FAQ

How many study places are available in the BMS PhD Program?

There are usually up to 20 places available in Phase I, 10 of which come with a Phase I scholarship.

Here you may find an overview of how many Phase I applications we have received every year, what the admission rate is and other interesting statistics: Phase I Admission Statistics.

For Phase II applicants it is most important to find a supervisor within our faculty who is interested in working with the applicant and has the capacity for another PhD student. Most Phase II students are funded through a PhD project from their supervisor. We do not have a strict number for Phase II admissions each year.
Here you may find an overview of how many Phase II applications we have received every year, what the admission rate is and other interesting statistics: Phase II Admission Statistics.

PhD students in Berlin or Potsdam who do not need funding from the BMS can apply for Phase II membership via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

 
What happens after I submit my application?

The evaluation of all applications begins as soon as the submission deadline has passed. If your online application is successful, you may be invited to take part in an interview either by telephone, via web-cam, or in person at our annual BMS Days event. For more information about the evaluation procedure and admissions schedule, please refer to the relevant section in the BMS PhD Application Guidelines.


How long will it take to find out if I have been accepted?

All applicants who applied in the first round by 1 December, will be informed about the admission decision or status of their applications by the end of January. Final admission decisions are sent out in late February or March.
All applicants who applied in the second round by 1 April, will be informed about the admission decision or status of their applications by mid-May. Final admission decisions are sent out in June.


My application was declined in the first round, can I apply again in the second round?

No. If you already applied in the first round and were not accepted for entry in this academic year, you cannot reapply in the second round.


May I ask the BMS to explain why my Phase I application for admission was declined?

Unfortunately, we cannot offer individual explanations for our decision. The BMS Admissions Committee must choose from hundreds of applicants, most of whom are very well qualified for the BMS PhD Program. However, there are only 20 study places available each year and each application is subsequently compared to the entire pool of applications received.


When do I have to enroll at one of the participating universities?

Enrollment is carried out shortly before the start of the first semester. A separate application for admission to one of the universities is not necessary.

What are the criteria for a successful application?

-> An excellent and well-written personal statement that shows a solid background in mathematics
-> Excellent grades
-> Letters of recommendation from professors or university lecturers who know you well and who can vouch for your academic and mathematical abilities.


My grades are not all excellent. Do I still have a chance?

Yes, a well-written personal statement, additional documents that show mathematical experience (such as extra courses, conference or workshop attendances) and detailed and excellent letters of recommendation can make up for some bad grades. All applications are viewed as a whole.


Who should I ask to submit a Letter of Recommendation for me?

Both letters of recommendation should be from professors or university teachers who know you well and can vouch for your academic and mathematical abilities. Other letters are usually not helpful to us.


What should my personal statement include?

Your personal statement (letter of motivation) should be at least one full page or at most two pages long. It should describe your academic and career plans as well as your motivation and scientific interests.
The BMS embraces diversity. In line with our goal of striving to achieve a gender-balanced student body, we strongly encourage applicants of all genders to write confidently about their achievements.
Make your personal statement stand out:
- by describing your motivation and enthusiasm for mathematics,
- by showing the depth and breadth of your interest in the subject,
- by explaining what inspires you to continue studying math,
- and by demonstrating your commitment and your potential to excel.
When writing your personal statement, make sure you also provide answers to the following questions:
- What are your mathematical interests?
- How, where and when did they develop?
- What mathematical fields are you particularly interested in and why?
- Why do you think the BMS is the right choice for you?
- Which BMS faculty member would you like to work with and why?


Phase II: I am open to many research ideas and don't have a clear plan for my doctoral project yet. What should I write in the research statement?

Phase II applicants should already be knowledgeable in their research area and have an idea of whom they would like to work with at the BMS. It should explain the applicant’s ideas with respect to their future dissertation, as well as outline the underlying research project. While applicants should be familiar with the research of potential supervisors, prior contact with our faculty members is not necessary. However the applicant should mention in the research statement who could be a suitable supervisor. A description of all BMS research areas and lists of relevant faculty members can be found here: www.math-berlin.de/academics/rta 


How do I apply to the BMS?

Applications will be accepted only via our online application portal. You can register for the application portal during the application rounds here:
https://fis.mathplus.de/registration/
After you have created an account and logged in on fis.mathplus.de, please click on your name to start the application.


Is there an application fee?

No.


Which documents are required for the application?

-> Personal Statement / Motivation letter
-> Curriculum Vitae (CV)
-> all University transcripts and degrees
-> Proof of proficiency in English
-> two Letters of Recommendation
-> (for Phase II) Research statement detailing a project you would like to work on for your doctoral dissertation


Can I upload my bachelor's/ master's thesis as an additional document?

We download every application as one compiled pdf, therefore we ask you kindly to not upload your thesis to the application. Instead, please add a link to it to your CV and/ or upload the abstract or summary of your thesis together with the link as an additional document.


Do I need to upload all of my university transcripts/ all pages incl. the grading scale?

Yes, please upload all transcripts from your university studies. Please also remember to add the backside of the transcript if it shows the grading scale as we will need this information to convert your grades to the German grading system.


I studied in an English speaking country and my transcript shows the language of instruction is English. Can I upload my transcript again as the proof of English proficiency?

We download every application as one compiled pdf, therefore we ask you kindly to not upload any document twice to your application. If the medium of instruction during your university studies is or was English (only accepted for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, USA), please either upload a letter from your university confirming this fact or upload a statement by yourself referring to your transcript where this information can be verified.

What information should be included in the Letter of Recommendation?

Please see this page of our website for full information: www.math-berlin.de/application/letter-of-recommendation


May I submit more than two Letters of Recommendation?

No. Only two letters of recommendation are required by the BMS, so you will only be able to enter the names of two recommenders on your online application form. Once you have entered their contact information and submitted your application electronically, the BMS will automatically send both recommenders an email asking them to upload their letters to our online application system. Letters submitted by the applicant will not be accepted.

As a Phase II applicant, do I need to contact a supervisor before I submit my application?

No. In the application form, please mention which member of the BMS faculty you would like to work with and why. Applicants should be familiar with the research of potential supervisors, but prior contact with them is not necessary.

Do I need to send hard copies of my documents by post?

No. Please simply upload all the necessary documents to your online application. If your documents are neither in English nor in German, you must also upload official translations in one of those languages. Should your application be successful and you accept a study place at the BMS, you must bring all academic documents (together with official English or German translations if that applies to you) in their original format in order to enroll at one of the three universities.


Do I need to submit an APS certificate*?

An APS certificate* is not required by the BMS for an application to its doctoral program. However, it is necessary for the enrollment.

* This only applies to for students who obtained their degree in China, India or Vietnam.

 


What academic qualification and grades are required to be accepted into Phase I (Master's)?

Generally, a 3-year Bachelor's degree is necessary to qualify for Phase I of our program.
In some countries, a 3-year Bachelor's degree is not equivalent to a German Bachelor's degree and an additional 1-year postgraduate diploma or 2-year master's degree is required.

The BMS does not consider applications with a grade average lower than a 3.0 (German grading scale) which is a C or 2.0 on a US grading scale.

All applications are evaluated as a whole and strong recommendation letters can often make up for a lower grade average.


What academic qualification and grades are required to be accepted into Phase II (Doctoral research)?

Generally, a 3-year Bachelor's degree plus a 2-year Master's degree which was completed with a Master's thesis qualifies for PhD studies in Germany.
In some countries, a 2-year Master's degree is not equivalent to a German Master's degree and an additional 1-year postgraduate diploma or second master's degree is required.

The BMS does not consider applications with a grade average lower than a 3.0 (German grading scale) which is a C or 2.0 on a US grading scale.

All applications are evaluated as a whole and strong recommendation letters can often make up for a lower grade average.


Which Phase should I apply for?

Please find details about the BMS PhD program and the two phases here: https://www.math-berlin.de/students/program-information

We check all applications and degrees thoroughly before the Admissions Committee begins their evaluation. In certain cases, the Admissions Committee decides to move applications from Phase I to Phase II, if the candidate was qualified for Phase II as well. If this happens, we will inform you accordingly after the deadline.
If you apply for Phase I with a master's degree, please keep in mind the following:
You need to upload your master's degree and transcripts as well as your bachelor's degree and transcripts.
It is recommended that you also upload a research statement as an additional document. In case your application is moved to Phase II, the BMS will request a research statement.

If you have applied for Phase II, but your master’s degree is not recognized in Germany for PhD studies, the Admissions Committee will consider your application for Phase I. If this happens, we will inform you accordingly after the deadline.

You cannot submit two applications in the same application period, so you cannot apply for both phases.


My bachelor's degree is not in Mathematics. Can I still apply to the BMS?

Applicants with undergraduate degrees in Engineering, Physics and Computer Science can apply for Phase I, but are required to have a strong knowledge of mathematical subjects and prove this with (possibly additional) academic certificates.
The letters of recommendation should reference the acquired knowledge in mathematical subjects.

What level of English is required?

If you are a native German speaker, you can upload your "Abiturzeugnis or Matura" and need at least a "sufficient" in English.

If you have completed your studies (i.e. your Bachelor's or Master's degree) in English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, USA, you can simply upload proof of the medium of instruction in your studies/ at your university.

If you have not completed your studies in English and your native language is neither German or English, you must upload a standard test. We accept the following:

-> TOEFL iBT with a minimum score of 95
-> IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0
-> Cambridge English Test with a CEFR level of at least C1
-> UNIcert III
-> PTE Academic with a minimum score of 76


What level of German is required?

The BMS PhD Program is taught entirely in English, therefore German language skills are not necessary.