Application & Admission

Prerequisites
To be considered for the program, you must have a master's degree or equivalent in biological sciences, natural sciences, human or veterinary medicine, or a biomedical engineering discipline. In addition, you must have research experience, be highly motivated, and have a well-documented interest in regenerative sciences. Since the Regenerative Sciences PhD program is an international program, English is the language of instruction. Therefore, a very good command of English is required. You can prove your English proficiency either by taking a test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or by showing that you have already been taught English at school or university. This proof is waived for native speakers. Your fluency in English will be assessed during the interview.

Deadline

Applications are accepted from December 2024 until March 2025 for the program starting in October.

Interview

The most promising candidates will be interviewed in April (pre-selection interviews) and May (final selection interviews).

Interview Format

The pre-selection interview lasts for about 10 minutes, the final selection interview for about 20 minutes. It consists of a brief presentation summarizing your educational background and the last research project you worked on. The presentation is followed by a discussion on your project, your studies and yourself. The interview will take place in front of the chairperson of the program, members of the PhD committee, and prospective supervisors.

Admission

Final admission to the PhD program is threefold:

1. Successful candidates will be notified by email about the outcome of their interview shortly after the interviews.
2. Successful applicants may choose one of the projects offered. Final project choice is based on mutual agreement between the applicant and her / his prospective supervisor. Applicants without a project cannot be admitted.
3. Financial support for successful applicants needs to be secured. This can either be a stipend awarded by the HBRS to the best applicants, a stipend paid for by the prospective supervisor, a staff position financed by the prospective supervisor, or a stipend awarded by a third party such as DAAD.

The PhD Program Regenerative Sciences successfully applied for funding under the DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) and was awarded two stipends each in 2023 and 2024. These will be awarded to international applicants as part of the 2023 and 2024 selection process of new PhD students.

Beginning of the Program

Students are strongly advised to arrive in Hannover in the beginning of October. Prior to the beginning of lectures in mid-October there is an orientation week which greatly helps you to settle at Hannover Medical School and within the city.