If you are interested in a PhD project at one (or several) of the research groups affiliated with GGNB but haven’t identified a PhD project yet, you can apply for admission to one (or more) PhD program(s) of the Graduate School. Applications are possible anytime, no deadlines apply.

Applications are reviewed by the admission boards of GGNB. Based on their academic qualification, motivation, and scientific interest, selected applicants are invited for personal interviews in Göttingen. The number of applicants invited for interviews will depend on the number of free PhD positions.

Once you have studied the internet pages of GGNB and its programs, which provide comprehensive information about the participating research groups, courses and the training concept, we recommend that you follow the step-by-step guideline indicated below:

Step 1: Online application. Enter your personal data, information regarding your academic background, motivation etc., and indicate two referees who can be contacted for further references. During online application, you have to indicate your preference for specific research groups of GGNB or refer to advertisements of free PhD positions offered by GGNB faculty members.

Step 2: Submit the application package (cover sheet available on the GGNB website, transcripts, diplomas, English proficiency certificates, optional: photograph) in hardcopy to the GGNB office.

Step 3: Screening period. The GGNB office will check the fulfilment of all formal requirements for admission (see right column). It will then forward your application to the research groups you have applied for and to the admission board(s) of the respective GGNB doctoral program(s). Selected candidates will be invited for interviews in Göttingen (travel and accommodation expenses are covered by GGNB). Screening of applicants for interviews may involve pre-interviews by phone or video conference or, in some programs of GGNB, participation in a written test (organized in the home countries of the applicants; free of charge). In this case, the applicants will receive advance notice by e-mail. The screening period (from application to interviews) takes approx. 8-12 weeks. Applicants who have not qualified for the interviews will be informed by e-mail accordingly.

Step 4: Interview days. During the interview days, candidates will visit research groups which best match their scientific interest, meet with research group leaders to discuss their previous training and research experience, explain their motivation for joining GGNB, evaluate their future plans, and learn more about ongoing research and training offered by the graduate school. All candidates have to give a short presentations of their past research projects before the admission board.

Step 5: Admission. After the interview days, the admission board will select the candidates who will be offered a position in one of the GGNB doctoral programs. Decisions on admission are made by the admission board dependent on three conditions: (1) that the candidate meets or exceeds the qualification requirements, (2) that the candidate has been successfully ”matched” with a faculty member of GGNB who accepts the student, and (3) that the funding of the student is secured (e.g. departmental funding or stipends offered by GGNB). All interview candidates will be informed about the decisions within a few days after the interview days.

Step 6: Finalizing the PhD project. After the applicant has been admitted and matched with the supervisor, the title of the PhD project will be proposed to the respective program committee, together with suggestions for the three members of the thesis committee and the starting date of the thesis. Once the program committee has approved the thesis project and the members of the thesis committee, the student receives the admission documents required for enrolment (matriculation) at the University of Göttingen.

Step 7: Enrolment (Matriculation). All students of GGNB have to be enrolled at the University of Göttingen throughout the entire PhD thesis project. Details about enrolment are summarized on the website of GGNB (see right column).