BMS Phase II funding is awarded by the BMS Committee. The BMS positions are awarded based on the criteria listed below and the rules and regulations of the DFG, which includes the criteria of excellence and diversity. The BMS Committee will also evaluate the student’s chances to secure alternative funding for the dissertation project at a later stage.

Gap Funding

Phase I students may apply for gap funding if they have completed their master's degree and Phase I studies but their PhD funding cannot start right away. The BMS Gap Funding is meant to bridge the gap between for example a Phase I scholarship ending in September and a PhD position offered by the supervisor starting in April. Gap Funding may be granted for a maximum duration of six months AFTER you have passed your QE (grade requirement better than 2.5).
Gap Funding is not limited to Phase I students with a BMS scholarship and may be applied for at any point.

To apply for gap funding, you must submit the following to the BMS Office:

1. Application form

2. BMS Transcript or QE application form

3. Application letter (report on your Phase I studies and details on your PhD project)

4. Letter of support by your future Phase II supervisor (incl. information on your PhD funding)

To receive a template for the application form, please contact your Liaison officer. To receive your BMS transcript of records, please send a list of your courses and proof of your grades to your Liaison officer. Please allow a few days to issue the transcript.

All funding decisions are made by the BMS Committee.

BMS PhD Funding

The BMS offers three PhD positions (75% TVL13) for three years each starting in October each year:
- one position for external Phase II applicants
- two positions for Phase I students continuing with Phase II

Phase I students who want to continue with Phase II need to find a PhD supervisor in the last semester of Phase I. The PhD supervisor should provide PhD funding for at least three years or advise on other funding sources and applications.
Applications for Phase II received via the BMS application portal and requiring PhD funding are sent to potential supervisors within the BMS faculty and considered for any open PhD positions in the supervisor's research group.

You can find more information on PhD positions and the TVL contract here: https://www.math-berlin.de/students/faq-university/information-about-phd-employment-contracts
Students who complete the BMS Phase I program and successfully pass the BMS Qualifying Exam (QE) must meet the following criteria to apply for BMS Phase II Funding:

1. An average of better than 1.5 for the required Phase I courses.
2. A grade of better than 1.5 in the Qualifying Exam.
3. Regular attendance of BMS events, such as MATH+ Fridays.