General Information

The educational quality in the area of biosciences at the University of Heidelberg has always been among the highest. For even further improvement the PhD program has been developed, giving you the best academic training possible.

If you would like to participate in this program you have to meet one of the requirements listed in the following:

• You have acquired a diploma of biology or biochemistry or
• You have acquired a diploma in other natural sciences (e.g. chemistry or physics) and have already worked on bio-related projects (e.g. during your diploma thesis).
• You have acquired a master of natural sciences (e.g. biochemistry, biology, molecular biology etc.) or equivalent or
• You have acquired a Staatsexamen in Pharmacy or equivalent.
• If you have acquired an excellent FH (Fachhochschul-) Diploma in a related field, you have to pass a Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren.

The bachelor-degree alone is generally not sufficient. In special cases exceptions may be considered. For further questions please contact the PhD office.

• If you meet one of the above requirements your next step will be to find a supervisor inside one of the participating institutions willing to attend your PhD project.
• Registration

Important: For all foreign graduates certificates and qualifications have to be checked by the Dekanat, which may take 4 to 8 weeks (see qualification check for foreign certificates for details). However, in all cases you must find a supervisor first.

Upon registration as a PhD student at the Faculty, you will receive a piece of paper ("Laufbogen", blue sheet) for documentation of your activities. This is an important document! You must take care that all your activities are appropriately documented. This "blue sheet " must be signed and stamped by the representative of your institution and presented upon registration for your thesis defence at the Dekanat. Remember that you have to join one of the programs which are recognised by the Faculty.

You can only perform your thesis defence and obtain the PhD diploma if you fulfill the requirements of the PhD program. It is of course possible and even desireable that you do courses or go to lectures at other than your own institution (Heidelberg offers an extremely active environment in the field of biosciences in its various institutions). Please check in advance with your PhD program representative about acceptance of such activities.

Further Information:

Locations and how to get there.