International Programmes 2024/2025

International Max Planck Research School for the Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction IMPRS for the Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction

University of Tübingen • Tübingen

Degree
Doctor of Science in Neuroscience (Dr rer nat / equivalent to PhD)
In cooperation with
  • Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
  • Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research
  • German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience
Teaching language
  • English
Languages

English

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Programme duration
6 semesters
Beginning
Other
Application deadline

For precise dates and comprehensive information about the application procedure, please visit the IMPRS website.

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) is a joint project of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and the University of Tübingen. It is embedded in the Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience (GTC), and thus, it benefits from more than 20 years of successful cooperation in the training of young neuroscientists.

The IMPRS Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction (MMFD) offers a PhD programme for outstanding MSc graduates.

For detailed information, please visit the programme website.

Course organisation

The core focus of this programme will be independent research. This research will take place over approximately three years, and it will culminate in a doctoral dissertation and the degree of "Doctor of Natural Sciences in Neuroscience" (Dr rer nat), which is equivalent to the international academic degree of "Doctor of Philosophy" (PhD).

Potential research topics cover a variety of fields in systems neuroscience, cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, computational neuroscience, translational and clinical neuroscience as well as cellular and molecular neuroscience.

In addition to ongoing support from their primary adviser, doctoral candidates benefit from regular interaction with an advisory board, a cross-institutional panel that includes three or more senior scientists. Members of this board contribute interdisciplinary and methodological expertise, independent guidance and supervision for the student. During the research phase, doctoral students will be offered a wide spectrum of training courses complementing their training in the labs.

For more details, please visit the programme website.

International elements
  • International guest lecturers
  • Language training provided
  • Courses are led with foreign partners
Integrated internships

Internships are not required. However, internships are possible if they are important for the student's research project during their research phase. Students can apply for travel grants for short research stays at other (international) institutes.

Special promotion / funding of the programme
  • IMPRS
  • Other (e.g. state level)
Course-specific, integrated German language courses
Yes
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
None
Semester contribution

Enrolment fees at the University of Tübingen are currently about 160 EUR per semester. This includes use of local public transport free of charge from Monday to Friday (in the evenings), on weekends and on public holidays. In addition, students may purchase a semester ticket for unlimited use of public transport in the city of Tübingen and the surrounding area (currently about 110 EUR).

Funding opportunities within the university
Yes
Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

Doctoral students will be funded by the lab at which they are conducting their research.

Academic admission requirements

Master of Science or equivalent degree with a strong background in neuroscience, biology, physics, biomedical sciences, computational science, applied mathematics, statistics, artificial intelligence, psychology, cognitive science, or engineering

Language requirements

If you are not a native English speaker, you need to provide a proof of English proficiency. Applicants who have been taught the majority of their courses in English do not need to submit results from a standardised test such as TOEFL or IELTS. We also accept outdated test results.

Application deadline

For precise dates and comprehensive information about the application procedure, please visit the IMPRS website.

Submit application to

For application details, please visit the IMPRS website.

Accommodation

General information on this topic is jointly provided by the welcome centres of the University of Tübingen, its Faculty of Medicine and the Max Planck Institutes on the “accommodation” pages of the Tübingen Research Campus website.

Structured research and supervision
Yes
Research training / discussion
Yes
Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Specialist counselling
General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

Support and guidance by personnel of the Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience and the IMPRS coordinator in obtaining the necessary visas, finding short- and long-term housing, identifying career opportunities, arranging childcare, securing health insurances, setting up bank accounts, completing administrative forms, and handling any issues that may arise

The university offers a number of “on-boarding” services for newly arriving international students. These include the Welcome Center.

University of Tübingen

Innovative, interdisciplinary, international: These three words summarise what makes the University of Tübingen special. Excellent research and teaching are Tübingen’s answer to the challenges of the future in a globalised world. We maintain exchanges with partners around the globe. Networks and cooperation across faculty and subject boundaries are the pillars of our successful strategy. This is reflected in our good position in international rankings. In addition, we are one of the eleven German universities distinguished with the title of “excellent.”

The University of Tübingen has been a place of top-level research and excellent teaching for more than 500 years. Some 28,160 students from Germany and around the world are enrolled here in our more than 200 study programmes, including numerous international programmes taught entirely in English. (For further information, please see: Facts and Figures.)

The University of Tübingen is a member of the European University Alliance “CIVIS – A European Civic University” (https://civis.eu/en), which offers a wide range of special exchange opportunities for students.

University location

TÜBINGEN OFFERS ...a high quality of life. The historical old town has many cafés, restaurants and shops and is also close to nature reserves and parks. Furthermore, the Black Forest and Swabian Jura are not far away and offer opportunities for climbing, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and skiing in winter.

TÜBINGEN IS PARTICULARLY ...welcoming with a cosmopolitan atmosphere where international guests will quickly feel at home. It is a safe city, where people of all ages can move freely without feeling threatened. With its many students and young families, Tübingen has the lowest average age in Germany.

TÜBINGEN IS LOCATED... in the middle of Baden-Württemberg ... in the south-west of Germany... in the centre of Europe ... nearby major centres of industry & technology and many start-ups, including renowned economic and cultural centres.

YOU CAN GET THERE EASILY ...by car, bus, train or plane. International guests can arrive conveniently via Stuttgart International Airport, which is a 20-minute drive away from Tübingen. A bus service connects the university with the airport.

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