The institutional responsibility for doctoral studies at universities must be strengthened, the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities recommend in their jointly published statement "Doctorate in Transition". The statement offers scientific and political actors in this field a grounded analysis of the current situation in Germany in comparison with other countries.

Based on this, deficits are identified and recommendations for reform are submitted. Inter alia, the academies advise to adjust standards and admission requirements for a doctoral degree across all disciplines, to provide a more differentiated and transparent marking, and to strengthen the principle of double supervision by two professors from different academic institutions. Furthermore the statement underlines that scientific institutions and politics must collaborate to keep the doctorates function in the scientific system.