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. As a reference, the average IMPRS student is 26 years old when starting the PhD.

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. You can alternatively find a list of all 'key publications' here.

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 will be reviewed by the IMPRS coordinator in a first step and shortlisted by the recruiting IMPRS faculty members in a second step. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Selection Symposium that takes place online from March 10 to March 14, 2025. Successful applicants will be offered a position soon after the Selection Symposium, i.e. in April 2025. They will be given the option to visit Cologne before starting the PhD.

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: You have to identify two persons within the application process that are asked to submit a recommendation letter via the application system. In case, one of the persons does not hand in a recommendation letter within the deadline, your application will still be considered. It might happen that your application will be ranked lower during the application process compared to applicants with two recommendation letters.