German word

promovieren

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁomoˈviːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbget a doctorate

Example

Letztes Jahr promovierte er in Chemie.

Last year, he got his doctorate in chemistry.

Illustration for promovieren (get a doctorate)

More examples

Dank eines Stipendiums konnte er sofort promovieren.

Thanks to a scholarship, he was able to pursue a doctorate right away.

Core concept

A doctoral researcher develops original university research into a finished dissertation that leads to a doctorate.

Common phrases

  • mit einem Stipendium promovieren

    pursue a doctorate with a scholarship

  • am Lehrstuhl promovieren

    pursue a doctorate under a professor's supervision

  • in den Geisteswissenschaften promovieren

    earn a doctorate in the humanities

Similar words

doktorieren: Obtain a doctorate, with a conversational and informal tone.
eine Promotion machen: Undertake the process of obtaining a doctorate in informal language.
dissertieren: Carry out research for and prepare a doctoral dissertation.

Definition in German

durch Forschung an einer Universität eine Doktorarbeit verfassen und damit den akademischen Grad 'Doktor' erhalten.

Word origin

German promovieren is a learned formation connected with Promotion and ultimately with Latin promovere, 'to advance', through the idea of academic advancement.

Usage tips

  • The usual construction names the field with 'in', as in 'in Chemie promovieren', while 'an einer Universität' names the institution.

Other meanings

  • pursue doctoral studiesverb
  • write a doctoral dissertationverb

Related words

  • Promotionsstelledoctoral positionnoun
  • Promotionsstipendiumdoctoral scholarshipnoun
  • promoviertdoctorate-holdingadjective

Word lists with this word