Fast-Track Program

Yes, you need confirmation of a place in a master’s degree program to be able to apply. Thus, you should apply for a master’s degree program at Universität Hamburg from the upcoming winter semester before the Fast-Track Program application deadline. You will receive notification about your place on the master’s degree program before the Fast-Track Program application deadline passes. However, you should take care of the rest of your application documents whilst waiting for a reply on your place in the master’s degree program.

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.

In the faculties where a later start is possible, you can apply within the first year of the master’s degree program. In concrete terms, this means that students can apply in the first or second semester of the master’s degree program. They would then start the Fast-Track Program in either the second or third master’s semester. If they start in the third master’s semester, the scholarship funding period is shortened by one year. Contact us is you have any questions.

Please refer directly to the call for applications from your faculty to understand what is meant by an "outstanding" completion of the bachelor's degree. Sometimes, the requirements differ between the faculties and departments.

When looking for a suitable supervisor for your proposed doctoral project, you should take various criteria into consideration. First and foremost, they should have the relevant expertise in the subject. Moreover, during your search, you should consider questions regarding funding opportunities (second phase of the Fast-Track Program), supervision and support services, career prospects, and a personal wavelength connection. To find a suitable supervisor, you can research the Universität Hamburg website. It makes sense to ask previous and current doctoral researchers about their experiences with potential supervisors.

When contacting a suitable potential supervisor, you should briefly summarize your career path, including your academic performance (bachelor’s thesis and other studies-related activities) up to that point and your research ideas. Furthermore, it is also worth explaining your interest in the potential supervisor— that is, why this professor at precisely this institution is interesting for you.

You will receive written confirmation of funding from your supervisor or another member of your supervisory commission. Tell your supervisor about this necessity in good time during discussions about your intention to apply.

Written confirmation by a member of the supervisory commission that an E13 position can be created to fund the last 2 years of the Fast-Track Program doctorate is a requirement for a successful application.

Successful applicants receive €1,468 per month for the first 2 years of the program. The Fast-Track Program scholarship is financed through Excellence Strategy funds and consists of a monthly scholarship sum of €1,365 plus a monthly materials allowance of €103.

During your scholarship phase, the HRA provides you with a travel expense allowance of €500 per year for participation in conferences and other relevant travel within the scope of your doctoral studies.

Contact Dr. Lea Eileen Pöhls, coordinator of the HRA’s Fast-Track Program.

Contact your faculty if you have any questions about the doctoral procedure. Find the relevant contact in the “Support” information box.

The Fast-Track Program is part of the Excellence Strategy of Universität Hamburg and the Hanse-Wissenschaftskarriere (Hanseatic academic career). The program enables you provide targeted support early on for talented students in your research field. Students profit from a shortened qualification phase, an earlier start of an academic career, and financial and other support (e.g., workshops) in the program.

The Fast-Track Program consists of 2 phases:

Successful applicants receive a scholarship of €1,468 per month for the first 2 years—which is financed through Excellence Strategy funds—and, in addition, an annual €500 travel expense allowance.

For years 3 and 4, the faculty’s staffing plan must ensure that an E13 position (with at least 50 percent of the regular weekly working hours) is available and can be advertised for the relevant period. The candidate can apply for this position after successfully completing the first 2 years of the fast-track doctorate. All questions regarding the availability of such a position during the relevant period should be clarified with the responsible department head and the office of the dean in your faculty before the candidate submits an application.

During the application procedure, the candidate is to be issued a funding guarantee in writing for the second phase of the program. This will be provided to you or the supervisory committee by the department (head or spokesperson) to which the doctoral subject is assigned or by the office of the dean in the faculty.

If you have any questions, contact the responsible person in your faculty. Find links to their contact details under “Support” in the information box.

Contact Dr. Lea Eileen Pöhls, coordinator of the Hamburg Research Academy’s Fast-Track Program.

Contact your faculty if you have any questions about the doctoral procedure. Find the relevant contact in the “Support” information box.