Table of Contents

By the time you have reached this page, you might be thinking that the DKFZ is the right place for you to do your PhD. If so, then why not send in your application? First of all, there are a number of criteria that candidates have to fulfill. Please check the admissions requirements for more information.

Online Application

The first stage of the application process takes place online. There are two application rounds each year, one in summer and a second in winter.

The next application deadline is

• 2011/2012 Winter selection: 5th January 2012 (Interviews from 28th February - 1st March 2012, by invitation only)

Please apply using our Online Application System, which will re-open in the second week of November, 2011.


Future deadlines:

• 2012 Summer Selection: 31st May 2012 (Interviews provisionally from 23rd - 25th July, 2012)

The application form asks for information about your background, including your educational qualifications, honors, skills and interests. A statement of motivation is also required and letters of recommendation from two referees. When filling in the online form, remember to have electronic copies (JPEG or PDF files of not more than 3MB) of your academic certificates, English language certificate (if applicable) and evidence of other honors and skills to upload with your application.

Please submit your application once you have completed all the sections. Your reference letters do not have to have been submitted online by your referees in order for you to submit your application (see below).

Please note that if you have already been invited to one of the previous Graduate School selection events, then you are not eligible to re-apply through our online application system.

Letters of Recommendation

As part of the online application form, you also asked to provide the names and contact details of two referees. As soon as you have entered the name and contact details of your referees we will automatically send them an email with a link, requesting that they provide us with a letter of reference online.

Please be aware that the deadline for your referees to submit their letters of recommendation is the same as the application deadline. Therefore, you need to make sure that you register with the online system and enter the contact details of your referees in good time, so that they have time to submit their letters before the deadline. It is your responsbility to ensure that they provide these letters, so if there is a problem, please contact us in good time.

Evaluation process

Applications will be evaluated within 4 weeks of the deadline. We will inform applicants immediately and invite successful candidates for interview. Interviews take place in Heidelberg about 6-8 weeks after the application deadline and last 3 days. About three times more candidates are invited than the number we eventually accept.

During the interviews, aspects such as intellectual brightness, creativity, perseverance, independent thinking and the ability to work in a team will be evaluated. In addition, candidates are required to give a short oral presentation of their own practical work.