How to Apply
Due to the different organisations of PhD studies in Germany and India, different application procedures apply for both MCGS sides. If you wish to pursue your doctoral studies in Münster or Hyderabad, please fill in the respective Expression of Interest (EoI) form and submit electronic copies of the following documents prior to the next deadline (all documents must be in English or German/Hindi/Telugu, as appropriate):
- Expression of Interest (EoI) form
Please fill in the respective EoI form EoI Germany or EoI India, resp. To be able to fill in the EoI, you need to make yourself familiar with the scientific goals of the MCGS research training group as well as with the interests, expertises, and resources of the individual MCGS member labs. Based on this information, you will need to roughly sketch your idea for a three-year research project to be pursued mainly in one of the German or Indian groups (only full members), but including some aspect to be pursued in a partner lab in one of the MCGS groups at the other site (full member or associated member). Examples or guidelines for designing such a research project are given by all MCGS members here.
Applicants for PhD studies in Germany can propose up to three research projects with three different potential German supervisors which you should rank according to your preferences. We will make every effort to match you with the supervisor of your first choice, but as every supervisor will typically be allocated one fellow per generation of PhD students, you can increase your chances of being shortlisted by giving a second and third choice, too. Note, however, that you will have to sketch an appropriate research project for every potential supervisor you select.
Applicants for the Senior Research Fellow phase of PhD studies in India can only apply with the same research group where they are already enrolled for their Junior Research Fellow phase. - Motivation letter
Please be specific! Explain,
- why you want to pursue your doctoral studies in the framework of MCGS rather than elsewhere;
- why you want to work in the lab of these specific supervisors rather than in any other labs;
- why the supervisor should select you rather than any of the many other applicants.
- Curriculum vitae / résumé
Please be precise and concise, and list, in chronological order, the steps of your educational and scientific carreer. - Official transcript / record of study and certificates
Please provide undergraduate and graduate transcripts detailing your academic background and accomplishments, including copies of the final Bachelor, Master, or Diplom certificates. If the final certificate has not yet been issued, please send provisional documents and indicate the expected time of issue for the official final document. - Two recommendation letters
Please ask two of your academic teachers who are able to evaluate and comment on your academic experience and achievements as well as on your personality, including the supervisor of your latest research project, to send a recommendation letter on your behalf to us at mcgs@uni-muenster.de or mcgs@uohyd.ernet.in, resp., preferably using the reco letter form. - Proof of proficiency in English
If you are not a native speaker of English, and if you have not received your higher education in English, and if you have not lived in an English speaking country for at least one year, you will need to demonstrate adequate English language skills in an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL. - Submission
Please send the signed EoI together with electronic copies of all documents to mcgs@uni-muenster.de or mcgs@uohyd.ernet.in, resp.
