Applicants for the PhD phase must have obtained or be about to obtain a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree with significant exposure to physics, engineering or a related subject.
The following documents are required for the online application:
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) or Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree with significant exposure to physics, engineering or a related subject.
- Transcript of Records (ToR) including the explicit marks of all completed courses within your Bachelor studies. If available, a description with the explicit content of the courses you have mastered will support your application.
- Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) or Master of Technology (M.Tech.) degree with significant exposure to physics, engineering or a related subject. If you have not yet finished your Master's degree, you may apply likewise with a preliminary Transcript of Records (ToR) including the marks of all completed courses thus far. Again, a description with the explicit content of the courses you have mastered will support your application.
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV). Please list all stages of your education in chronological order. The CV must contain a clear statement about your current status and/or occupation including information on current employments, unemployment, or parental leave. Any prizes, scholarship, extraordinary social, cultural or sportive activities may also be part of your CV.
- A letter of motivation (1 to 2 pages in length and to be typed). It should describe your personal background, interests and reasons for applying to the Max Planck School of Photonics. In there, please include a clear statement on your preference(s) of PhD project(s) you are applying. Therefore, please review the PhD research topics currently offered here. Your statement may include preferences on topics, research groups or Fellows. If you have been already in contact with any potential supervisor at the Max Planck School of Photonics, please indicate this as well.
- A copy of your passport.
- A Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) general test or subject test (highly recommended, but not mandatory).
- Two letters of recommendation from two different referees (professors). A template is available; however, is not mandatory to be used by the referees. Please make sure that each letter of recommendation is signed. If one or both referees rather prefer personalized, free-style recommendation letters, they should contain a date and an official headline/stamp from the higher education institution the referee is affiliated with.
- A list of your publications (including journal articles, conference contributions and proceedings, book chapters, etc.).
- A proof of English proficiency by
- TOEFL, or an equivalent English test (minimum points/grades): TOEFL PBT (550), TOEFL CBT (215), TOEFL IBT (85), IELTS (6.5), or
- Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE) exam or Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) exam, or
- German "Abitur" with comprehensive coverage of the English language.
Note that all documents must be provided in English or German for evaluation. In case that the original document is issued in another language than English or German, you are advised to upload both a copy of the original and a (certified) English translation to complete your application.
Language exemptions: The following students are exempted from providing the proof of English proficiency: nationals from the USA, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Canada; or B.Sc. or M.Sc. graduates who obtained their qualification in one of these countries. |