How do I apply for the PhD program?
Besides fullfilling the official addmission criteria (please see the admission office of the natural science faculty for more information), you need to fullfill several steps before you can enter the program. Please consider the deadlines! For further information please visit the webpages of the Student Affairs Department and the NAWI Doctoral Academy.
Step 1: You need to be supervised by a member and lecturer of the doctoral school. There are several ways how you can connect with a supervisor. One common model is that you are hired via a funded research project. You also need to find a mentor who provides an additional resources of scientfic expertise. The mentor must be a member and lecturer of the doctoral school. | |
Step 2: You need to write a short expose (1 page) of your PhD studies. In this expose you should outline your overaching research questions and the methods with which you will adress them. The feasibility of your projects is evaluated. The expose needs to be attached to the application form. | |
Step 3: Please include copies and/or transcripts of your study records to the application form (important for international students). International students also need to submit additional documents (please see the academic affairs office for more information). For example, you must provide proof of proficiency in English (language level B1 or a school-leaving certificate in English) or German. Please also provide an academic CV with proof (degree certificates) of previous studies/research or study specializations completed. | |
Step 4: The finalized application form needs to be signed by your supervisor, mentor, co-supervisor (optional), any other persons involved (optional), the head of the institute and the head of the doc. school and submitted online together with the rest of your application documents. Further information on this process can be found online on the homepage of our university's Student Affairs Department. | |
Step 5: Completion of an admissions interview with the admissions committee, which can be conducted in person or online. The admission interview consists of a specialist presentation, for example on your Master's thesis, a subsequent discussion (possibly also on your dissertation project) and an application interview. Ideally, the admissions interview will be held in English. The admissions committee consists of three people. The (vice) dean of studies responsible for the doctoral program, the head of the doctoral school and the proposed first supervisor are members of the admissions committee. At least two members of the admissions committee must be present at the admission interview. |
The application documents will be transferred for signatures to the head of the instute, the head of the doctroal school and to the dean's office. After the application form has been approved and the formal requirements are met, you will be enrolled to the PhD program by the admission office of the natural science faculty.
Although the doctoral school provides a statement to the rectorate on the admission of students, the administrative body is the dean's office of the natural science faculty and the deciding body is the rector of the university.
The doctoral program in psychology is anchored in the curriculum for the doctoral program in natural sciences.
Information for international students: