02 BRIDGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROSPECTIVE PHD STUDENTS

The University of Bremen has a natural interest in attracting particularly outstanding students to remain in Bremen and complete their PhD studies here. With this in mind, the University offers its graduates scholarships to bridge the period between completion of their Master studies and obtaining future financing, for instance from an external scholarship program or employment in an externally funded project run by their prospective PhD supervisor.

WHO CAN APPLY? Students in the second-year of their Master program, and up to six months following completion of the Master phase. Applicants should have obtained a letter of support from their prospective supervisor at the University of Bremen as well as a reference confirming that they are among the top 10% in their degree course. Individual PhD projects must be seen to fit in with the research being carried out by their supervisor.

WHAT CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE MET? Applicants must submit an outline of their proposed PhD project. The selection criteria include the quality of the proposed research and past academic performance.

SCOPE OF FUNDING: The bridge scholarship of EUR 1,000 per month is granted for half a year following completion of the Master phase. If an application for the funding of the proposed PhD project has been submitted to an external body within this period, the scholarship will be prolonged until the start of the project, or for a maximum of further six months. The scholarship can neither be suspended nor prolonged.

PROCEDURE: Applications may be submitted twice a year. Following initial selection of suitable candidates on the part of the Vice Rector for Research and Young Academics in consultation with the chairperson of the respective Research Funding Committee (RFC), the RFC then selects the most promising applications (in some cases following a personal interview) and submits its recommendations to the Rectorate. The number of scholarships is divided equally between the natural/engineering sciences and the humanities/social sciences. At least 50% of the available scholarships will be allocated to female researchers.

Deadline for applications: 1st September 2013, 11:59 p.m.

The respective Research Funding Committee and the Rectorate of the University of Bremen make the final selection on the basis of the following criteria.

1. Qualification of applicant

• Above all, outstanding academic performance, followed by
• Networking and experience of cooperation in the scientific community, including sojourns abroad; prizes or other awards for past academic achievement; initial experience of publications and the quality of such publications

2. Project quality

• Originality of proposed research concept
• Clear relevance in respect of the status of research
• Sound substantiation of the research approach/hypotheses
• Convincing choice of methods/procedures and project feasibility (in case these have been formulated already)
• Plausible work and time schedule (for the period of the bridge scholarship)
• Specific relevance of proposed research (e.g. socio-scientific, regional, transfer relevant)
• Integration in the research environment of the University of Bremen
• Suitability of proposed research for a PhD project
• Prospects for the planned acquisition third-party funding