If you do not yet formally fulfil the required level of the English language proficiency at the time of application, please still apply. You may submit the respective document at a later time point or demonstrate your English skills during the interview.

Candidates have to be fluent in written and spoken English, proven by one of the following certificates (no older than three years), or equivalent. This does not apply if English is your native language.

• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English - minimum grade B
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English - minimum grade C
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – minimum score 6.0
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (internet-based, TOEFL iBT) – minimum score 80
• CEF (Common European Framework) - at least C1
• UNIcert® Certificate level III
• At least two years of relevant study or professional stay/successful completion of an English-language study program within the three years prior to the application submission

If you do not yet formally fulfil the required level of the English language at the time of application, you can still apply and submit the respective document at a later time point or prove your English skills during the interview.

• Yes, you can apply. Note that you have to hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) for a doctoral researcher position (by 1 January 2025). A few days later could also be an option, e.g., if you only have to wait for the (intermediate) certificates and transcripts to be issued.
• Whereas the RTG 2025 Cohort starts on 1 January 2025, specific starting dates for the individual employment contracts can be discussed and adjusted if needed in exceptional cases.

Please put in the grade of the highest degree obtained, in this case your Bachelor's grade. Please send us, by email (as a single pdf, see application page) your Bachelor's certificate and transcripts, and an up-to-date Master's transcript including a statement of when the degree will be completed.

• You can judge best if your background is related to our program. It is hard to judge from an outsider’s perspective and without knowing the details of your past studies.
• If your background is somehow close to the subject areas we mention, you might just decide to give it a try and apply.

• You have to hold a Master (by the start of your position at the RTG) to be eligible for a PhD position.
• Without a Master, you are not eligible. A Bachelor degree does not suffice, also not with additional work experiences etc.
• The RTG 2756 is a pure PhD program. There is no Master's program within the RTG 2756.

No, you cannot apply. This is ruled out by the formal regulations of the program.

• Please provide your own translation. Official or certified translations are not required at the time of initial application. In case you are successful and selected for one of the positions, an official translation will be necessary, i.e. you will have to provide a certified translation before January 1st, 2025.
• The project language is English. Thus, the motivation letter and CV should be written in English.

• It's entirely your call to determine who you regard as the most suitable reference persons for the position.
• We do not require recommendation letters, only the names and full contact details (incl. phone and e-mail) of two senior academics.

No, a research proposal is not part of the mandatory application documents. Instead, please indicate in the online form the three projects of the RTG 2756 you would prefer to work for, and justify your preferences.

• This is a required document for the application.
• It refers to the document(s) that you have received after finishing school (e.g. high school diploma), before entering the university for a taking up a Bachelor's study program.
• Please provide the transcript you have now and add a short explanation on your system/situation.
• Please provide your own translation, if your certificates are not in English / German. Official or certified translations are not required at the time of initial application. In case you are successful and selected for one of the positions, an official translation will be necessary, i.e. you will have to provide a certified translation before January 1st, 2025.

We do not have a formal, strict cutoff in terms of grades. For orientation, a grade of at least 2.5 (in the German system) typically qualifies you for pursuing a PhD.

You can select 3 projects of interest. Please do not apply several times for each project. Please indicate your preferences for the projects in the application form.

Please have a look at the list of projects on the RTG webpage for more details concerning the projects https://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/research/684962.html . Feel free to reach out to the respective PI beforehand if you require further details, clarification, or precision.

You are not required to find a supervisor before applying. You can apply for the positions directly. Feel free to reach out to the respective PI beforehand if you require further details, clarification, or precision.

Yes, the positions require to be fully based in Göttingen (from 1 January 2025 onward, specific starting dates can be adjusted in exceptional cases). International travel for data collection and exchange with collaborators will be required.

We assist and support international candidates throughout their visa application process. This primarily applies to the individual visa if you are chosen for a position. We can also provide assistance for a family visa. However, final decisions regarding visas are made by the German immigration authorities.

• PhD students will have a advisory committee to discuss research ideas and academic career plans.
• PhD students will be assigned to one of the projects, and the leading PI will usually be the main advisor. Collaboration with members of other projects is encouraged and supported.
• The career support for all members will be a balanced mix of guidance, critical feedback, encouragement, and promoting independence. This applies to the PhD students and postdocs, and the level of independence will rise with academic maturity.
• In general, we expect PhD students and postdocs to be active team players.

Both options are possible and welcome, i.e. working within existing networks (and also then bringing them into the RTG), as well as working with our existing network of individuals and institutions.

• The gross salary and the net salary (after deducing taxes and social insurance from it) will depend on a few individual characteristics.
• The net salary will most likely be around 1.900 EUR on a monthly basis for a 65% position, around 2.100 EUR for a 75% position.
• The way individuals allocate their living expenses relies on their individual preferences and needs, including accommodation, food, leisure activities, and so forth. As Göttingen is a typical student town, the price level is comparatively low. The university's international office estimates at least 750 to 850 EUR a month for a "student" to cover living costs. For more details, see: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/54664.html.

The RTG program is completely run in English. You do not need any German skills at the workplace. Also, the University and the city of Göttingen offer a very international environment, so you will (in most cases) get along easily without any knowledge of German. However, learning some German might just be helpful for more integration in the overall society besides the University environment. However, it is not required by the program or for the position itself.

• The online system does not allow any post-submission changes or additions. So neither applicants nor we can add or edit entries. You should upload a new, complete application with all entries being correct.
• The file to be send via email needs to be correct and complete as well. If you notice mistakes here after sending the email, please prepare the file again and email it in the required form (name and order) via email. Please provide details on sending a new file via email, indicating that we should replace the previous document in our database.

• Check your SPAM folder because the mail might have been classified as SPAM and sorted there.
• During periods of high system activity, it may take over an hour for the email to be sent from our system.
• Check in your cache if you entered your email address correctly in the online form. If not, you need to fill in the entire form again, including the correct email address, and submit it.