FAQs
FromPlease use our online application platform. Follow the instructions on the platform. At the moment, there is only a desktop version available.
- Create a profile
- Once you have a profile and verified your email address, you can start filling in the required information and to upload the required documents (see "What do I need to supply?"). Click on "Apply √" to do so!
Only complete applications via this platform can be processed.
What should I have studied?
The Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin offers a great variety of (neuro-)scientific disciplines amonst its researchers. Please, see our list of Principal Investigators (PIs) to learn about the full academic spectrum covered by the Einstein Center! To apply for our program it would be helpful but not mandatory if you would have majored in one of the following subjects (alphabetical order):
- cognitive sciences, e.g.
- neurolinguistics
- cognitive neuroscience
- psychiatry
- psychology
- life sciences, e.g.
- (epi-)genetics
- (neuro-)biology
- medicine
- molecular biology
- neurology
- neurosciences
- pharmacology
- natural sciences, e.g.
- (bio-)chemistry
- (bio-)informatics
- mathematics
- (bio-)physics
What PhD track shall I select?Please select "standard PhD" if you are now enrolled in a Master´s program and want to start directly with the lab rotations and our innovative training program followed by a three year long PhD project. If you are now enrolled in a Bachelor´s program, or you think that you will need additional training in neurosciences before you start your PhD then select the other option.
Do I need to select possible supervisors for my PhD project to apply for the Einstein Training Program?
No, you do not. From November 2020 until April 2021 you will have three two-months long laboratory rotations. After your third rotation you will chose your first supervisor and your PhD project. Until fall 2021 you can chose your remaining two supervisors to complete your supervision committee.
Can I apply for both, the ECN PhD Fellowship program and the Berlin School of Mind and Brain Fellowship program?
Yes, you can. However, please use two different email addresses for each application!
What are the next steps of the application process?
Portal closing
January 7, 2020
Deadline for letters of reference (PhD track only)
January 19, 2020
Possible Skype interviews
February 10 -21, 2020
Invitations for Interviews
End of February / beginning of March
Selection Symposium in Berlin
March 31, 2020 - April 3, 2020
Why did I not receive the verification email?
This a problem mostly googlemail users will face. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons gmail/googlemail and yahoo.com block our emails. Try to verify your email address from within our application portal! I entered my personal data and verified my email address but I cannot proceed with my application. What shall I do?Please tick the red "Apply" button with the checkmark behind!
What do I need to supply?Interested candidates should submit a CV, two letters of recommendation and a letter of motivation/interest. This letter should also include a short description of the applicants' academic and research interests. Reference letters can be handed in with the application or submitted separately by the reference.
I did not finish my Master´s program yet. Should I apply with the master's information or the Bachelor's?
Please submit your BSc certificate and your MSc transcript. Fill your GPA from your BSc.Do I have to finish my Master's degree before I can successfully apply for your PhD program?
No, you do not. Your Master´s thesis can still be ongoing during your application. However, you must have finished all requirements of your university (thesis, exams, etc.) until September 30, 2020. Your can submit your MSc certificate later.Do I have to finish my Bachelor's degree before I can successfully apply for your fast-track PhD program?
No, you do not. Your Bachelor´s thesis can still be ongoing during your application. However, you must have finished all requirements of your university (thesis, exams, etc.) until September 30, 2020. Your can submit your BSc certificate later.When is the application phase for the next round of fellowships?
The application deadline for the upcoming forth cohort of ECN PhD Fellows will be January 7th, 2020. The Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin is committed to providing a limited number of PhD Fellowships every year to aspiring national and international scientists. The application portal will open again on November 27th, 2020 and close on January 4th, 2021 for a program start in fall 2021.
Can I apply again, if I was rejected the year before?
Yes, you are welcome to apply again.
How do I get recommendation letters?
Candidates should contact potential references as soon as they decide to apply. There is the possibility for the candidate to upload the letter or, if the candidate is not in possession of the letter, to put in the reference' name and email. The reference will receive an automated email with an upload link after you finished your application (you formally applied for an ECN PhD Fellowship).
Please use this Guide to Reference Letter (2020 version).
Can I submit a 'Arbeitszeugnis' instead of a recommendation letter?
Yes, you are allowed to submit a 'Arbeitszeugnis' or 'Dienstzeugnis' instead of a recommendation letter as long as it meets our guidelines (see point above). Since we need all documents in English you need to add a certified translation of this 'Zeugnis'.
What is the deadline for recommendation letters?
The deadline for recommendation letters is January 19th, 2020. My referee(s) did not receive an email requesting a recommendation letter. What shall I do?
Please them to check their spam filters!
My referee(s) could not open the upload link for the recommendation letters. What shall they do?
Some email programmes do not allow opening a link from within an email. Please tell your referee(s) to copy the upload link and paste it into your browser! If this does not work your referee(s) can send the recommendation letter via email to application@ecn-berlin.de.
Proof of proficiency in English for non-native speakers
You have to provide a proof of proficiency in English, through TOEFL, IELTS or equivalent (see list below). If you are an English native speaker OR the main language of your study program was English you do not need to provide a language test. In order to prove your proficiency in English, the following certificates will be accepted:
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (grade "B" or higher)Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grade "C" or higher)IELTS Academic (6 or higher)TOEFL-iBT (score 80 or higher)TOEFL-PBT (score 550 or higher)CEF (C1 or higher)UNIcertF (level III or higher)
Translations
All applicants must submit an English translation of their transcripts. We accept English-language translations provided by certified translators with knowledge of educational records and terminology.
What does a scholarship cover?
A scholarship constitutes of 1.750 € per month during the lab rotations and the time of the PhD project. Health insurance has to be subtracted. Fast-track PhD students will receive 800 € per month until they start their PhD project. Health insurance and study fees have to be subtracted. In which research group can I do my PhD thesis?
In all research groups that are members of the consortium, a list can be found here: list of ECN-PIs Which graduate program will I be affiliated with?