The International Max Planck Research School for Astronomy & Cosmic Physics at the University of Heidelberg (IMPRS-HD) is a graduate school offering a doctoral degree program (Dr. rer. nat.) in astrophysics. We welcome applications from students of all countries. Successful candidates will be selected based on their excellence as proven by their university record and by letters of recommendation. A selection committee composed of members from all participating institutes and the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy will review the applications. It will advice potential supervisors about the candidates and their qualifications. The final decision about acceptance of a student for a certain thesis project is made by the supervisor of this project. Students are admitted to the IMPRS Graduate School once per year. The school program starts each year beginning of September. However, an earlier start of the actual PhD research work is possible. Application deadline for fall 2012 was December 5, 2011. Next call for applications (for fall term 2013) will be in summer 2012.

Applicants must have (or must expect) a degree equivalent to the German Physics "Diplom" (e.g. a "MSc" degree, a "Laurea" etc, including a Master's Thesis) in order to be acceptable for doctoral studies at the University of Heidelberg. Heidelberg University requires a "very good" final grade comparable to a grade of 2.0 or better in the Heidelberg grading scheme (equivalent to B+ or better in the US lettergrade system). Heidelberg University also requires a sufficiently deep & broad physics education during the undergraduate studies. Please, check the Faculty webpage concerning formal pre-requisites for PhD studies in physics and astronomy. We encourage applications even if the university degree will not be awarded before the deadline for applications. However, the final degree must be awarded before the start of the academic year of IMPRS (September after the deadline). In exceptional cases, applicants who do not have a Master's thesis may be accepted if they can proof their ability to carry out independent research projects, for example by first-authorship in refereed scientific publications. Applicants from Germany (see footnote **) below) must either have obtained a Diploma in Physics or must have completed their study of physics at the beginning of the IMPRS program. Interested students are asked to contact the program coordinator for further information. IMPRS-HD does not require a test of English language proficiency for the application. We prefer to check communication skills during the interviews of invited candidates. However, for international applicants whose mother-tongue is not English or German it could be beneficial to provide some proof of language proficiency. How to apply? Applications for the academic program starting in September 2012 must have arrived by December 5, 2011 (address see below). We encourage early preparation of applications. This will help to avoid late arrivals and/or a high charge for express mail. Before sending us the application material by postal mail, you first have to register online by filling out our online registration form (which will be again available from summer 2012). Applicants who intend to apply for fall 2013 have to wait until the registration webpage is online again. A complete application must include the following items: A complete and signed application form, including a list of all courses stating the credits, and grades/marks if no transcripts can be provided. Copies of academic certificates including those of the Diplom or Master's degree and Vordiplom of BSc degree etc. We also need copies of translations of the certificates. For university admission (not for IMPRS) applicants later need to provide their school leaving exam certificate and all original certificates. Copies of transcripts and translations. A copy of the MSc or Diploma thesis (with English abstract if the thesis is not written in English), or published papers. Applicants should email a pdf file of their thesis to IMPRS-HD (imprs-hd@mpia.de). Further, at least two letters of recommendation should be organized and sent by email as pdf (imprs-hd@mpia.de). Be sure that all information provided by (1) the online registration and (2) the one which is to us with the signed application form is identical. If not, the application is considered as incomplete.

Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

All applications will be reviewed by the IMPRS Admissions Committee consisting of faculty members of the participating institutes and representatives of the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy. The committee will evaluate the applicants considering their academic qualification, as well as the letters of recommendation. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed during a visit in Heidelberg or by a phone call. Applicants invited for an interview will receive financial support for travel and accommodation expenses. We expect to decide about the final evaluation for fall 2012 before March 2012. All applicants will be notified. Depending on the fulfilment of certain requirements (e.g. completion of a degree, completion of credit courses), admission to IMPRS may be granted conditionally until those requirements are met before beginning of the new academic year. Fellowships If requested, successful IMPRS applicants with a degree equivalent to the Diploma/MSc will receive a fellowship for a maximum period of three years (net income of EUR 1000-1300 per month depending on family status, research experience, and funding source). Note that allocation of a full grant (three years) may depend on performance (which will be supervised by the canidate's thesis committee). Doctoral Degree Requirements Certain requirements are defined for the PhD curriculum by IMPRS and the faculty, see our web-page Course program. After acceptance of the doctoral thesis and a successful defense/disputation, the doctoral degree (Dr.rer.nat.) will be granted by the University of Heidelberg, according to the standard rules of the "Gesamtfakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften" (Combined Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences). Please, check their webpage concerning formal pre-requisites for PhD studies. IMPRS-HD will help to accomplish the bureaucratic work. In addition to the doctoral degree, successful participation in the IMPRS program will be awarded with the IMPRS certificate supplementing the doctoral degree.

**) Footnote:

Da im deutschen Hochschulsystem die Abschlüsse ueber das ganze Jahr verteilt sind, kann insbesondere fuer Studenten, die in Deutschland absolvieren, nach Rücksprache mit der IMPRS ein Quereinstieg ermöglicht werden. Dies gilt gleichermassen fuer ausländische Bewerber, die bereits von einem Betreuer und der Falkultät akzeptiert wurden und dann der IMPRS beitreten möchten.

In the German University system it is possible to graduate at any time during the academic year. Students who have graduated in Germany and like to enter the research school at other times during the year, should contact the IMPRS coordinator. This holds similarly for foreign students, who are accepted by their supervisor and the faculty already and like to enter IMPRS afterwards.