As stated in here,
highly qualified professionals can receive a settlement permit in accordance with Section 18c (3) AufenthG (German Residence Act) straight away without having to first spend a set amount of time in Germany.
If a person completes their Bachelor outside EU, Master's in Germany, then and enrolls to a PhD program in Germany, where they are legally employed, can that person considered as a "highly qualified professionals" so that they can apply for a settlement permit right away?