Application for PhD study

We do not accept any applications by mail or fax. Only complete applications via online registration are considered.

1. Online registration:

The first step of the application process is the online registration. You will have to provide the following data:

Personal data: You will be asked to enter your personal data and information regarding your previous academic studies.
Referees: The application program will ask you for name and e-mail address of two academic teachers or supervisors who are able and willing to evaluate your personality, experience, and intellectual merit.
Research interests: Please select up to five potential thesis supervisors from the list of research group leaders.
Motivation Statement: Please give a short(!) statement of max. 1000 characters why you apply for IMPRS-CMS and give reasons for your choice of potential supervisors
Supporting documents: You have to upload your certificates, transcripts and other supporting documents as PDF-files.

Successful online registration is confirmed directly on your screen and within 30 min by e-mail.

2. Supporting documents:

You will have to upload the following documents in PDF format:

curriculum vitae in short form (mandatory)
transcripts / record of study / certificates, e.g. Bachelor's or Master's degree (mandatory)
TOEFL/IELTS, GRE, honors and awards (if available, not mandatory)
Publications (only first page)

Note: Upload only in PDF-format!
All submitted documents have to be in English or in German!

3. Reference letters:

Email requests will be automatically send to your referees by the database system. Your referees will be asked to upload their recommendation letters onto our server and to answer a short form. After submitting the referee reports your referees and you will get confirmations by e-mail. If it is necessary to change a referee during the application process or if there are any other problems please contact the coordination office.
Deadline for recommendation letters is seven days after application deadline.

4. Application link:

Deadline for application for Autumn 2023 was: February 28, 2023

Application call for start in 2024 will be open in Summer 2023

Please Note: Your personal data will be stored only for application and admission purposes. According to the German privacy law all data of unsuccessful applicants will be deleted after completion of the selection procedure. See further information on data processing in conformity with Art. 13 General Data Protection Regulations here.