IMPRS Applicant FAQs

A: You can exclusively apply through our online application system at https://gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de/ and only if the IMPRS call is open.

A: In Germany, you cannot obtain a PhD in the same field twice.

A: No. There is no age limit for applicants. Applications are assessed based on the eligibility and selection criteria described above.

A: Yes. But you must hold the MSc (or equivalent) degree in a related subject before starting the PhD.

A: Please submit at least a:

1. university entrance qualification, i.e. a document that initially qualified you to start studying such as the school-leaving certificate.
2. a Bachelor's degree certificate.
3. a Master's degree certificate or a provisional transcript of records if you are still pursuing the Master's.

We further appreciate if you submit:

• your full transcripts of records
• an English language test
• a CV

A: Yes. Please submit a provisional transcript of records.

A: Yes. We can only accept such non-English/non-German documents if you provide a translation. Please submit the translations together with the original documents.

A: We have highlighted one 'key publication' in each project description. 

A: These requests are semiautomatically sent from gradschool@mpipz.mpg.de immediately after you save your referee's contact data. These messages occasionally get recognised as spam. Please ask your referee to check the spam folder.

A: No. You may want to contact them if you, for instance, have specific questions about the project or project proposal. Please note, however, that our supervisors may not always be able to address all questions.

A: All applications are first reviewed by the IMPRS Coordinator based on academic qualifications and background, relevant research experience, research interests and motivation, and fit with the selected research projects. Applications passing this initial review are then assessed by the recruiting IMPRS faculty members, who select candidates for the online Selection Symposium.

Career breaks, parental leave, caregiving responsibilities, part-time work or other circumstances affecting an applicant’s academic career are taken into account appropriately.

For current dates and further details on the selection process, please see the IMPRS Application page.

A: English. While fluency in spoken and written English is thus necessary to succeed in our program, knowledge of German is not necessary. We do, however, encourage learning German and offer German classes to our IMPRS students.

A: Yes. All IMPRS positions are competitively funded for a minimum of three years. Funding details vary between IMPRS groups and should be discussed during the selection.

A: No. However, all IMPRS students must enroll at the University of Cologne (UoC) where they pay a social fee of around 600 € per year. This grants them access to free local public transport, UoC courses, UoC mentoring and other UoC activities.

A: Successful applicants will be offered an IMPRS PhD position soon after the IMPRS Selection Symposium and can theoretically start from then. We do, however, aim for a synchronous start of new IMPRS students around October 1^st.

A: Applicants are expected to provide two referees and should make sure that both recommendation letters are submitted by the respective deadline. Recommendation letters are an important part of the application and provide additional information for the assessment of your academic background and research potential.

We therefore strongly recommend contacting your referees well in advance and following up with them before the deadline. If fewer than two recommendation letters are received, the application may have to be assessed based on the information available.