Registration for Summer term 2021 is now closed

(© Andreas Heddergott / TU Muenchen)

Admission requirements: which degrees are accepted?

We welcome applications from highly motivated candidates with a strong academic record and a keen interest in scientific research. Two kinds of candidates can apply for the PhD program:

• External candidates, looking for a research group at TUM or affiliated institutions

• Internal candidates, already working in one of the TUM research groups or affiliated institutions

• Entry level with an MSc: applicants must hold an MSc or equivalent degree in medicine, biology, engineering, psychology, or related subjects.

• Entry level for TUM medical students: applicants must pass the first part of the Ärztliche Prüfung prior to apply. Once they are admitted to the program, these students can complete both their MD and PhD.

• Entry level for TUM master students: applicants who have successfully completed their bachelor's degree in Germany, and are currently enrolled in a master's program at TUM, may also apply.

Application timeline

Application/selection timeline for Summer term 2021:

• Online application platform will open on October 15, 2020

• Closing date for application is November 15, 2020 (24:00 Central European Time)

• Interview day will take place in Munich on 8 February 2021

• Accepted candidates should start their research project in April 2021

How to apply

Please note that it is not possible to submit an application outside of the application period. We only accept online applications. Submitting an online application involves the following steps:

1. Create an account on the DocGS platform

2. Once you have registered, you can log in to the application system using your account information by clicking on "login". You will then be able to upload a picture and fill out the application. When filling out the application form, please enter all required information and any additional relevant supporting information. The information you enter will be saved and you will be able to revisit the site and make changes if necessary

3. After you have completed the application form, upload all your relevant documents

4. Then submit your application by clicking on "submit application". You will be able to submit your application only if you have completed at least all the mandatory fields. After submitting your application, you will no longer be able to make any changes. Unless you click on "submit application", your information will not be processed and your application will not be reviewed

5. Only complete applications that have been submitted by the deadline will be reviewed. Applicants are ecnouraged to collect all necessary information and documents early on, to allow themselves enough time to meet the submission deadline. Applications will be reviewed by faculty members, and promising candidates will be selected for interviews. You will be notified by email whenever the status of your application changes

Application form

The application form is only available one month before the application deadline and consists of several sections covering personal data, educational background, English skills, letter of motivation and scientific interest. In order to strengthen the application supporting information may be also added, such as awards, publications, memberships, research experience or other relevant skills.

To fill out the application form, the following documents must be available and ready to upload during the application process:

• Personal data

• A portrait/passport photo. It is the general norm in Germany to add a photo to the application

• Educational background (dates of attendance in high school and university, major fields of study, thesis title, etc.)

• High school and university transcripts and diplomas. Any other relevant educational certificates

• Field of research you would like to enter, plus names of potential research groups you would be interested in joining. Alternatively, name of the research group that you have already joined

• Any additional and relevant document that may strengthen your application (publications, presentations, awards, etc.). Please only include documents that are highly relevant to your application

• A letter of motivation. In the letter you should explain why you are applying to this program, why you consider yourself a suitable candidate, and what your research interests are

Unless you are native English speaker, you are required to provide proof of English proficiency in one of the following forms:

- A completed degree in an English-medium education system (official confirmation required)

- A TOEFL score (minimum 88/120)

- An IELTS Academic score (minimum 6.5/9)

- A Cambridge certificate

An English level of C1 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the minimum language requirement.

If the TOEFL test is taken, then code number 4424 should be entered in the score recipient field. This way, the official scores will be sent to us directly by the Educational Testing Service.

Only unencrypted pdf and jpg documents can be uploaded, other documents will not be processed correctly by the submission system. If a document consists of more than one page, all pages should be combined into a single document.

All documents that are not in English or German must be accompanied by a translation. For the online application there is no requirement for certified translations. However, certified translations might be requested at a later point in time.

Degrees from foreign countries are subject to approval by the Technical University of Munich, before applicants can be accepted into the program. The program's coordination office can assist you with this process.

Available projects for external candidates

Vacant PhD positions for external candidates applying for Summer term 2021 are available in the research groups listed in the table below. Details on the research carried out in each group can be found here

External candidates can give their preference also to groups not listed in the table. However, we cannot guarantee that groups other than those listed below will be able to accept external candidates. It is therefore advisable to contact the preferred research groups directly, prior to submitting the application.