PhD Positions
How to Apply
Get an Account
Register for our Online Application System
Create an account for our Online Application System. The link to the system is displayed as a button “APPLY ONLINE NOW” in the right sidebar* of this page, but only when a call is open for applications. You will receive access to the system immediately. Please note that our Online Application System is the only way to apply for PhD positions in our program! We cannot accept applications outside that system.
*If you are visiting this page on a small screen and you can see no sidebar, please scroll down to find it below the text.
Initiate Application for the Current Call
Create Application Record
After you successfully registered for an account, login to the application system, go to the page Calls and hit Apply Now for the call you’re interested in. This will create an Application record for you and open a wizard with all the forms you need to fill.
Complete Application Forms
Education | Research Experience | Research Interests | Referees
With your application record created you’ll get immediate access to the actual application forms:
- Additional personal and contact data
- CV (educational and professional activities)
- Research experience, expertise, awards
- Research interests and preferences
- Document upload (e.g. university certificates, transcripts of marks, and – recommended but not mandatory – TOEFL or IELTS results, GRE examination results; for ongoing studies, please provide the latest transcript, respectively a temporary confirmation of the results obtained so far.)
- Contact data for two referees
Before the application deadline and before finally submitting your finished application you can always take a break and return to the saved forms.
Submit Your Online Application
Everything complete? Then go!
Once you’ve completed all the application forms, and we have received at least two reference letters (the system will inform you about the status) you will be able to submit your application. Please note that after submission you will not be able to change any of the given data anymore.
Wait for Evaluation Results
Multilevel Evaluation Process
In a multilevel evaluation process we assess the applicants’ general eligibility and research experience. These steps are carried out by the program administration and internal experts of the respective research field. This process will take approximately five weeks from the final deadline of the application round.
Qualified applications proceed to admission committee video interviews.
Admission Committee Video Interviews
Interview with a Panel of Experts
Applications passing the first assessment steps will be invited for interviews with an Admission Committee via a video conference. Candidates will present a brief chalk talk of a research project (generally the Master thesis) which will be followed by a Q&A session.
Interview Week in Dresden
Onsite interviews and discussions w/ group leaders
Candidates who have passed the admission committee interviews and are shortlisted by participating faculty will be invited to Dresden to meet group leaders and learn about research projects. The interview week will include a poster session, presentations – and leisure activities, too.
Invitations are sent approximately 6–7 weeks before the interview week.
Travel costs will be reimbursed and accommodation will be provided by us.
Admission
Offers and Start of Thesis Work for Successful Candidates
Offers of admission to join the DIGS-BB within the Dresden International PhD Program (DIPP) are made after a match between a candidate and a research group could be identified (after the one-to-one interviews). Admission is granted by the Dean based on the results of the Admission Committee and the group leader interviews. In general, offers include the affiliation to a defined research group.
The individual starting date will be agreed on with the primary supervisor and should be within half a year after the position has been offered.
PhD Spring Selection 2025
call is closed
video interviews with admission committee:
6–10 January 2025
interview week:
4–7 March 2025
PhD Summer Selection 2025
call opens 3 March 2025
call closes 6 May 2025
video interviews with admission committee:
16–20 June 2025
interview week:
19 – 22 August 2025
PhD Winter Selection 2026
call opens 18 August 2025
call closes 28 October 2025
video interviews with admission committee:
8–12 December 2025
interview week:
3 – 6 February 2026
Contact
For additional opportunities you might want to consider our partner program
IMPRS-CellDevoSys