Fast-Track Program
Master’s degree and doctorate in 4 years, funding included
Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence established its Fast-Track Program to give outstanding students an opportunity to complete their master’s degree and doctoral studies simultaneously and within a 4-year period. This also enables recipients to shorten their qualification phase by one year and to fast-track their pursuit of an academic career.
The program is divided into 2 phases: Recipients receive €1,468 per month for the first 2 years. For the following 2 years, it is planned that recipients are employed as research associates at the University of Hamburg.
The calls for applications are issued annually The Hamburg Research Academy coordinates the programs and supports recipients with high quality qualification and networking opportunities. The Fast-Track Program is part of the Hanse-Wissenschaftskarriere (Hanseatic academic career) at the University of Hamburg, which is aimed at recognizing talented academics early in their development. The program is funded by the Excellence Strategy, a funding program financed by the federal and state governments.
News: Call for applications 2024
Apply now for the Fast-Track Program! The current call for applications is open until 31 August 2024.
Call for applicationsOverview of the Fast-Track Program
Information
Advantages:
- master’s degree and doctorate in only 4 years
- earlier start with academic career
Benefits:
- 2-year scholarship (€1,468 per month and €500 yearly for travel expenses)
- 2-year employment as research associate (E13 position with at least 50 percent of the regular weekly working hours)
- exclusive qualification and networking opportunities for recipients
The Fast-Track Program targets outstanding students who are interested in an academic career.
Conditions:
- You have completed your bachelor’s degree with outstanding results The examination certificate documents must be submitted by the end of the application period.
- You have a place in a master’s degree program in the participating faculties for the start of Winter Semester 2023/24 or receive confirmation thereof before the application deadline. In some faculties, it is possible to start at a later date during the first year of the master’s degree program. Find information on this in the respective call for applications.
- The master’s degree program must be in a degree program relevant to your doctoral dissertation project.
Participating faculties:
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine (only Research Training Group 2771: Humans and Microbes)
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement Science
What must you take care of before applying?
Preparation:
- Carefully read your faculty’s call for applications. Sometimes, the requirements differ between the faculties and departments. The following points will provide you with initial orientation.
Supervision:
- Contact potential supervisors in good time and discuss your intention to apply. Confirmation of supervision is required.
- Ask a member of the supervisory commission for the funding guarantee in writing so that an E13 position can be created to fund the last 2 years of the fast-track doctoral studies (with at least 50 percent of the regular weekly hours) for which you can apply after successfully finishing the first 2 years of study. We are happy to answer any questions on this.
Dissertation project:
- Create a persuasive research proposal.
Admission:
- Apply for admission to the doctoral procedure.
Advising at the Hamburg Research Academy:
Dr. Lea Eileen Pöhls coordinates the program at the Hamburg Research Academy and is happy to answer your questions.
Contacts at the faculties:
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences Dr. Ulf Beckmann
- Faculty of Medicine (only the Research Training Group 2771: Humans and Microbes): Dr. rer. nat.Katja Giersch
- Faculty of Humanities: Prof. Dr. Martina Seifert
- Faculty of Education: Dr. Marcus Friederici
- Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences: Academic and doctoral studies offices for the departments
- Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement Melanie Weßlau