PhD / Doctorate •

Degree

Doctoral Degree (PhD, Dr rer nat or Dr-Ing)

In cooperation with

TU Dortmund University, University Duisburg-Essen, and local partners at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT), the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, and the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research

Teaching language

• English

Languages

The entire programme can be completed with courses conducted in English, and the daily scientific communication of the programme is in English.

Participants can choose to write their theses or attend course offerings at partner universities in German if desired.

Programme duration

6 semesters

Beginning

Only for doctoral programmes: any time

Application deadline

15 May for applicants with only a Bachelor's degree applying to Track II which starts in the winter semester.

All applications (Track I or Track II) are accepted year-round and evaluated every month. Please visit the RESOLV Jobs and Training page for details: https://www.solvation.de/career/jobs-training/ .

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme

Yes

Joint degree / double degree programme

No

Description/content

Established in 2013 as integral part of the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, the Integrated Graduate School Solvation Science (iGSS) supports more than 80 graduate students in their early research careers of solvation science. The school aims to combine high-profile research and early scientific independence along with internationalisation and gender mainstreaming.

Top-level Master’s and Bachelor’s degree holders in chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry or engineering are particularly encouraged to apply to our educational training programme where cutting-edge research is conducted within the Ruhr region at universities and Max Planck institutes with our 50+ RESOLV affiliated PIs and PSs.

Within RESOLV, these more than 200 scientists at six institutions cover experimental chemistry, theory and chemical engineering to investigate how solvents are involved in the control, mediation and regulation of chemical reactions and processes. RESOLV’s mission stretches from fundamental research to the translation into applications such as green technologies or smart sensors.

We offer two training programmes: track II for students with a top-level Bachelor’s degree and track I for top-level Master’s degree holders.

Track I begins with the traditional research course of studies: a three-year structured graduate programme culminating in a doctoral degree from the appropriate department at Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University or University of Duisburg-Essen.

Track II starts with preparatory courses in October.

The cutting-edge research project is combined with a structured curriculum of lectures, an international internship, colloquia and workshops, which are all centred on areas of solvation science. Fundamental elements of the study programme are the annual Graduate School Solvation Science workshops and summer schools that foster interdisciplinary interaction among students and faculty. These events are organised by RESOLV members along with partner institutions of the international faculty, and they include events such as talks given by selected international keynote speakers.

We are always happy to welcome new members year-round, and we review applications every month. Track II applicants should plan to apply by 15 May to begin preparatory courses in October. Competitive stipends are available! Please visit our website for the latest information on financial support for PhD positions and the application process. On the site, you can also find the latest information on doctoral project options in our research groups as well as the departmental affiliation of each PI/PS.

Course organisation

Track II students entering with a Bachelor's degree will start with a preparatory year. In this year, track II students will:

• follow a personalised study plan in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, engineering or related field
• attend lectures, exercises, seminars and laboratory courses in the research group of their choice
• follow a programme based on "fast track" doctoral programmes in local faculty; iGSS works with multiple department guidelines and will work with the student and PI/PS to create a customised programme, a Master's degree is typically not granted

After the preparatory phase, track II students will follow the same curriculum as track I students. The curriculum is as follows:

FIRST YEAR

In the first year, students are expected to:

• attend an introductory lecture on solvation science
• defend their graduate project at our annual autumn workshop
• participate in the interdisciplinary lecture series held by international experts in the field of solvation science

SECOND YEAR

In the second year, students are expected to:

• choose an individual lecture based on their graduate project
• participate in the annual solvation science summer school and workshop
• take part in an international internship of up to three months at an institute of choice

THIRD YEAR

In the third year, students are expected to:

• give an oral presentation at one of our research area workshops
• give an active presentation at an international conference
• contribute to our public outreach activities, e.g., by writing comprehensible summaries of their theses, contributing to a science slam, etc.
• complete a training course in generic skills

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International elements

• International guest lecturers

Integrated internships

International internship of up to three months at one of the institutes from the International Faculty Solvation Science or an institute of the student's choice

Special promotion / funding of the programme

• DFG (e.g. Research Training Groups)

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester in EUR

None

Semester contribution

Students have to pay a social contribution fee of approx. 370 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Costs of living

Minimum of 950 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

iGSS doctoral positions are funded and scholarships are available for the preparatory programme. The RUB International Office, RUBiss, offers additional student support: Students with outstanding academic achievements and a high degree of social responsibility can apply for the “Deutschlandstipendium” grant. They will receive a one-year scholarship of 300 EUR per month from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund: http://www.rub.de/bildungsfonds/info-studierende/en/index_en.html . International students with good to very good academic achievements can apply for financial support during their final phase of study, such as graduation grants up to 400 EUR per month for four months: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/graduation-grant-international-students .

Academic admission requirements

A top-level Master's or Bachelor's degree (A-grade, at least 1.5 in the German grading system) in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, engineering, or a related discipline

Language requirements

English (at least level B2)

Application deadline

15 May for applicants with only a Bachelor's degree applying to Track II which starts in the winter semester.

All applications (Track I or Track II) are accepted year-round and evaluated every month. Please visit the RESOLV Jobs and Training page for details: https://www.solvation.de/career/jobs-training/ .

Submit application to

https://www.solvation.de/career/jobs-training/

Accommodation

In the city of Bochum, you can find a variety of affordable and pleasant accommodations. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 350 to 400 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is available from around 270 EUR. 

About 5,000 students in Bochum live in 18 student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, students have their own single room and share a kitchen and bathroom with other students, they rent an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or they share an apartment with one or several flatmates. 

More information on the student halls can be found at http://www.akafoe.de  and https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen .

In addition, eight private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: http://www.stuwo.de/wohnheim-region/bochum/ .

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Career advisory service

The iGSS cooperates with the Ruhr University Research School (http://www.research-school.rub.de ). An optional "Job Applications" workshop is offered. Furthermore, iGSS members have the opportunity to meet people from academia, industry, and government at multiple events organised by the Graduate School.

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