Eligibility & application documents
Who can apply?
Our program is international and open to all students holding a Master of Science (MSc) degree, or equivalent in biology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, bioinformatics, chemistry, chemical biology, physics, biophysics or another relevant field. Applications will be considered even if the degree is not conferred until the program starts in autumn of the respective year.
Applicants holding an extended (at least 4-year) Bachelor degree may also qualify for the admission to the program, but as a rule they need to attend additional courses at the Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Where and when to apply?
The call for applications opens once per year on the 1st December and ends on the 31st January of the following year. We accept application exclusively via our application portal. Application received through email or regular mail can not be considered.
Application documents
The complete application to our program includes:
- Personal information (name, date and place of birth, contact information)
- Education: time frame in which BSc and MSc works were completed (or expected to be completed), focus of the studies, final grades; optional: additional qualifying exams (e.g., GRE)
- Self-assessment in following areas: Microbiology, (Bio)physics, Biochemistry, Molecular biology, Cellular biology, Infection biology, Synthetic biology, Ecology, Plant biology, Bioinformatics, Quantitative and systems biology, Computer modeling, Organic chemistry, (Synthetic) chemistry
- Research experience: titles and descriptions of BSc and MSc thesis works (if applicable) and any additional pursued research
- Honors, scholarships, prizes and awards
- List of publications/presentations
- Research interest statement, including selection of one of the research areas at IMPRS-µLife
- Motivation statement for applying to the IMPRS-µLife
- Language skills and extracurricular interests.
In addition, each applicant must submit:
- Certified copies of university transcripts and degrees
- Proof of proficiency in English as a second language*
- Contact details of two referees, who will independently submit confidential letters of recommendation and assessment of the candidate to IMPRS-µLife via the application portal.
The submitted documents will be made available to the faculty members, as well as to the relevant administrative offices at the MPI-TM, SYNMIKRO and UMR.
*The program is taught in English, therefore all candidates need to demonstrate good working proficiency in English, and - unless they are native English speakers - provide evidence for this (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL). German is not a requirement for the program, but optional German language classes are offered to students from abroad.
Further information
For more information on documents and procedures, please see the section with Frequently asked questions (FAQ).