambridge CPE).
Foreign degrees: Must be formally recognized as equivalent.