StudyDesk Scholarships
About the fellowship
The Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research (CGA) — a joint graduate school of the University of Cologne and the Max Planck Society (including the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing and the CECAD Cluster of Excellence) — is one of Europe’s most prestigious ageing-research clusters, with 49 interdisciplinary research groups. For the 2026 call it offers 12 fully funded PhD positions in the molecular biology of ageing.
Unlike stipend scholarships, these are employment contracts: initial contracts of at least three years, paid on the German public-sector scale TV-L E13 at 65% (or an equivalently remunerated Max Planck PhD support contract). The programme is conducted entirely in English, with thesis advisory committees, individual career mentoring, methodology and soft-skills courses, annual conference travel grants, and intensive support for international students in all administrative matters.
The application window — 11 August to 3 November 2026 — closes in 12 days from today (22 October 2026).
Eligibility
- Hold an MSc or equivalent degree in biology, cell/molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, biophysics, genetics, medical biology, translational medicine, or a related field.
- Show excellent academic performance in BSc and MSc studies.
- Have a clear interest in the research areas above and strong motivation for ageing research — real lab experience and a research thesis or internship strengthen the application.
- Have very good English skills (C1 level, written and spoken).
- International applicants are explicitly welcome; the school is committed to diversity and equal opportunities and especially encourages women and people with disabilities to apply.
Benefits
- 12 fully funded PhD positions with employment contracts of at least 3 years (TV-L E13 65% or equivalent Max Planck support contract).
- Dedicated supervision with academic guidance from thesis advisory committees.
- Comprehensive English-language PhD programme in Cologne — a vibrant, affordable student city.
- Individual career mentoring and coaching, plus methodology and soft-skills courses.
- Annual conference travel grants.
- Intensive support for international students in all administrative matters (visa, registration, housing guidance).
Documents required
- Motivation letter — written authentically (the school notes it may use AI text detectors on applications).
- Degree certificates and transcripts (BSc and MSc).
- CV.
- Research proposal — per the official application scheme: prepare your CV, transcripts, certificates/diplomas and research proposal before starting.
- Two recommendations — these must be submitted by 10 November 2026, one week after the application deadline. Contact referees early.
How to apply
- Prepare your documentsFinalise your CV, transcripts, certificates/diplomas and research proposal, and contact your two referees now so their letters land by 10 November 2026.
- Submit onlineComplete and submit the application via the official portal — application.ageing-grad-school.de — by 3 November 2026.
- Multistep screening (4–26 Nov 2026)The CGA coordination checks completeness and eligibility; qualifying applications are assessed by CGA faculty on academic qualifications and research achievements.
- Online panel interviews (7–9 Dec 2026)Up to 80 shortlisted candidates get ~20-minute online panel interviews, including a short presentation of their current research project.
- Onsite recruitment week (15–19 Feb 2027)About 25 top candidates are invited to Cologne: faculty poster session, up to five lab visits with personal interviews, campus tour. Hotel accommodation is provided for those travelling far; travel costs are refunded.
- Admission and startFinal offers about two weeks after recruitment week; individual PhD projects can start between 1 July and 1 October 2027, with CGA Welcome Days in October 2027.
FAQs
Effectively a salary: fellows are hired on employment contracts of at least 3 years at TV-L E13 65% (or an equivalent Max Planck PhD support contract), not on a fixed stipend. That also means standard German social-security coverage.
12 positions. The selection funnel narrows to ~80 online interviews, then 25 candidates at the onsite recruitment week, then up to 12 offers. Start early and submit well before the deadline.
By 10 November 2026 — one week after the 3 November application deadline. Ask your referees now.
No. The PhD programme is conducted in English, and applicants need very good English (C1, written and spoken).
Life-science graduates with genuine lab experience (a research thesis or internship) who can describe a scientific question clearly and want to specialise in the molecular biology of ageing in a structured international programme.
The school warns it may use AI text detectors on applications — write the motivation letter and proposal in your own authentic voice.
Verified 22 Oct 2026 via the official CGA call PDF (application period 11 Aug - 3 Nov 2026; online application at application.ageing-grad-school.de; contact cga-coordination@uni-koeln.de; website ageing-grad-school.de) and the official "Application scheme 2026-2027" PDF (references due 10 Nov 2026; assessment 4-26 Nov; online panel interviews 7-9 Dec 2026; onsite recruitment week 15-19 Feb 2027; admission ~2 weeks after; projects start 1 Jul - 1 Oct 2027; CGA Welcome Days Oct 2027), corroborated by daad.de, mpg.de ("12 fully funded PhD positions"), EURAXESS and nextdeadlines.com. Eligibility and funding terms (MSc fields listed, excellent record, English C1, TV-L E13 65% contracts of >=3 years, 49 research groups, mentoring, travel grants, international-student support) are consistent across the official PDF, DAAD and Max Planck listings. No invented salary figure is stated — TV-L E13 65% is the published pay scale, not a monthly amount.
