The prestigious PhD fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Shortlisted candidates are invited to the Biozentrum for a week of interviews with group leaders and other opportunities to interact and get to know the Biozentrum. 
 

Conditions 
You must hold or expect soon a university degree that qualifies you for a PhD program at the University of Basel (MSc and equivalent). In exceptional cases, outstanding students with a 4 year bachelor's degree, typically from outside the Bologna system, are also eligible to apply. These will be able to complete a Master’s program on a fast-track at the University of Basel as part of their fellowship.

In order to be eligible to receive the fellowship, candidates can neither be enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Basel nor have signed a PhD working contract at the University of Basel at the decision date of the respective fellowship call.

Application
The Winter Call 2023_24 is closed. The Summer Call 2024 opens in February 2024. You can submit your application online. Your application must include:

• electronic copies of your diploma/MSc degree with grades and transcripts as pdf files
• CV or scientific résumé (maximum one page, pdf format) 
• names and contact information of 2 referees from your previous academic environment (usually faculty members). The referees will be contacted automatically and will be asked for a reference letter. 

You will get further information about the application procedure as soon as you have submitted your application. 

Selection procedure
After the closing date for the open call, applications will be evaluated by all group leaders of the Biozentrum. Based on the feedback from their peers, the Program Committee will shortlist 20-30 candidates who will be invited to the Biozentrum for an interview week (travel and accommodation provided by the fellowship program). 

To organize your individual interviews and lab visits during the interview week, you will be asked to indicate 8 to 10 group leaders. You will also present your research in a 10-minute presentation and 20-minute question and answer seminar to the Program Committee and other interested group leaders. A chaperone – a PhD from the fellowships − will be your personal guide during these days, tell you about being a PhD at the Biozentrum and be happy to answer your questions. Two dinners with group leaders and the chaperones, an informal meeting with the PhD Club and a cultural visit to Basel will give you a good insight into Basel and the Biozentrum. 

At the end of the interview week, you will be informed about who will receive fellowship offers. We expect your acceptance or declination of the fellowship within two weeks after the interview week. You can then start your PhD in the following six months.