The DKFZ Ph.D. Fellowships Program is open for highly talented and motivated young scientist to the German Cancer Research Center. Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply for these fellowships.
The long-term goal of the German Cancer Research Center is to unravel the causes and mechanisms of cancer development and, based on new insights, to develop novel tools for diagnosis, early detection, treatment, and prevention.
The DKFZ is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute and has an international and dynamic work environment, providing students with access to state-of-the-art research facilities and exceptional resources. More than 500 Ph.D. students in over 90 divisions and research groups carry out research to unravel the causes and mechanisms of cancer development and to identify novel tools for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
A language test for English is requested for all applicants except those coming from German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), as well as native English speakers from Australia, Canada, Ireland, UK and the USA.
Course Level: Fellowships are available for pursuing Ph.D. program.
Study Subject: The research divisions and groups of the DKFZ are organized into seven research topics. However, there is a lot of interaction due to interdisciplinary collaborations. In 2015, scientists at the DKFZ have published 1,557 research articles, many of them in high-ranking journals like Cell, Nature, and Science.
Please click on the respective research topic to get more information about the research at the DKFZ:
Cell Biology and Tumor Biology
Functional and Structural Genomics
Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention
Tumor Immunology
Imaging and Radiooncology
Infection, Inflammation, and Cancer
Translational Cancer Research.
Scholarship Award: There is no tuition fee at the DKFZ and all our Ph.D. students are financed throughout their Ph.D. studies. Applicants may be required to pay university fees of approx. 140 Euro per semester if registration with the university is required for their visa. The typical duration of the Ph.D. program is three years. During this time, students are fully funded by DKFZ fellowships or third-party funding. These salaries are competitive by national standards. There is no tuition fee. All Ph.D. students at the DKFZ are enrolled at the Helmholtz International Graduate School for Cancer Research, regardless of how they are funded. Students awarded a Ph.D. position through the biannual selection rounds are funded either by a fellowship or by third-party funding from their group leaders. There are several types of DKFZ fellowships available. Many students are funded by a Graduate School Fellowship. In addition, two other types of fellowship are awarded: A “Melanie and Eduard zur Hausen” Fellowship and an “Annemarie Poustka” Fellowship.
Scholarship can be taken in Germany
Eligibility: The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for these fellowships:
Applicants holding (or expecting to hold) a university master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) including a written master’s research thesis are eligible to apply. PhD students typically have a background in (molecular) biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computational biology, computer science or epidemiology/public health studies.
Applicants still studying for their degree should anticipate to receive it not later than 6 months after the application deadline. A provisional certificate or bona fide statement from the University, stating the examination marks already obtained, should be provided. During completion of the online application form, you will be required to upload a scanned copy of your certificates as a JPEG or PDF file of not more than 3MB.
In case you hold a degree that is not an MSc but that you think is equivalent to an MSc (including a written master’s thesis), please contact the Graduate Program Office, listing the name of the degree in the original language and the English translation and we will inform you whether you are eligible to apply.
Degrees from countries outside the European Union are subject to a recognition procedure if a faculty of a German university is chosen. The faculty may ask for additional qualifications or an entrance examination to be completed in the early phase of the thesis work. Payment might be lower in this period.
If you hold a bachelor degree, you are unfortunately not eligible to apply. However, you might be interested in the Master’s Program Major Cancer Biology, organized by the German Cancer Research Center in collaboration with the University of Heidelberg.
Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply for these fellowships.
College Admission Requirement
Entrance Requirements: Applicants holding (or expecting to hold) a university master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) including a written master’s research thesis are eligible to apply.
English language Requirements: The following proof of English is accepted (new requirements since March 2016):
TOEFL test with a score of 95+ (internet-based), 240+ (computer-based) or 587+ (paper-based)
IELTS certificate with a band score 7.0+
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
How to Apply: Please apply using Online Application System (the system will open approx. two months before the next application deadline).
In the application form, applicants are asked to provide information about their background, including their educational qualifications, honors, skills, and interests. A statement of motivation is also required and letters of recommendation from two referees. When filling in the online form, remember to have electronic copies (JPEG or PDF files of not more than 3MB) of your academic certificates, English language certificate (if applicable) and evidence of other honors and skills to upload with their application.
Application Form
Application Deadline: The first stage of the application process takes place online. There are two application rounds each year, one in winter and one in summer. The deadlines are 5th January and 31st May of each year.
The next application deadlines are:
5th January 2017 for the 2016/17 Winter Selection
(Interviews from 7th – 9th March 2017, by invitation only)
31st May 2017 for the 2017 Summer Selection
Scholarship Link