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Frequently asked questions This page summarizes some of the student's inquiries and our answers regarding the graduate programs, the application procedure and the requirements. The page is subject to updates and extensions. Click on subsections
There seems to be a problem with the online application process. The page does not open on my computer. Questions:
Answer: The form data should be filled and submitted online. It is automatically uploaded to a database that can be accessed by the selection committee of the IMPRS. Filled form data and submitted documents are transferred by ssl-encryption and treated confidentially for reasons of data security. That implies 1) that form data is transferred via https (not http) and 2) that filling and submitting the form requires to trust the domain s-lotus.gwdg.de and to accept a certificate (simply by clicking on 'ok' in a window that asks to accept the certificate). I suppose that your browser does not have something like a security manager (for my browser, mozilla, it is called PSM, short for Personal Security Manager) installed? I think there are three main possibilities to solve the problem
Please, try to succeed with 1), 2) or 3) (and please let me know about your experiences). If neither possibility works, you may
access the form via this link.
Please, print out the form, fill it (offline with a pencil) and send the form and
all documents in paper format to the postal adress:
To ensure that we obtain the filled application form before February, 24 (or February 25 is also still ok), the application deadline, you may additionally send a fax with just the filled form to:
Hannes Luz I tried to fill the registration form but I don't know my class rank. Questions:
Answer: No, you don't have to fill this field. Only the fields that are marked with a star (*) are mandatory fields and have to be filled. E.g., the fields concerning GRE and TOEFL in the form are also optional fields and not necessarily have to be filled. I have attended a postgraduation course in Bioinformatics. For which program should I apply? Questions:
Answer: A few words on the preparatory program: After one year in the preparatory program, you will need to pass a qualifying exam to get accepted for the PhD program. The qualifying exam at the end of the preparatory program is prepared by a committee of the IMPRS-CBSC faculty. Having attended a postgraduation course in Bioinformatics is a good preparation for the PhD program. Thus, you should apply for the PhD program. You may be accepted with reservation as to having passed the qualifying exam of the IMPRS. Is it possible to have other universities involved in the PhD thesis or to work partly abroad? Questions:
Answer: The IMPRS-CBSC is open for international cooperations. Details for a stay abroad have to be arranged individually by the student and his or her mentoring committee. Do you expect a complete research proposal? Questions:
Answer: Applicants should provide a resarch proposal. We want to get an impression of how well you can think and write about a possible research project.
Because we do not require the proposals to fit specific conventions, we do not provide a sample research proposal. Feel free to write the proposal in a way that seems appropriate from your point of view. A structure is self-evident and it might be natural to provide literature references. Simply writing up your research interests may be too vague or too broad. Better focus on a subject that is in your mind and that you are interested in. The research proposal does not necessarily predefine the actual research during your PhD. Nevertheless, choose a topic for the research proposal that you are interetested in and that you would like to work on. I will finish my diploma thesis in August. Can I apply for the PhD program? Questions:
Answer: Yes, that's possible. You can apply with intermediate certificates. Please, inform us about the time point at which you are able to send (copies of) your complete testimonials. You may be accepted for the PhD program with reservation as to appropriate final results. My academic teacher prefers to send his letter of recommendation directly to you. Is that possible? Questions:
Answer: Yes, that's possible. You are right. The letter of recommendation is a confidential document. Some academic teachers prefer to send their letter directly to us. That is fine. You may either upload the letter by yourself
in pdf format or, in the case of your teacher
sending the letter to us, we will attach the document
to your application.
You may ask your academic teacher to send the letter directly to
For us, it is more important that your referees are willing to
orally provide academic and/or work related references about you.
We possibly call one or both of the referees.
Remember to provide the phone number of two referees
in the
registration form.
Questions about GRE/GPA, TOEFL and language skills
Questions:
Answer:
GPA, GRE and TOEFL certificates may support your application.
Yet, they are not mandatory.
We might evaluate your language skills in personal interviews.
I have a degree in life sciences. May I apply for the PhD program?
Questions:
Answer:
Students with a degree in life sciences or theoretical sciences will be
accepted for the PhD program, if they are able to show profound knowledge
in the complementary field.
E.g., did you attend lectures or courses in theoretical sciences?
Do you know the common programming languages and do you have experiences
in programming?
If not, you may want to apply for the preparatory program to first
attend appropriate courses.
Note, that it is also possible to apply for both, for the preparatory as
well as for the PhD program.
What is my Bachelor/Masters Score?
Questions:
Answer:
The Bachelor or the Master score is supposed to be the overall grade
that you received when you finished the BSc, the MSc or your diploma.
In some study courses, these grades are assigned as percentages.
If this is not the case at your university or in your study course,
you may translate your grade to a score as a percentage.
E.g., say, the best overall grade at your study course is a "5", the worst
grade is a "1" (=failed), and you obtained a "4".
Then the grade 5 would correspond to 100 % and the grade "1" would
correspond to 0 %.
And then the grade "4" corresponds to: (4-1) / (5-1) = 75 %
My cerificates are not in english
Questions:
Answer:
I suppose, that you mention the grade of your diploma/MSc in your CV ?!
Then you are welcome to upload the original testimonials and certificates
without translating them.
You can simply scan the documents and submit them at
https://s-lotus.gwdg.de/mpg/mbmg/imprs_cbsc.nsf/application
Alternatively you can register online and send the documents in paper
format.
You do not have to send the original documents. In case of acceptance,
you will have to provide the original versions of the documents at the
university.
I have registered. What is the further procedure?
Questions:
Answer:
The application deadline is February 21, 2010.
The programs will start in early autumn 2010.
In order to derive a preliminary ranking of applicants,
applications are reviewed by all faculty members
of the research school.
We may interview applicants by phone calls and
we may also call their advisors who wrote the reference letters.
Applicants who get short listed after the first round
will be invited
to attend the final admission assessment
in Berlin.
The final admission assessment is scheduled on
Monday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 20,
2010.
On the first day we will have a symposium where candidates are
supposed to present themselves,
their work and/or their research proposal.
On the second day, there will be time for you to
visit and to get to know your potential advisors and
the research groups.
Notification of acceptance will be end of April 2010.
Why are application procedures so different among International Max Planck Research Schools? Questions:
Answer:
One particular IMPRS is always a initiative of a university AND one or
several Max Planck Institutes.
The research school is geared to scientists and researchers who have already
completed one degree and are working towards their doctorate degree.
The academic degrees are awarded
by the university, the curricululum is organized jointly by the Max Planck
Institute and the university.
Find out more about
International
Max Planck Research School) and check the web pages of the Max Planck Society.
The program(s) offered by an IMPRS, the application and selection
procedure the curriculum may differ from school to school. Some research schools
offer a program for students with a Bachelor degree who are supposed to attend
Master classes and sometimes to finish their Master degree before starting with the PhD.
Others offer a PhD-program for students who already have a Master or diploma degree.
The IMPRS-CBSC offers both types of programs.
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