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Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
HOW TO APPLY AT GGNB
General information on Application and Admission
Students interested in a doctoral thesis project in one of the GGNB doctoral programs
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, 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
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•
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a cover sheet (available for download on the GGNB website),
transcripts / academic records (copies of Studienbuch) of your studies*,
diplomas of all academic degrees and certificates of other relevant examinations*,
one passport-size photograph, and
optionally: copies of GRE or English proficiency certificates*
*regular (i.e. uncertified) copies 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 fulfillment of all formal requirements
for admission (see below).
English proficiency / language requirements: Candidates have to be fluent in written
and spoken English. As admission to GGNB involves interviews with selected candidates,
documentation of proficiency in English by English language test scores is not mandatory.
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.
Referees: 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, it is not necessary to
include reference letters. However, should you have letters of recommendation available,
you may include them 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. Please note that only
letters of reference submitted from an institutional e-mail address will be considered.
Application deadlines: GGNB has 3 application deadlines per year (15 Jan./May/Sept.)
for applicants who apply for a GGNB program rather than a specific PhD project (i.e.
without having specified an individual PhD project with a GGNB faculty member yet; see
Route 1). In addition, each doctoral program is free to accept individual applications
Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
throughout the year (based on personal contact to a faculty member of the school, see
below: “Route 2”).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admission requirements for all doctoral candidates of GGNB include
•
a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in natural sciences or mathematics, based upon a
minimum of four years of regular studies at a university or equivalent institution of
higher education (admission of applicants with a medical degree possible upon
approval of equivalent scientific background) or, alternatively,
•
successful completion of at least one year of Master’s studies or an equivalent
“qualifying year” (minimum of four years of university education total; Master’s thesis
waived in integrated or combined M.Sc./Ph.D. programs),
•
an excellent academic record in subjects relevant to the prospective doctoral project,
•
fluency in English, and
•
practical research experience (for experimental thesis projects).
Specific admission requirements can be defined by each program in accordance with these
general regulations of GGNB. Decisions on admission are made by the program committee
of each doctoral program.
ROUTES OF PROGRAM ENTRY – DIFFERENT WAYS TO APPLY
Route 1: Apply for admission to a GGNB program – get advice on possible
projects
If you are interested in a PhD project at GGNB but haven’t identified a PhD project yet, you
can apply for admission to one (or more) PhD programs of the Graduate School. GGNB
invites applications at three application deadlines per year: 15 Jan., 15 May and 15 Sept.
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 can also indicate your preference for specific
research groups of GGNB or refer to advertisements of free PhD positions offered by GGNB
faculty members.
Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
Step 2: Submit the application package (cover sheet available on the GGNB website,
transcripts, diploma, photograph, optionally: copies of GRE or English proficiency score
reports) in hardcopy to the GGNB office within the stated deadlines.
Step 3: Screening period. The GGNB office will check the fulfillment of all formal
requirements for admission (see below). It will then forward your application to the admission
board(s) of the GGNB doctoral program(s) you have applied for. 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 deadline to interviews)
takes approx. 6-10 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. In addition, all candidates give short presentations of their past research
projects.
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 at the end of the interview period 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 week.
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 enrollment (matriculation) at the University of Göttingen.
Step 7: Enrollment (Matriculation). All students of GGNB have to be enrolled at the
University of Göttingen throughout the entire PhD thesis project. Details about enrollment are
summarized on page 6 of this handout and on the internet pages of GGNB.
Route 2: Apply for a PhD project at GGNB – contact thesis advisor directly
If you have already identified a specific PhD project offered by a faculty member of GGNB,
you are welcome to contact the prospective thesis supervisor directly and apply for a PhD
thesis under her/his supervision. This Route of application is independent of application
deadlines. Faculty members receiving personal applications by students whose qualifications
are uncertain are encouraged to refer these applicants to the biannual recruitment deadlines
(see “Route 1”).
To be accepted by a doctoral program of GGNB, the thesis supervisor and two additional,
independent faculty members (nominated for the interviews by the program committee) will
Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
interview the applicant and communicate their statements of recommendation to the
respective program committee, which will then decide on admission.
Once you have received confirmation by a faculty member of GGNB that she/he is interested
in taking you up as a PhD student in her/his research group, we recommend that you follow
the step-by-step guideline indicated below:
Step 1: Thesis title and thesis committee. Discuss the title of your PhD thesis and
possible members of your thesis committee with your prospective supervisor. Your thesis
committee will consist of your supervisor and two additional members. All members work
independent of each other (i.e. not in the same department or research group) and have
expertise in scientific topics related to your thesis. At least two of the three members of your
thesis committee must hold the position of a full faculty member in the GGNB program to
which you are admitted. One of the members can be an associate member of GGNB or an
external senior scientist.
Step 2: Online application. Enter your personal data, information regarding your academic
background, motivation etc., and indicate two referees who can be contacted for further
references. In addition, indicate the name of your prospective supervisor, the title of the
proposed PhD thesis, and your suggestions for the three members of your thesis committee.
Also indicate whether funding has already been secured for the proposed thesis (this is not a
requirement for admission).
Step 3: Submit the application package (cover sheet available on the GGNB website,
transcripts, diploma, photograph, optionally: copies of GRE or English proficiency score
reports) in hardcopy to the GGNB office. As you apply for a specific PhD project, your
application package should be accompanied by an informal letter of support by your
prospective PhD supervisor in which she/he confirms the proposed thesis title and
suggestions for the additional member of your thesis committee. Your supervisor’s statement
should also include information on which basis she/he can recommend your admission to
GGNB.
Step 4: Appointment of interviewers. The GGNB office will check the fulfillment of all
formal requirements for admission (see below). It will then forward your application to the
chairperson of the responsible program committee. Interviews with at least three faculty
members of GGNB are mandatory for admission. The chairperson of the program committee
appoints the referees for interviews with the applicant. If all suggested members of the thesis
committee are full faculty members of GGNB and fulfill the requirements outlined in Step 1,
the chairperson of the program committee will usually appoint the members of the thesis
committee as interviewers and informs the applicant and interviewers accordingly.
Step 5: Interviews. The 30-60 min interviews are intended to evaluate the applicant’s
academic training and research experience, motivation for joining GGNB and future plans
(thesis project, research training etc.). The prospective PhD supervisor is encouraged to
support the applicant in the arrangement of interviews with the two additional faculty
members. For applicants from abroad, the prospective supervisor can apply at the GGNB
office for travel grants to financially support interviews in Göttingen. The GGNB office also
assists in the arrangements of video-based interviews on request. It is recommended that the
interviews are conducted within four weeks after the interviewers have been appointed by the
chairperson of the program committee.
Step 6: Report of interview results. After the interviews, the interviewers submit short and
informal statements to the chairperson of the program committee and the GGNB Office, in
which she/he recommends admission or rejection of the applicant.
Step 7: Admission. Decisions on admission are made by the program committee based on
three conditions: (i) confirmation by interviewers that the candidate meets or exceeds the
qualification requirements (recommendation for admission), (ii) confirmation by a faculty
Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
member of GGNB to accept the student for a PhD thesis in her/his department or research
group, and (iii) secured funding of the student during the PhD thesis (e.g. departmental
funding or stipends offered by GGNB).
Step 8: Finalizing the PhD project. Upon admission to GGNB, the program committee
approves the thesis project and the members of the thesis committee, and issues the
admission documents required for enrollment (matriculation) at the University of Göttingen.
Step 9: Enrollment (Matriculation). All students of GGNB have to be enrolled at the
University of Göttingen throughout the entire PhD thesis project. Details about enrollment are
summarized on page 6 of this handout and on the internet pages of GGNB.
Note: For doctoral students in Göttingen who have already started a PhD project under the
supervision of a GGNB faculty member but who are either enrolled under the old math.-nat.
regulations or are not enrolled in any program yet, the program committee of the respective
doctoral program will evaluate individually whether all GGNB requirements (formal
requirements for admission, thesis committee, credits, etc.) are met by the applicant. If so,
the applicant should follow the suggested procedure for application and admission as
outlined above.
ENROLLMENT / MATRICULATION
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN
All students of GGNB have to be enrolled at the University of Göttingen throughout the entire
PhD thesis project. PhD students can enroll throughout the year, i.e. independent of
deadlines. Once you have been notified about your admission to GGNB, you are asked to
enroll/matriculate at the University of Göttingen within two weeks.
The Office of Student Affairs (Studienzentrale; contact details see below) is in charge of all
matters regarding enrollment, semester and student fees and needs to be informed about
any change of your personal data (e.g. private address, health insurance company, etc.) and
student status without delay.
Within the Office of Student Affairs, the Team of the Registrar’s Office (Team
Studentensekretariat) is the contact partner for German students, for students from other
countries of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), and for
students who are citizen of other foreign countries with entitlement to German University
admission (Bildungsinländer). The Team International Student Services (Studium
International) is the contact partner for all students from Non-EU states without entitlement to
German University admission and stateless persons (e.g. applicants from Palestine).
Contact:
Studienzentrale
Wilhelmsplatz 4
37073 Göttingen
Service hours:
Registrar’s Office: Mon-Thu 10-16, Fri 10-13
International Student Services: Mon- Fri 10-13
phone: 0551 - 39 113
e-mail: studienzentrale@uni-goettingen.de
internet: www.studienzentrale.uni-goettingen.de
Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
According to the internet pages of the Office of Student Affairs, enrollment as a doctoral
student involves five steps (http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/51293.html):
Step 1: Applying to the faculty. This step refers to a written statement from the faculty
dean on your acceptance as a PhD student and confirmation by the supervisor of your PhD
thesis. GGNB students should use the form “Application for Admission to the Conferral of a
Doctorate at the Georg August University School of Science (GAUSS)*”, signed by the three
members of your thesis committee and by the coordinator of GGNB in addition to the
statement by the faculty dean.
*GAUSS is the degree-awarding unit of the doctoral degree in the natural sciences in Göttingen; GGNB is a
member of GAUSS.
Step 2: Data entry via Internet. Different online forms for students from EU countries and
non-EU countries are available on the internet pages of the Office of Student Affairs to
accomplish the first step of enrollment / matriculation (online registration). Upon successful
registration, you will receive a registration number. This registration number will be your
student ID number (Matrikelnummer) at the University of Göttingen.
Step 3: Sending in your documents by post (surface mail / air mail). In addition to
payment of the semester fee, the following documents are required for enrollment (see also
checklist on the internet pages of the Office of Student Affairs; http://www.unigoettingen.de/en/52291.html):
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Certified copy or original of Master’s degree (in English or German).
Certificate of the number of semesters of studies at German Universities
(Studienzeitbescheinigung), if applicable.
The signed form “Application for Admission to the Conferral of a Doctorate at the Georg
August University School of Science (GAUSS)” (see Step 1), which is available on the
website of GGNB and at the end of this handout. This form needs to be signed by the
three members of your thesis committee and the GGNB coordinator.
German health insurance certificate in the original version, i.e. no copies accepted.
Students who hold a German “Private Insurance” (Privatversicherung) are asked to
submit the certificate “Befreiung von der Pflichtversicherung” issued by any non-private
German Health Insurance Company (e.g. TK, AOK, DAK, BVV, etc.). EU citizens may
use the health insurance from their home countries; however, we recommend that you
carefully check whether all services, including dental care, are covered by this.
Non-German students: Confirmation that proficiency of the German language is not
required because all courses are taught in English (issued by the GGNB office).
German students: Exmatrikulationsnachweis.
Send all documents listed above to the Office of Student Affairs (Studienzentrale,
Wilhelmsplatz 4, 37073 Goettingen, Germany).
Step 4: Transfer of semester fees. The semester fees currently comprise:
- fee to Studentenwerk (Studentenwerksbeitrag),
- fee to the student body (Studentenschaftsbeitrag, including the so-called 'semester-ticket',
which entitles you to use short distance trains ('Nahverkehrszüge' ) within Niedersachsen
and Bremen for free),
- administration fee (Verwaltungskostenbeitrag)*.
Please consult the internet page of the Office of Student Affairs (http://www.unigoettingen.de/en/47275.html) for further details regarding bank transfer and the exact
amount of the semester fee.
*Please note: The administration fee can be waived for PhD students if they are financed by a stipend from
German public sources. If you receive such a stipend, please include a copy of your stipend contract (or an
equivalent certificate indicating the amount, source and duration of your stipend) in the set of documents
Georg August University Göttingen
Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB)
submitted to the Office of Students Affairs / registrar’s office for matriculation and subtract the administration fee
when paying the semester free. The administration fee cannot be waived for PhD students who are employed
under an employment contract or receive a stipend from sources other than German public grants.
Step 5: Confirmation from the University. A confirmation (preliminary student ID,
certificate of enrollment, etc.) will be sent to your automatically by mail to the postal address
you indicated in your correspondence with the Office of Student Affairs.
Important: Upon successful enrollment, make sure to notify the GGNB office about
your matriculation number.
Annex: Application for Admission to the Conferral of a Doctorate at the Georg August
University School of Science (GAUSS) / Antrag auf Zulassung zur Promotion in GAUSS:
SEE NEXT PAGE
Application for Admission to the Conferral of a Doctorate
at the Georg August University School of Science (GAUSS)
Examination Regulations of the Mathematics and Natural Science Faculties of 13 September 2006
Antrag auf Zulassung zur Promotion in GAUSS
Promotionsordnung der math.-nat. Fakultäten vom 13. September 2006
1. Name of Doctoral Candidate / Name des/der Doktoranden/in:
Matr.-Nr.
2. Address / Adresse:
3. University Degree / Hochschulabschluss:
a. Master’s/Diplom Degree at a German University in the subject: / Master-/Diplom-Abschluss an
einer deutschen Universität im Fach:
b. Confirmation of equivalent degree by the host faculty for other degrees /
Äquivalenzbestätigung der zuständigen Fakultät für andere Abschlüsse
4. GGNB doctoral program to which you have been admitted / GGNB-Promotionsprogramm, zu dem die
Zulassung erfolgte:
5. Institute at which the doctoral thesis will be conducted (complete address) /
Institut, an dem die Dissertation angefertigt werden soll (genaue Anschrift):
6. Planned start of the thesis / Vorgesehener Beginn der Arbeit:
7. Title of thesis (attach short project description) / Thema der Arbeit (kurzes Exposé beifügen):
8. Members of the Thesis Committee / Mitglieder des Betreuungsausschusses:
Note: At least two committee members must be ordinary faculty members of GGNB
Hinweis: Mindestens zwei Mitglieder des Betreuungsausschusses müssen prüfungsberechtigte Mitglieder von GGNB
sein.
8.1 Supervisor / Anleiter
Position at the Institute / Stellung am Institut:
Agreement to supervise thesis / Zu der Anleitung bereit:
Date / Datum:
Signature of Supervisor/ Unterschrift des/der Anleiters/Anleiterin
8.2 Second member of the thesis committee / Zweites Mitglied des Betreuungsausschusses
Name, Institut(e):
Agreement to participate in the thesis committee / Zur Betreuung bereit:
Date / Datum:
Signature of Supervisor/ Unterschrift des/der Betreuers/Betreuerin
8.3 Third member of the thesis committee / Drittes Mitglied des Betreuungsausschusses
Name, Institut(e):
Agreement to participate in the thesis committee / Zur Betreuung bereit:
Date / Datum:
Signature of Supervisor/ Unterschrift des/der Betreuers/Betreuerin
9. Assurance of complete and truthful information / Bestätigung vollständiger und wahrheitsgemäßer
Angaben
Date / Datum:
Signature of the doctoral candidate / Unterschrift des/der Doktoranden/in
10. Approval by the responsible program committee at its meeting of … / Bestätigung durch den
zuständigen Studienausschuss auf der Sitzung vom:
Date / Datum:
___________________________________________________
Signature of the Coordinator of GGNB on behalf of the
Speaker of the Doctoral Program
Unterschrift der Koordinatorin von GGNB im Auftrag des Sprechers des Promotionsstudiengangs