How to apply for the honors branch for MSc and PhD students

Most students apply to the BCGS honors branch before coming to Bonn or Cologne to take up a MSc or Phd course.

Admission deadlines for the winter term 2014/15

• National and international students: 15th January 2014, shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews held between 29.3.14 and 3.4.14. Decisions will be announced in early April 2014.
• Bonn and Cologne students: 15th June 2014, decisions will be announced by 10th July 2014
  

Process of admission

Your application will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting of six faculty members, who set up a shortlist of candidates to be invited for interviews.
The selection committee is recruited from both universities and covers the main research areas of the BCGS.

Admissions Academy

Every year in early spring, we hold a one-week Admissions Academy to interview applicants to the BCGS honors class. The BCGS covers (most of) the travel and local expenses of the invited participants. This admission academy serves a dual purpose: not only do applicants get interviewed, but they also are given the opportunity to visit the universities and cities of Bonn and Cologne, learn about the research groups, and meet prospective thesis advisors.
The decision about admission to the honors branch is made shortly after this admissions academy.

Application Materials

• BCGS Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae with photo
• One-page essay indicating your motivation for joining the program (in German or English)
• German applicants: one letter of recommendation.
• Applicants from abroad: two letters of recommendation (enclosed in a sealed envelope - or sent separately to one of our Email addresses).
• Certified copy of each university degree, statement about degrees you plan to complete before joining the BCGS
• Certified copy of your transcript of records
• Toefl certificate, minimum 80 points internet based or equivalent (German applicants:
  a certificate about English proficiency issued by your thesis advisor)
• Students who studied at Bonn or Cologne University do not need to send certified copies..

If you apply for a Master program at Bonn University, please also submit
Application form for Admission to the Eligibility Assessment Process
(application for MSc in Physics)
or
Application form for Admission to the Eligibility Assessment Process 
(application for MSc in Astrophyics)

Please also send a scanned copy of your application package in advance via email to:

gradschool.physics(at)uni-bonn.de
or
gradschool.physics(at)uni-koeln.de

In case you prefer to send us an encrypted mail, please use the following pgp-key.