to earn a doctorate / to promote
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to earn a doctorate
To obtain a doctoral degree by writing an academic work (doctoral thesis/dissertation) and taking an oral examination.
Sie promoviert in Biologie über das Verhalten von Bienen.
She is earning a doctorate in biology on the behavior of bees.
to promote
Formal for to promote or support; to advance something or someone. This meaning is a rare adaptation of the English word 'to promote'.
Die Stiftung wurde gegründet, um junge Künstler zu promovieren.
The foundation was established to promote young artists.
To indicate the topic of the doctoral thesis, two typical constructions are used: 'promovieren in' (to earn a doctorate in) + field of study (dative) or 'promovieren über' (to earn a doctorate on/about) + topic (accusative).
Er promoviert in Physik an der Universität München.
He is earning a doctorate in physics at the University of Munich.
The verb 'promovieren' (to earn a doctorate) belongs to a word family in the academic context. The process itself is called 'die Promotion' (the doctorate/doctoral studies), and a person who is earning a doctorate is 'ein Doktorand' (a male doctoral student) or 'eine Doktorandin' (a female doctoral student).
Ihre Promotion hat insgesamt vier Jahre gedauert.
Her doctorate took four years in total.
The meaning 'fördern' (to promote/support) or 'unterstützen' (to support) is very rare in German and strongly influenced by the English 'to promote'. In everyday language and in most contexts, 'promovieren' is understood exclusively as earning a doctoral degree.
Der Verein wurde gegründet, um den Austausch zwischen den Kulturen zu promovieren.
The association was founded to promote exchange between cultures.
to support
Unterstützen is the usual verb when you help someone or help them make progress. Promovieren can express the same thing in rare, English-influenced usage, but it sounds unusual and elevated. In normal standard German, unterstützen is therefore usually the appropriate choice.
In ihrer bewusst englisch geprägten Broschüre schreibt die Stiftung, dass sie junge Künstler promoviert.
In its deliberately English-influenced brochure, the foundation writes that it promotes young artists.
In ihrer Broschüre schreibt die Stiftung, dass sie junge Künstler unterstützt.
In its brochure, the foundation writes that it supports young artists.
