The Otto Stern School was founded in 2006 as a scientific centre of the Goethe University. It offers support and sponsorship for its members. Doctoral candidates and their supervising teams can become members if they belong to one of the natural sciences faculties or PhD programmes and Collaborate Research Centres of the Goethe University, e.g.: International Helmholtz Graduate School
Research unit Spin and Charge correlations in low-dimensional metallorganic solid state
Research unit Ecological and Cultural Change in West and Central Africa
Institutions of the Otto Stern School are the Council, consisting of representatives of the respective faculties, PhD programmes, supervisors and doctoral candidates, the Directorate, the Quality-Assurance Board, the Admission Committees, the Chairperson, the Management and the Ombudsperson.
Responsibilities
To support the doctoral education in natural sciences at the Goethe University and thus current and future research.
To introduce international standards and a common structure in doctoral education for an even higher professional approach.
To ensure the quality of doctoral education.
To prepare doctoral candidates and young scientists for challenges in research and economy - during the dissertation phase and beyond.
To accompany international candidates through their first weeks in Germany.
This is accomplished by three main offers: A Target Agreement is concluded between doctoral candidates, supervisors and the OSS, which limits the dissertation project to 3-3.5 years and arranges regular meetings of the candidate and the supervising team. Furthermore, the OSS offers workshops for doctoral candidates and, if desired, supervisors to convey key skills in research, organisation and career planning. English and German language courses are also part of this programme. Also funding options like travel grants, start-up scholarships and child-care subsidies are awarded to foster international and interdisciplinary research in the natural sciences of the Goethe University.
Admission Requirements
Admission as doctoral candidates by one of the natural sciences faculties of the Goethe University
Master's degree or equivalent with an average above the German “gut”
English Skills at Level B2
For Non-Native Speakers: German Skills at Level A1
Joint Supervision: at least 2 supervisors, one of which must be a member of a faculty
