Requirements and Assessment

Requirements for the admission to the program

• Doctoral program: Applicants must hold a Master, a German Diploma or equivalent degree in biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemistry, or other related subjects. It is not necessary to hold the degree at the time of application. However, you must have been awarded your degree prior to the enrollment into the program.
• Preparatory program: Only in rare instances we accepts applicants holding a Bachelor degree (4 years of study including a thesis). These applicants have to be very outstanding. It is not necessary to hold the Bachelor degree at the time of application. However, you must have been awarded your degree prior to the enrollment into the program.

• Selection: Applications will be reviewed by faculty members of the Graduate School. Candidates will be selected for an interview based on academic qualifications, motivation, suitability to the program and referee's evaluations. We may contact applicants or referees by phone for preliminary assessment. The selection process will be over mid of February 2012 and short listed candidates will be notified then.

• Interview: Applicants who are short listed will be invited to attend the final admission assessment in Berlin. The next assessment center will probably take place on March, 26th till March, 30th, 2012. Please make sure that you are available during this time. During the assessment centre applicants will be introduced to the different research groups, interviewed by faculty members and have to give a short presentation of their scientific work. Travel expenses as well as the accomodation will be covered.
  
  
• Notification of acceptance: Notification of acceptance will be as soon as possible, the latest 4 weeks after the assessment centre. The projects will start in agreement between the candidate and the future supervisor. Usually they will start in October 2012.

Disadvantages of handicapped applicants will be considered.

Dear student,

since we receive a large number of applications, unfortunately, we are not able to answer individual enquires about the application status. Candidates who are short listed for interviews and therefore are invited to the assessment center will be notified as soon as possible to allow enough time for travel arrangements. If you are not invited for an interview within the appropriate time you are not short listed. Applicants who were invited but did not pass the assessment center will be notified personally as well as the successful candidates, of course.

Good luck with your application!