Notice: The current application process is closed. A new application phase will begin in autumn 2025.
Overview Time Table GSSP 2025
- 13 December 2024 - 31 January 2025: application through online form
- By 15 February 2025: Applicants with a convincing project idea are contacted by the potential supervisor.
- By 15 March 2025: Deadline for 8-page project proposal of each candidate/ advisor team (max. 2 candidates per advisor)
- April 2025: online interviews
- By 31 May 2025: nominations by the GSGS to the DAAD
- Within 3 weeks of nominations: nominated candidates send their online application to the DAAD
- c. mid-June to mid-August 2025 nominated candidates await final admission by DAAD
- 01 July-01 December 2025: start of scholarship for admitted candidates
GSSP application process 2025 - details
Before you apply, check that you are eligible to apply and meet the requirements:
- you are a non-German citizen;
- you have not been resident in Germany for more than 15 months as per 31 May 2025 (refugees are exempt);
- you hold an above-average Master's degree (or equivalent) in a discipline relevant to the chosen project and belong to the best 10% of your graduation class.
- you have sound knowledge of the chosen research field;
- you have very good English skills and are willing to learn basic German;
- the exam for you last final degree (Master´s or equivalent) has taken place in the six years preceding 31 May 2025.
The application procedure is split into three steps. Please read this information carefully.
- Read the call text.
- Choose your preferred scientist from the list
- Read the information about the research topic by this scientist and write a half-page project idea of the doctoral research project you propose. It should fit well within the topic proposed by the scientist.
- Collect all necessary application information and documents (see checklist)
- Use the online form to submit your application by 31 January 2025 at 12 o'clock noon (CET).
- Should you have convinced your potential supervisor with your project idea, you will be contacted by them by 15 February, 2025.
- Promising candidates will be invited to develop your project idea further and prepare a max. 8-page project proposal for their potential supervisor.
- The deadline for the submission of the 8-page project proposal (incl. any figures and references) of each candidate/supervisor team is 15 March 2025 (maximum 2 candidates per supervisor).
- Online interviews with short-listed candidates will take place in April 2025.
- The GSGS will nominate candidates to the DAAD by 31 May 2025.
- Candidates nominated by the GSGS will have to submit their application to the DAAD through https://www.mydaad.de/en within 3 weeks after receiving a positive reply from the GSGS.
- Nominated candidates wait for the final admission by DAAD (estimated mid-June to mid-August 2025).
- Please note that admission to studies and receipt of a scholarship will be subject to assessments by both the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Cologne and the DAAD, respectively.
- When admitted by the DAAD: start of scholarship between 1 July and 1 December 2025.