Skip to main content

Application Process

Application to WIPCAD 2015

+++ Applications are closed for 2015 +++

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2015 (PDF-Download)

A complete application for a doctoral fellowship contains:

  1. Personal and Academic Information Form
  2. Letter of Motivation
  3. Curriculum Vitae
  4. Degree Certificates and Transcripts
  5. Dissertation Proposal
  6. Certification of English Proficiency
  7. Two Letters of Reference

Please send all your application documents (1 through 7) as a single PDF-file not larger than 30 MB. If you need help compressing your documents to this size, please see the following link: http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-PDF-File-Size

General information

Applications should be submitted by March 31, 2015 as one PDF-document via e-mail to coordinatorwipcad-potsdamde.

Please add the completed Personal and Academic Information Form as a separate PDF-file to your application. Name this file as follows: “SURNAME_FIRSTNAME_Personal-and-Academic-Information.pdf”. Please convert all other application documents to one PDF-file. Name this file starting with your surname and first name (e.g. “SURNAME_FIRSTNAME.PDF”). This PDF-file has to include all the documents in the same order as stated below.

1. Personal and Academic Information Form

Please complete the Personal and Academic Information Form:
Personal and Academic Information

2. Letter of Motivation

Please provide a letter of motivation explaining your academic and professional interests, your current goals, study and career plans. Furthermore, explain why you deem our doctoral program appropriate for your particular background. The letter of motivation should be written in English and should not exceed 1,000 words.

3. Curriculum Vitae

The CV should include information on your educational and professional experience, publications and language skills.

4. Degree Certificates and Transcripts

Please include each degree certificate earned and your transcripts, including a grading scale and explanation of the given marks.
If you have not yet finished your current degree, please attach a preliminary grade report. The degree must be completed by the end of August of the year of application.
A translation is required for any documents in a language other than English or German. You will be asked to hand in officially certified copies of your documents should you be invited for an interview.

5. Dissertation Proposal

At this early stage, we do not expect a final version of your dissertation proposal, but expect you to present a clear structured research proposal, indicating how your topic fits within the overall thematic agenda of WIPCAD.
The dissertation proposal should be written in English, and not exceed 2500 words (core text, about 5 pages, bibliography excluded), and include the following elements:

  • Summary
  • Research questions, hypotheses and objectives
  • State of research (outlining theoretical and empirical debates on your topic as well as Deficiencies in the literature that your dissertation proposal would address)
  • Research methods to be employed
  • Short bibliography

6. Certification of English Proficiency

Proficiency in English is required. Please submit proof of your C1-level English language skills or equivalent.
Minimum scores:

  • TOEFL: paper-based test 600, internet-based test 100
  • IELTS: Band 7.5
  • Cambridge Certificate: pass CAE

Scores must have been officially reported and accomplished within the last two years. The personal score report must be attached to your application.
Applicants who are native speakers of English or who have obtained either their High School Diploma (e.g., passed their A-levels) or earned a university degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English are exempt from this requirement.

7. Two Letters of Reference

Two letters of reference are required from persons qualified to evaluate your academic qualifications, including your skills in methods, and – where applicable – your professional qualifications. One of these should be from a professor who supervised your Diploma or Master’s thesis. Please make sure that the referees submit the letters of recommendation by the application deadline.
References are only accepted directly from the referees. They can either be sent as signed and scanned PDF-documents by e-mail to coordinatorwipcad-potsdamde or as signed hard copies by postal mail to:

University of Potsdam
WIPCAD
August-Bebel-Str. 89
14482 Potsdam
Germany

Notification

A writing sample of previous academic work (e.g., term paper or Bachelor’s thesis) may be requested in advance of the personal interview.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at coordinatorwipcad-potsdamde.