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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 funding was announced annually between 2020 and 2024. There are currently no plans for a new call for poposals. 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.

Overview of the Fast-Track Program

Mann rennt auf Exzellenzlogo der Universität Hamburg zugrober Zeitplan der Promotionsphase und MasterstudiumFast-Track FinanzierungFast-Track Zeitplan
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Fast track to obtaining a doctorate:
How does the Fast-Track Program work? On the following 3 slides, we summarize the most important information for you.
grober Zeitplan der Promotionsphase und Masterstudium
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Master’s degree and doctorate in 4 years:
Get started in the Fast-Track Program immediately following your bachelor’s degree: The master’s degree program is integrated into the doctoral phase. The master’s degree is completed after 2 years; the doctorate, after 4 years. 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.
Fast-Track Finanzierung
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Financing:
The program is divided into 2 phases: Recipients receive €1,468 per month for the first 2 years and, in addition, an annual €500 travel expense allowance. For the next 2 years it is planned to employ recipients as research associates in their departments.
Fast-Track Zeitplan
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Timetable:
In the first year, you complete 60 ECTS credits in the master’s degree program. After the second year, you will complete your master’s degree and apply for a position as a research associate with your supervisor. It will take you 4 years in total to complete your doctorate. The schedule may vary if you start the program later.

Information

Please note: There are currently no plans for a new call for proposals.

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

Contacts at the faculties:

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