Dresden International PhD Program

A truly excellent academic performance and prior research experience is expected. Distinctive proficiency in textbook knowledge of the relevant scientific disciplines is essential. Applicants must hold, or anticipate receiving before taking up PhD thesis work, an undergraduate degree in one of the following disciplines: 

• Life sciences
• Natural sciences
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Applied mathematics
• Medicine

In general, a very good Master degree or equivalent is required. Applicants holding an excellent BSc degree are also welcome to apply, given that independent research and a written thesis is part of the curriculum. Candidates holding a medical degree must have completed their course of study before starting their PhD thesis, including the exam equivalent to the German 2nd State Exam.

Only applications submitted electronically via our online application system are accepted and proceed to evaluation. Applications, or parts thereof, submitted by fax, e-mail or postal mail cannot be processed.

Scanned copies of University certificates and transcripts of marks (record of study) documenting your entire University education are part of your application and need to be uploaded. If your current course of study is still ongoing, please provide the latest transcript, respectively a temporary confirmation of the results obtained so far, and state when you expect to receive your final degree. Applications without the required documents cannot be considered. Provision of GRE examination results is strongly recommended but not mandatory.

The timely receipt of two online recommendations is prerequisite for submission.

Participation in the interview week is indispensable if you wish to be considered for admission to the Dresden International PhD Program.

The language of the DIPP is English and very good proficiency in English is required. Provision of TOEFL or IELTS results are strongly recommended but are not mandatory.

Admission is based solely on scientific qualification and potential. The admission procedure must ensure the excellence of our PhD Program and the recruitment of only the highest qualified candidates. In order to prevent favoritism or bias, candidates who have previously been affiliated with a DIPP research group are eligible for admission, however, they are cannot join a DIPP research group they have previously been affiliated with for more than 3 months, or after the application deadline of the respective selection round.

Financial support

As a general rule, all PhD students of the Dresden International PhD Program will receive financial support for the duration of their thesis and up to 4 years.

Financial support is granted via one of two types of funding, (i) fellowships or (ii) working contracts. The type of funding a student receives is dependent upon the specific source of funding for each student, and defined by the available resources of the hosting group leader and the hosting organization. Fellowships are tax free and do not include any contributions to social insurances. Health insurance is compulsory and individual arrangements are to be made by the fellow (with the help of the PhD Program Office and the International Office). Individual arrangements for pension schemes are optional. Contracts are taxed, and contributions to health insurance, pension scheme and social benefits are included and automatically deducted from the income.

The current monthly fellowship rate corresponds to up to 1,365 € plus 103 € additional allowance per month. Contracts are according to 50–65% TV-L E13 respectively TvöD E13 (German tariff for employees in civil service). Irrespective of the source of funding, the initial net income (after deduction of compulsory insurances respectively tax and contribution to social insurances) is at least 1,000 € per month.

Tuition fees

The Dresden International PhD Program does not charge any tuition fee.

Matriculation at the TU Dresden grants the official student status. As such you will benefit from the work of the Studentenwerk (an organisation providing social, financial and cultural support services to students) and the Studentenrat (Students Union). However, it is optional for PhD students. An enrollment fee of about 240 € is charged per semester, this includes the fee for the so-called Semesterticket, which grants free access to the public transport system in Dresden and surroundings.