PhD Program

The IRTG 914 is part of the Munich Medical Research School (MMRS) at the LMU´s Medical Faculty. Through this affiliation, students can

• obtain a PhD in Medical Research by completing a 3-year structured program, or
• obtain the degree Dr. rer. nat. or Dr. hum. biol.

Depending on the student's and supervisor's academic backgrounds, more options may be available.

Entry into the program requires a formal application at:

https://www.portal.graduatecenter.uni-muenchen.de/ocgc/irtg914

Formal requirements for eligibility

If you intend to apply for the PhD program of IRTG 914 (Graduate program of SFB 914) please take note of the following requirements:

Entry requirements for doctoral students

Applicants to the PhD program are required to hold a German university Diploma, Master´s degree, Staatsexamen or equivalent in the field of medicine, veterinary medicine, natural sciences, pharmacy or a related subject.

If you received your degree from a university outside of Germany, it has to be equivalent to the respective German degree. It is not necessary to hold the degree at the point of application. However, the degree has to be awarded before starting at the IRTG 914.

A final decision regarding eligibility will be made after submission of a complete application and will require the approval of university officials.

Degrees of applicants from foreign countries

Degrees have to be approved by the admissions and registration office of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität. Applicants without a German “Abitur” (high-school diploma) or a German university degree are strongly advised to include a GRE subject test in their application. A GRE subject test is recommended if you come from a non-EU country, but will strongly support any application. For applicants from India we also accept GATE.

Language skills

All events of the IRTG 914/SFB 914 are conducted in English. Thus, selected candidates have to be fluent in written and spoken English.

Confirmation of English language proficiency with a minimum of

• EU level of B2, or

• IELTS score between 5.0 to 6.5 (whereas 5.0 is the border between EU level B1 and B2), or

• TOEFL score between 87 and 109.

must be fullfilled and documents submitted.

The confirmation may be submitted up a maximum of one year upon acceptance into the Ph.D., should you not have completed a a language proficiency test before. Students with native speaker competency or those who have completed a degree in English, need to not submit this confirmation.

English proficiency will be assessed during the interview regardless of which documents have been submitted.

Application Process

After registration at the IRTG 914 online application system, ten different tabs allow you to enter all required information and to upload the corresponding documents. Prior to submission your personal application form can be revisited and modified at any time. However this is not mandatory. Make sure that your application is complete before you submit by clicking the “submit” button in the left menu. After submission you will no longer be able to edit the entries (except name, password and email).

Submission of an application is only possible if all required fields (marked by a yellow triangle) are filled out. Unmarked fields are optional but it is recommended to fill in all fields to support your personal application. However, you have to upload all degree certificates you obtained so far. You might upload a portrait photo if you wish (left menu). The more information you provide the better we will be able to assess your application.

Once you have submitted your application, the IRTG 914 coordination office will check whether your application is complete. The status of your application is shown on the first tab of the application form.

Documents for the application process

Mandatory Documents

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) without gaps
• Transcript (record of study) and degree certificate of bachelor degree, Vordiplom or equivalent degree
• Transcript (record of study) and degree certificate of Master Degree, Diplom, Staatsexamen or equivalent degree (if applicable). If your degree program is not yet completed, please provide temporary transcripts.
• Two letters of recommendation
• High school degree transcripts or university entry qualification
• Certificate of proficiency in English (recommended if not a native English speaker or education was not in English)

Recommended Documents

• Certificates of scholarships, prizes and awards (if applicable)
• GRE subject test, recommended for applicants from a non-EU country, will strongly support any application
• GATE scores for applicants from India

Selection process

Applications will be independently reviewed by several faculty of SFB 914. Based on academic qualification, research experience, motivation, scientific background and the letters of recommendation, candidates may be invited for telephone/online interviews or personal interviews in Munich. In the latter case, travel expenses and accommodation would be covered by the program.

Successful applicants will be offered a PhD study position for 3 years, which generally is financed by third-party funds of the supervisor.

Cost/Tuition

The PhD program is free of charge. Accommodation and costs of living (estimated at 1.200–1.500 Euro per month), as well as enrolment fees (130 Euro per semester incl. basic ticket for public transport pass in Munich) have to be covered by the students themselves.

Questions?

If you have any doubts whether you fulfill the requirements specified above or have any other questions, please feel free to contact the IRTG office at irtg914@med.uni-muenchen.de.