How Germany Invented the PhD – A Quick History

Germany has a well-established reputation as an intellectual powerhouse, producing eminent thinkers from Albert Einstein to Friedrich Nietzsche. But did you know that it is also the birthplace of the modern PhD?

We’ve taken a trip back through time to bring you the origin story of the PhD as we know it.

Early doctorates

The PhD as it is now defined – that is a research degree that makes a substantial, original contribution to its field – originated in 19th century Germany. However, doctoral degrees were being awarded in Medieval Europe long before this (historians estimate that the first doctorate was awarded at a Parisian university in 1150).

These early doctorates were similar to modern-day PhDs in that they were the highest qualification a student could achieve, but very different in that they did not require an original contribution to the field. Instead, they recognised advanced understanding of an existing body of knowledge, much like a Masters degree.

Enter Wilhelm von Humboldt

Possibly the most influential figure in the development of the modern PhD was German philosopher Wilhelm von Humboldt.

In 1809, Humboldt was a senior public servant within the Prussian government, who was responsible for public education. In 1810, he founded the University of Berlin, which pioneered an educational model later named the Humboldt’s Ideal. The Ideal was built on Enlightenment principles such as individual freedom, logic, reason, and empiricism.

In short, Humboldt believed that universities should allow students to exercise their reasoning powers free from authority and dogma. Though teaching should be based on current research, students should always be free to develop their own ideas in an environment of academic freedom.

As you’ve probably guessed, this spirit of free-thinking and autonomy proved fertile ground for the emergence of the PhD…

The birth of the PhD

Not long after it was founded, the University of Berlin’s arts faculty started making a new demand of its doctoral students – an original contribution to knowledge. No longer was it enough to know a lot about a field, now you had to discover something new about it.

Students would have to present their findings in an extended dissertation, and successful candidates would be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

The PhD goes global

Before long, students in other countries began catching wind of this prestigious new qualification on the market in Germany.

Students from the United States in particular would frequently travel to Germany to complete a PhD after earning their Bachelors degree or Masters. This led Yale University to begin granting PhDs in 1861. Many American universities followed in the latter half of the 19th century.

The practice also gathered steam in many European countries. France jumped on the PhD train in 1811 followed by the Netherlands in 1815 and Switzerland in 1833. The UK was slightly later to the party, with the University of Oxford instituting its first research doctorate programme (known as the DPhil) in 1917.

The present day

Over 200 years since the University of Berlin (now the Humboldt University of Berlin) awarded the first PhD, you can now study one in most countries across the globe. With its pioneering academic history and many top-ranked universities, Germany remains one of the best countries in the world for international PhD study.

We have plenty of information and advice on PhD study in Germany, covering funding, accommodation and more.