Miscellaneous / FAQ
Location
The city of Munich is the state capital of Bavaria and has a population
of 1.3 million. It is located in the centre of Europe close to the
Bavarian Alps in the southern part of Germany at the river “Isar”.
Around 100.000 students are matriculated in Munich’s two main
universities, the Technical University and Ludwig Maximilians
University as well as several colleges. Over the last four decades
Munich has turned into one of Europe's leading regions of science and
economy. Many high-tech firms have their German or European head
offices in the Munich area. The city is home to one of the most
prominent German car manufactures, BMW, and large international
companies like Siemens, MAN, DASA, Aerospace etc.
Munich airport is one of Germany’s busiest international airports and
is well accessible by Public transportation.
Garching is a suburb at the north border of Munich about 35 minutes
from the centre by tube (U-Bahn) and bus.
Climate
Munich is located in a moderate climatic zone and therefore has neither
an extremely cold winter nor an extremely hot summer.
Culture and
Living in Munich
Munich offers a wide variety of cultural activities with over a hundred
museums and galleries to choose from. Of particular interest are the
galleries of the Old, the New and the Modern Pinakothek, the Deutsches
Museum, the largest science museum in Europe. The National Theater
(Nationaltheater), the legendary Kammerspiele and the opera and the
symphony offer excellent performances.
Restaurants and beer gardens are numerous all over the city but are
particularly concentrated in the parts of the city called Schwabing and
Haidhausen.
Places
of common interest
In and around Munich you will find a great number of places of common
interest, Castles, Mountains, Churches and Lakes, just a few kilometers
away from Munich.
The Olympiapark is the biggest sport and leisure park in Europe (85,000
m2).
Alpine Skiing is available in the mountains 50 km south of the city.
Every year in autumn people arrive from all over the world to visit the
“Oktoberfest”, the famous Munich beer festival. It opens on the third
weekend in September for 16 days.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much is the
scholarship?
Every student admitted to the excellence programme QCCC will receive a
salary (appr. 1000 EUR (1/2 x BAT-IIa) in the first two years and appr.
1500 EUR (3/4 x BAT-IIa) in the final year) covering living expenses in
the Munich area.
I would like to
apply for a summer internship only
Sorry, we don’t take externs. Our programme is designed for graduate
students only.
I missed the
first deadline. What can I do?
That’s not too bad luck. Joining the QCCC is possible during the first
year. In any case, it is a good idea to register/apply early to
maximise your chance to be admitted.
How can I apply?
If you want to apply for our PhD program, please fill in the necessary
forms available from our web pages under "how to apply".
A complete application must contain:
- a completed and signed application form (see page how to apply)
- a curriculum vitae in short form (see see page how to apply)
- a list of all courses taken at the university or college level
- copies of academic diplomas, including Master's degree (Diplomzeugnis)
- a certificate of proficiency in English, if available (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS). In any case, you must be fluent in both written and spoken English
- two letters of recommendation, mailed by your referees directly to the coordination office
What are the
estimated living costs in Munich / Garching ?
The costs of living in Munich or Garching are approx. 800 EUR per month
for a single person (accommodation, food, health insurance).
From where I
will obtain my Ph.D. degree?
Typically the Technical University Munich and the Ludwig Maximilians
University will confer the Ph.D. degree
Where can I get
my visa?
You will get an official invitation letter (in English) and a letter
for the German embassy of your country in German from the coordination
office. This letter must be submitted to the German embassy or a German
consulate in your home country. Provided your visa application is
complete, you will obtain your visa within a few days up to 2 months.
In case problems arise please inform the coordination office.
Can I apply for
a tourist visa?
Do I need my MSc already when I send my application?
You don’t need your MSc at that time. But you must present your MSc
when you start your Ph.D. at QCCC.
Can I apply for
a tourist visa?
Can I apply for a tourist visa?
You can use a tourist visa only for the interview. If you arrive in
Munich with a tourist visa to start your studies, you have to leave
Germany again and apply for an appropriate visa in your home country.
The German
embassy told me that I need no visa.
That is correct for EU countries and for some other countries (e.g.
U.S.A., Canada, Mexico). People from these countries can apply for a
residence permit (neither a work nor a tourist visa ! ) during the
first three months of their stay in Germany.
Who will help me
to find accommodation?
Who will help me to find accommodation?
Please inform us as soon as you have got your visa and tell us the
exact date of your arrival in Munich. For the first two months we will
try to arrange accommodation in our guesthouse or in a hotel near the
institutes. We will try to assist you in finding accommodation.
Can I apply
without a TOEFL?
TOEFL is not absolutely required, but it may well improve your chance
of acceptance. In any case, you are expected to be fluent in written
and spoken English.
Are the lectures
in English or in German?
The medium of all instruction is English; all the QCCC curriculum and
examinations are in English, too.
What do I need
to bring?
You need your visa, passport and all your original certificates. All
other administrative issues can be dealt with once you've arrived here.