FAQs

Q: Are the courses in English?
A. Yes, all our courses are held in English.

Q: Can I write my thesis in English?
A: Yes, this is possible, when you apply for acceptance as PhD student in the faculty, you need to tell them that you want to write your thesis in English.

Q: Do you have any language requirements such as a TOEFL test?
A: No, you don´t have to have passed a TOFEL test, however, your knowledge of the English language should be good in order to be able to follow the courses and to understand what´s going on in the lab. The interview is partly or entirely in English.

Q: Invited for an interview, I cannot afford to come to Frankfurt. What can be done?
A: We use a video-conferencing system. If you are short-listed and invited for an interview, we will provide you with all the necessary information about the video-conferencing system.

Q: Are there any fees for PhD students?
A: There are no tuition fees (as with the undergraduates). There is a registration fee by the University of about 250 Euro per Semester which includes the registration fee and a ticket for public transport in and around Frankfurt.

Q: Can I do a PhD with a Bachelor degree or a Fachhoch-schulabschluss (FH degree)?

A: You need a Master degree to do a PhD in the GRK 1172 “Biologicals”. In case of a Master degree from a University of Applied Sciences (German Fachhochschule), or with a degree which is not considered equivalent to the German degree, you will have to do a qualification year with additional courses. The International Office of the Goethe-University can help you with questions relating to the recognition of degrees.

Q: After a successful qualifying year for BSc-students, will I get a Master degree?
A: No, this is not possible.

Q: Can I do a Master course?
A: No, this is not possible

Q: Can I choose a supervisor and project before or after the qualifying year?
A: You should choose at the very beginning your project and supervisor. During the qualifying year, you are already working in the lab.

Q: Do I get a scholarship, some funding for costs of living?
A: Yes, you do get funding, currently it is 1103 Euro per month as stipend (scholarship).

Q: How long does a PhD take with GRK 1172?
A: Most of our PhD students finished within 3 to 31/2 years.

Q: Must I learn German?
A: We do not require any exams on German language knowlegde before or after a certain time after stating your PhD. We do however encourage you to learn German as it helps with everyday life in Germany.

Q: Is there accommodation available for PhD students?
A: There is short-term (max. 6 months) accommodation available through the University and the University Hospital. There are also small apartments available in the Georg-Speyer-Haus, the stay is however limited to 2-3 months.