13 PhD Positions at Heidelberg University

Application and Admission to HBIGS

Admission Requirements (as of January 1, 2020):
To be eligible for admission to HBIGS, applicants must hold a university degree that qualifies them to pursue a PhD at Heidelberg University, as per the Faculty of Biosciences' regulations. Qualified PhD applicants can apply to HBIGS throughout the year exclusively via the HBIGS online application system (see link below).

Important:
Applications must be submitted before the start of the PhD project. Students who have already commenced their PhD are not eligible to apply (the start date of your PhD term typically aligns with your contract start date).

Application Procedures:

1. Already Accepted Applicants:
   If you have already been accepted as a prospective PhD student in the research group of an HBIGS faculty member, submit an unsolicited application and upload the "Statement of Acceptance as a PhD Student" under "Academic Records" in the online application system.
2. Not Yet Accepted Applicants:
   If you have not yet been accepted by an HBIGS faculty member, you can:
   • Apply to advertised PhD positions (up to three) within the set deadlines. Projects may close early if a suitable candidate is found, so early application is advised.
   • Submit an unsolicited application, naming your preferred research group or principal investigator.

Apply Online:
-> REGISTER and APPLY
Note: Only applications submitted through the online system will be considered. Applications sent by email or mail will be discarded.

Admission Procedure:

1. Eligibility Check:
   After submitting your application, your eligibility and qualifications will be reviewed. This may include a preliminary interview.
2. Further Evaluation:
   • Eligible Candidates: Those who meet the Faculty's criteria for unconditional acceptance as a PhD student are generally eligible for HBIGS membership without further assessment.
   • Non-Eligible Candidates: Those who do not meet the unconditional acceptance criteria must pass a Qualifying Exam, consisting of a 25-minute panel interview and a 2-hour written GRE-like test. The interview includes a 5-7 minute presentation of your research project followed by a Q&A session. The test covers topics in Molecular & Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, and General Biology. Candidates with non-bioscience backgrounds may choose questions from related subjects like physics, chemistry, or computer science.
3. Shortlisted Candidates:
   Candidates not yet accepted by an HBIGS faculty member may be invited to Heidelberg for interviews and the Qualifying Exam, if requested by the Faculty or principal investigator.Upcoming Interview and Qualifying Exam Dates:
   • September 19, 2024
   • November 28, 2024
   • January 23, 2025
   • March 20, 2025
   • May 22, 2025
     (More dates for 2025 will be announced.)
4. Final Decision:
   The HBIGS Executive Board will make the final decision on admission. Successful candidates will receive admission letters shortly after the decision.