Application
Deadlines
Interview Days are on July 8th and 9th 2024
Two types of candidates with a strong academic record and a keen interest in scientific research can apply for the PhD program:
- External candidates, looking for a research group at TUM or affiliated institutions, or
- Internal candidates, already working in one of the TUM research groups or affiliated institutions.
Both external and internal applicants must hold one of the following degrees to enter the program:
- Entry level with an MSc: Applicants must hold an MSc or equivalent degree in medicine, biology, engineering, psychology or related subjects. The degree documents must be complete at the time of application.
- Entry level for TUM medical students: Applicants must pass the first part of the "Ärztliche Prüfung" prior to apply. Once they are admitted to the program, these students can complete both their MD and PhD.
If the applicant’s native language is not English, a designated proof of English proficiency must be provided in one of the following forms:
- A completed degree in an English-medium educational system (official confirmation required).
- A TOEFL score (minimum 88/120).
- An IELTS Academic score (minimum 6.5/9).
- A Cambridge certificate
An English level of C1 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the minimum language requirement to apply to the PhD program.
Only online applications are accepted. The application on the DocGS platform(link is external) opens in April and October, one month before each biannual deadline.
The application form consists of several sections covering personal data, educational background, English skills, letter of motivation and scientific interest. In order to strengthen the application supporting information may be also added, such as awards, publications, memberships, research experience or other relevant skills.
Application/selection timeline for Winter term:
- Online application platform will open on April 15.
- Closing date for application is May 15 (24:00 Central European Time), with Interview day taking place in July -> we have moved the dates in 2024, so the 2024 deadline is April 10th - May 10th.
- Accepted candidates should start their research project in October.
Application/selection timeline for Summer term:
- Online application platform will open on October 15.
- Closing date for application is November 15 (24:00 Central European Time).
- Accepted candidates should start their research project in April.
Please note that it is not possible to submit an application outside of the application period. We only accept online applications. Submitting an online application involves the following steps:
- Create an account on the DocGS(link is external) platform.
- Once you have registered, you can log in to the application system using your account information by clicking on "login". You will then be able to upload a picture and fill out the application. When filling out the application form, please enter all required information and any additional relevant supporting information. The information you enter will be saved and you will be able to revisit the site and make changes if necessary.
- After you have completed the application form, upload all your relevant documents.
- Then submit your application by clicking on "submit application". You will be able to submit your application only if you have completed all the mandatory fields. After submitting your application, you will no longer be able to make any changes. Unless you click on "submit application", your information will not be processed and your application will not be reviewed.
Only complete applications that have been submitted by the deadline will be reviewed. Applicants are encouraged to collect all necessary information and documents early on, to allow themselves enough time to meet the submission deadline. Applications will be reviewed by faculty members, and promising candidates will be selected for interviews. You will be notified by email whenever the status of your application changes.
In Medical Life Science and Technology program, the candidate must have one supervisor and two mentors.
All members must be at least a Privatdozent (PD). In certain cases, the member may also be a TUM Junior Fellow. At least 2 members of the committee must be members of the TUM School of Medicine. At least one mentor must be a member of a different clinic, departement, institute or university than the supervisor of the student.
The thesis committee is a valuable resource for you as a doctoral student. The committee is not only there to give you constructive feedback on your research, but also to give you advice in difficult situations, which may arise over the course of your studies.
More information about the responsibilities of the supervisors and candidates can be found here.
The application form (over the DocGS online platform(link is external)) is only available one month before the application deadline.
The application form consists of several sections covering personal data, educational background, English skills, letter of motivation and scientific interest. In order to strengthen the application supporting information may be also added, such as awards, publications, memberships, research experience or other relevant skills.
To fill out the application form, the following documents must be available and ready to upload during the application process:
- Personal data.
- A portrait/passport photo. It is the general norm in Germany to add a photo to the application.
- Educational background (dates of attendance in high school and university, major fields of study, thesis title etc.).
- High school and university transcripts and diplomas. Any other relevant educational certificates.
- Field of research you would like to enter, plus names of potential research groups you would be interested in joining. Alternatively, name of the research group that you have already joined.
- Any additional and relevant document that may strengthen your application (publications, presentations, awards etc.). Please only include documents that are highly relevant to the application.
- A letter of motivation. In the letter you should explain why you are applying to this program, why you consider yourself a suitable candidate, and what your research interests are.
Unless you are native English speaker, you are required to provide proof of English proficiency in one of the following forms:
- A completed degree in an English-medium educational system (official confirmation required).
- A TOEFL score (minimum 88/120).
- An IELTS Academic score (minimum 6.5/9).
- A Cambridge certificate.
An English level of C1 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the minimum language requirement.
If the TOEFL test is taken, then code number 4424 should be entered in the score recipient field. This way, the official scores will be sent to us directly by the Educational Testing Service.
Only unencrypted pdf and jpg documents can be uploaded, other documents will not be processed correctly by the submission system. If a document consists of more than one page, all pages should be combined into a single document.
All documents that are not in English or German must be accompanied by a translation. For the online application there is no requirement for certified translations. However, certified translations(link is external) might be requested at a later point in time.
Degrees from foreign countries are subject to approval by the Technical University of Munich, before applicants can be accepted into the program. The program's coordination office will assist you with this process.
The selection of the most promising applicants is achieved through the following process:
- Each complete application received within the submission deadline is reviewed and evaluated by at least three faculty members, based on the preferred research field and group indicated by each applicant. The evaluation takes into account the applicant’s educational background, aptitude for research, achievements, motivation.
- Applicants who successfully pass the first round of selection are then invited to an individual 20-minute interview with a selection committee. During the interview candidates are assessed based on their work experience and basic knowledge of life sciences. If an applicant has prior or recent practical research experience, the interview involves a scientific presentation.
- To be accepted into the program, applicants must successfully pass both rounds of selection and receive an offer by a research group.
Available projects for external candidates
Vacant PhD positions for external candidates applying for Winter term 2023/24 are available in the research groups listed in the table below. Details on the research carried out in each group can be found here(link is external).
External candidates can give their preference also to groups not listed in the table. However, we cannot guarantee that groups other than those listed below will be able to accept external candidates. It is therefore advisable to contact the preferred research groups directly, prior to submitting the application.
| Name | Research Area |
|---|---|
| Andergassen, Daniel(link sends e-mail) | Sex Bias in Desease |
| Kupatt Jeremias, Christian(link sends e-mail) | Cardiovascular (click here for information on available position) |
| Ntziachristos, Vasilis(link sends e-mail) | Biological & Medical Imaging (click here for information on available PhD positions(link is external)) |