Gaining the best graduates – HZB supports the pre-track phase up to commencement of the PhD programme

Top ranking tertiary graduates are in demand. As incentive to continue on to a PhD programme at HZB, HZB has made its conditions more attractive than ever. As of now, graduates can apply for a grant to cover the “pre-track” period between their master’s degree and acceptance into their doctoral programme. That gives them greater freedom to organize the formalities before commencing their doctorate.

Alongside German graduates, this should also give foreign students the opportunity to lay solid foundations for earning their PhD within three years. The pilot project, which has just started, is designed to financially support up to five graduates per year for a maximum of twelve months. Generally, the pre-track phase is only funded up until all prerequisites for commencing the actual doctorate are met. The HZB management board has made 60,000 euros available for this programme.

HZB’s PhD student coordinator, Dr. Gabriele Lampert, explains how this funded pre-track phase pays off: “It gives tertiary graduates greater latitude to prepare thoroughly for their doctoral thesis. It has always been difficult for foreign students, especially, to organize everything in advance from their home country.” With funding for the pre-track phase, prospective PhD students can first get acquainted with the work environment at HZB or start certain preliminary investigations on the subject of their thesis. At the same time, this phase also helps the doctoral students make up for any differences in their entry qualifications.

“Those who start their doctorate well prepared and with a structured plan can ultimately concentrate better on their research topic. They lose no valuable time, which can run short towards the end of the programme,” Gabriele Lampert says. The PhD student coordinator is available to answer all other questions regarding PhD programmes and the pre-track phase. An application form will soon be available on the Internet.