Students interested in a doctoral thesis project in GGNB apply for admission by submitting (1) an online application and (2) an application package (in hardcopy) to the GGNB office (exception: the integrated MSc/PhD programs – International Max Planck Research Schools in Molecular Biology and Neurosciences; see websites of these programs for further details).

During online application (see below), applicants enter their personal data, information regarding their academic background, motivation for program entry etc. and suggest two referees who can be contacted for recommendations.

The application package consists of
- a cover sheet,
- transcripts / academic records (Studienbuch) of your studies,
- diplomas of all academic degrees (only university degrees, no secondary education degrees) and certificates of other relevant examinations (e.g. GRE, if available),
- English proficiency certificates,
- optionally: one passport-size photograph.

Please send regular (i.e. uncertified) copies. These are sufficient during the application process.

Please send these documents to the following address:
Georg August University Goettingen
GGNB Office
Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11
37077 Goettingen
Germany

Do NOT send scanned copies of your documents by e-mail to the GGNB Office.

For each applicant, the GGNB office will check the fulfilment of all formal requirements for admission (see below).

English proficiency / language requirements: Candidates have to be fluent in written and spoken English. Candidates whose mother tongue is not English can demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English e.g. by internationally recognized tests such as TOEFL or IELTS or equivalent achievements. During online application, applicants can indicate proven higher education in English or a reasonably long stay in an English-speaking country, if applicable. Knowledge of the German language is not required, but international students will be offered opportunities to take German courses.

Reference letters: During online application, two referees are indicated by the applicant who are able to comment on her/his personal and academic background and who can be contacted for references. This information is sufficient for your application. Should you have letters of recommendation available, these can be included in your application package in separate and closed envelopes, stamped with the institutional seal and signed personally by the referee. References can also be submitted by a referee directly to GGNB office via e-mail. Notice that only letters of reference submitted from an institutional e-mail address will be considered.

Application deadlines: GGNB has no application deadlines. Both applicants who have not yet identified a PhD project (Route 1) and applicants who are already in contact with a prospective supervisor (Route 2) can apply anytime (i.e. up to three months after the start of the PhD project). Applicants will be informed about the status of their application approx. 8-12 weeks after the receipt of their application.