St Andrews and Bonn Global PhD in Science
The University of St Andrews and Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn have established an agreement to allow PhD candidates to undertake research leading to the award of a joint doctoral degree.
To be eligible for the joint degree, your research project must be supervised by a member of staff based in the Faculty Mathematics and Natural Sciences at University of Bonn, and a member of staff in the based in the Faculty of Science at the University of St Andrews.
Course type
Joint doctoral degree (PhD).
Course dates
Students are strongly encouraged to begin their studies in September, but the start date for research study can be flexible. Your start date will be decided between yourself and your supervisor, but you may indicate your preferred start date on the application. Start dates are 27 August, September, October, January or May.
Course duration
The PhD consists of three years of full-time study, with the possibility of a continuation period of 12 months. A further extension will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.
Entry requirements
Applicants for the joint PhD must have a minimum of a good Masters degree (or equivalent). A Masters degree (or equivalent) must have been completed and the final evaluation must be available at the time of application. In each case, your Masters degree will be considered with regard to its quality and how it prepares you for doctoral research.
Applicants must also meet the English language requirements. If a student requires an English language certificate, this must be gained before the start of the PhD.
International students
Depending on your nationality, you may require a visa to study in the UK and Germany:
Tuition fees
Bonn does not charge tuition fees. There is a social fee for student services. While studying at Bonn, students will be exempt from fees at St Andrews.
While studying at St Andrews, students will pay local fees unless otherwise outlined in the individual candidate agreement.
Any funding and sponsorship arrangements must be agreed with St Andrews and Bonn before starting this programme. No dedicated scholarships are provided for the joint PhD programme unless otherwise advertised during the application cycle. PhD applicants and students may apply for general scholarships, funding and hardship funds as normal at the University of St Andrews.
Both universities will apply the usual eligibility criteria to funding but will consult with one another about the awards. Duplication of funding is not permitted.
Students who have accepted a place and an offer of full funding at St Andrews are not eligible to be considered for the joint programme.
Application deadline
Applications can be sent in any time throughout the academic year. However, it is important to remember that if you are applying for any scholarships or funding, then the deadline for these may be early in the year.
Application requirements
Students should contact a supervisor at St Andrews and the department that interests them at Bonn to discuss the opportunities available. Students should apply to both St Andrews and Bonn and must meet the entry requirements of each institution.
Admission to the PhD must commence prior to matriculation at St Andrews. Students matriculated at St Andrews cannot transfer part way through their studies.
Course information
The University of St Andrews and the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn are pleased to offer a joint programme leading to the award of a joint doctoral degree. The thesis and research must be in the areas Science listed below.
Programme structure
Candidates start the programme at either St Andrews or Bonn. One institution will be identified as the lead, normally the one at which you will spend the most amount of time.
You will have to spend 12 months in total as a resident student at both St Andrews and Bonn in order for the universities to recognise the degree. The universities prefer that students split their time equally between St Andrews and Bonn.
Students will divide their time into study blocks in order to facilitate access to the resources, human and otherwise, that will maximise their research opportunities. Each study block should be at least six months in length where possible. Students should plan their study locations in collaboration with their supervisors and should consider the requirements of the research project as well as the practicalities and costs of things like international travel, immigration processes and accommodation.
The agreement provides students with access to one supervisor at each institution throughout the duration of their degree. Students are expected to engage with both supervisors from start to finish, and to meet regularly with all parties, either in person or using virtual methods such as video call.
Students are encouraged to take part in doctoral training, undergraduate teaching and research seminars at both universities.
Science at St Andrews
St Andrews is the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world and renowned for the quality of its research.
St Andrews was ranked 3rd in Scotland and 28th in the UK for the quality of its publications in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2021.
Research takes place within the Schools and within world-class, often cross-disciplinary or cross-institutional, research centres and institutes. Each School, research centre and institute has a busy programme of conferences, workshops, guest lectures and postgraduate events.
Faculty of Science:
- School of Biology
- School of Chemistry
- School of Computer Science
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
- School of Physics and Astronomy
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Science at Bonn
Founded in 1818, the University of the Bonn is one of the leading universities in Germany. Bonn was the most successful university in the German Universities Excellence Initiative 2019.
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has an impressive reputation for offering a wide range of subjects and coordinating multidisciplinary research projects. The departments and related research centres offer an interesting programme of research events.
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has eight departments:
Supervision and examinations
Co-supervision
Both universities will ensure that the supervisors for students carry out the duties normally expected of them in their own institution. Both supervisors will hold an actual or virtual meeting with you at least once per year.
The progression of research candidates will follow normal procedures as per the local rules of the institution in which the student is located.
Thesis and examinations
There will be one doctoral examination conducted according to the regulations at the starting institution. The examination will be a viva voce (viva) and will be conducted in English at the starting institution. Each university will nominate at least one external examiner. Full details will be provided in the individual candidate agreement.
The thesis will typically be in the form of a single dissertation or monograph. The thesis will be written in English and, where appropriate, will contain a substantial synopsis written in German. Summaries of the thesis will be written in both languages and distributed according to the regulations of each institution.
Under legislation applicable in Germany, the thesis must be published in order for the candidate to be eligible for the award of a PhD under this scheme.
Facilities
Schools in the Faculty of Science are based in buildings largely located on the North Haugh in St Andrews, but also spread throughout the town. The main University Library and other research facilities are located nearby.
Postgraduates have access to a skills training programme and language learning. There is a lively postgraduate community with regular postgraduate seminars, conferences and social events.
At St Andrews, St Leonard's Doctoral and Postgraduate College supports all postgraduates and provides social and intellectual opportunities.
Accommodation at St Andrews is available provided all necessary application deadlines are met.
At Bonn, postgraduates can benefit from the training activities offered by the Bonn Graduate Centre and German language classes. Scholarly activities in departments, institutes, interdisciplinary groups and museums help to create an exciting research environment.
At Bonn, accommodation is available for PhD students through the Studierendenwerk. Please note that the Studierendenwerk is independent of the University of Bonn. German language classes for PhD students are also available.
Graduation
St Andrews and Bonn will award a joint PhD degree if the appropriate standards are met in the thesis presented and in the examination. Two certificates will be issued which will clearly state that the degree was jointly supervised.
Students can choose to graduate at one ceremony at either St Andrews or Bonn. If graduating at Bonn, which typically takes place as part of the final examination process, students may attend, but not graduate at a ceremony at St Andrews in addition.
Support
Students shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges as other students enrolled at the host institution.
At St Andrews these include:
- Academic support
- Student Services
- St Andrews Library
- The Advice and Support Centre
At Bonn these include:
Contact
Global Office
University of St Andrews
Room A11, Bute Building
Westburn Lane
St Andrews
KY16 9TS
Email: globalphds@st-andrews.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2245
Universität Bonn
Doctoral Office, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Wegelerstrasse 10
53115 Bonn
Email: promotion.mnf@uni-bonn.de
Fax: +49 (228) 73-6718
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.
The student will be registered at both institutions according to the terms and regulations specific to each of them. Registration will be administered by Registry at St Andrews and by the Studentensekretariat at Bonn. Personal details of the student will be shared between both institutions to facilitate registration but shall otherwise be maintained confidential in accordance with data protection laws.
For day-to-day functions, the local rules of the institution in which the student is resident at the time will apply.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online (PDF, 72 KB).
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online (PDF, 84 KB).