MD-Students within the iRTG-TRR259

MD scholarship application – TRR259

Award criteria

• Students working for group leaders from the TRR259 are entitled to apply. In the case of applicant group leaders, the formal commitment of the institution concerned is also required to ensure both supervision and access to the local infrastructure until the end of the doctorate. 

Evaluation criteria

• Critical evaluation criteria for the application are both the scientific quality of the project and the qualification of the doctoral candidate
• “Physikums Note” of the student is important for the assessment of the application. A Physikums Note of 3.5 or better is the requirement to apply.
• The evaluation is carried out through an internal scientific report and one selection interview.
• If the Physikums Note is 3.0–3.5, two selection interviews will be held

Scholarship requirements

A number of conditions / obligations are associated with the TRR259 doctoral scholarship and admission to the iRTG of the TRR259:

• The applicant should commit to working on the doctoral thesis for 12 months. At least one semester off (vacation semester) must be taken. 
• The doctoral candidate needs to be present at the University of Bonn, Cologne, or Düsseldorf for the entire duration of the doctoral scholarship
• It is not possible to do the PY during the funding period. Exceptions to this must be clarified in good time before the application is made, to determine whether they are compatible with funding. The same applies to any other short-term interruptions or shortening of the time in the laboratory.
• Stays in other laboratories, as part of the project work on the doctorate, are possible but must be communicated with the coordinator of the iRTG
• Documented participation in TRR259/iRTG events:
  • Participation in 80 % of the monthly TRR259 seminars and iRTG progress report meetings
  • Participation in iRTG Summer School or Winter School
  • Participation in the TRR259 Reatreat
  • Participation in one workshop offered by the TRR259
  • Participation in more TRR259 events is welcome
• Final presentation of the achieved research results during an iRTG progress report meeting
• Submission of a final report (approx. 5 pages) 

Exclusion criterion double funding

• TRR259 scholarship funding cannot be approved if the scholarship holder is financed in parallel by any other institutional funding agencies
• In the event of double funding, the scholarship holder is obliged to notify the iRTG coordinator immediately in writing.

Funding period

• 12 months â €992 (maximum BAföG rate, as of 07.05.2025) plus €103 material cost allowance

Application structure and application documents

• Project proposal: Please use the TRR259 template to complete your project proposal
• Curriculum vitae and academic background of the applicant (with exam grades and physics certificate)
• The binding schedule and course of studies
• Signed declarations of commitment:
  • Part 1: Supervision commitment
  • Part 2: Requirements for TRR259 doctoral fellows

The applications will be assessed by the three speakers of the integrated graduate school of the TRR259 according to the following criteria:

• Topicality and originality of the research topic
• Quality of the application
• Feasibility of the work program
• Qualification and previous scientific achievements of the applicant
• Scientific environment, overall impression
• Cooperation / interdisciplinarity