Timeline
The online application portal for the 2026 cohort in now closed.
We thank all applicants that submitted using our online portal.
Online Application
Before applying, applicants are advised to review the eligibility criteria, browse the recruiting faculty, and contact their referees in advance. Once an Open Campus account is created, applicants are able to save their progress and return to the form at any time until submission. After submitting, no further changes are possible. In the online platform, applicants can track the status of their application in real time.
We thank all applicants for their submissions.
Application Timeline 2026
- Application portal opened January 23
- Contact your referees and prepare required documents
- Application deadline March 11
- Referee evaluation deadline March 17
- Shortlisted candidates are notified in early May
- Online interviews take place May 18–22
- Final decisions are communicated in late May - early June
- Accepted candidates confirm their participation
- Administrative preparations and relocation to Frankfurt/Mainz
- Program starts September 16, 2026
Note: All deadlines refer to 23:59 (Germany, local time).
Referees
All applicants can submit the contact details of up to four referees who can assess their skills and experiences. Referees will receive automatic notifications with instructions on how to submit their evaluations. At least two out of four completed evaluations are required by March 18 for the application to be considered. Applicants are required to inform their referees in advance and to remind them to complete the evaluation before the deadline.
Application Interviews
Around 30 shortlisted candidates will be contacted in early May and invited to online interviews. Applicants who are not shortlisted at this stage are not notified, as a small number may still be reconsidered later in the process. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a brief presentation and will participate in multiple interviews with IMPRS-CBP faculty between May 18 and 22. Final decisions are shared in early June.
Program Start
The PhD program begins on September 16, 2026. We recommend arriving in the Frankfurt/Mainz region at least one week before the start date to complete essential administrative tasks such as municipal registration, opening a bank account, and university enrollment.