Frequently asked questions
Please find below information concerning questions on requirements, the online application portals as well as more general questions.
We are happy to answer questions not yet addressed in this section!
Deadlines for EU applicants and non-EU applicants are different.
Non-EU applicants:
December 1 for the Stipend Program (for the WS in the following year)
May 1 for the regular M.Sc. courses (upcoming WS)
EU applicants (EU natives and students with an EU degree):
1 July for the upcoming WS
Please note that the application portal will only open 3-4 weeks prior to the respective deadline stated above.
A BSc degree (or equivalent) in Physics (or related fields) is required. In particular, we require applicants to have successfully completed the following coursework by the time the semester starts:
· In experimental physics: Courses in atomic, molecular, solid-state, nuclear, and / or particle physics corresponding to at least 15 Credit Points in total, as well as
· Lab courses corresponding to at least 15 Credit Points in total;
· In theoretical physics: Courses in quantum mechanics and statistical physics corresponding to at least 15 Credit Points in total.
Applicants should have prior knowledge not only of classical mechanics (including Lagrange and Hamiltonian formulations) and electrodynamics (Maxwell equations and their solutions), but should also have taken introductory classes in atomic, molecular, solid state and nuclear/particle physics.
Applicants also have to prove that they have taken at least two lab courses performing experiments individually or in small groups and worked out written analyses of these experiments. Just watching someone else doing the experiment is not sufficient.
The Master course requires prior knowledge of non-relativistic quantum mechanics (including the axioms of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation and its time-independent solution for the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom, the angular momentum algebra, and time-independent perturbation theory) and of thermodynamics and statistical physics (energy conservation, the principle of entropy, the canonical ensembles, introductory quantum statistics).
English proficiency at the level B2 is mandatory.
This may be proven by either a TOEFL/IELTS test/ Cambridge Certificate B2 or higher.
If your bachelor course is entirely held in English, it is also sufficient to get an official form or certificate from your university stating the language of instruction was English.
No certificate is required for native English speakers. However, the application portal will demand a file upload, so simply use a PDF stating you are a native speaker.
For your studies, command of the German language is not necessary, but having a basic grasp of the language and a little bit of vocabulary is very helpful in your day-to-day life.
Applicants from China are kindly requested to upload their APS certificate due to administrative issues. In case the respective document is not available yet, please upload the time schedule for your APS application instead. Please note that you have to hand in your APS certificate as soon as available to be able to join our program.
We only require proof in form of a PDF of you having registered with APS. You can register in the APS portal without paying the fee.
During the application process we do not ask for the final certificate. Not having the final certificate at this point is not a criterium which will influence the selection process.
Final enrollment for our courses will not be possible without the APS certificate, even if you receive a stipend or your application was positive and you were selected for the regular MSc course.
We would also like to strongly point out that we have had cases where the process of obtaining the certificate took several months, and it is not possible to receive a Visa without it, so do make sure you apply as soon as possible.
A finished BSc degree is mandatory before joining the BCGS. However, you can finish your online application without uploading your final degree and submit the final certificate later. Please use a PDF and note down all the courses you are planning on or are taking during your final semester. Upload this PDF in the degree slot.
During the online application a scan of your original document is sufficient, but in case of admittance, we will require the documents above mentioned as certified*) hardcopies, so we advise you to start the certification process as soon as possible. These copies will be sent via postal service to the enrollment office, so make sure not to send your originals (unless you have several original copies for this purpose), as you will not get them back.
*)"Certified" means that a legal authority (notary, registrar's office of your university, municipality etc.) has confirmed (official stamp and signature) that the copy is of the original. Please submit the copies with a certified English translation if they are in other language than English OR German.
By "school leaving certificate" we mean the certificate/official document you were issued in your country allowing you to go to university to take up academic studies. In some countries this is also called ‘High School Certificate/Diploma’ or ‘Transfer Certificate’.
Several foundations like DAAD (The German Academic Exchange Service) offer scholarships and grants. Funding opportunities can be found on their website. Applying for a scholarship can already be done in your home country. Therefore, please get informed early enough about possible scholarship opportunities, as well as their corresponding application deadlines (some foundations only decide 1-2 times a year who is granted a scholarship).
Funding opportunities can be found on the DAAD website.
For general financing and support, please have a look at the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service, this is not something BCGS office can help with.
Please note: There are different conditions for graduates and non-graduates. Sometimes an application for a scholarship is only possible after being accepted to a university.
For winter term: 15 July
For summer term: 15 January
Important: international students are highly recommended to apply for their preliminary review documentation (VPD) before 1 June (winter term) or 1 December (summer term) to ensure that they receive the VPD in time!
Note that the application portal usually opens 1 June (winter term) or 1 December (summer term).
The application for the MSc in Physics course is solely possible via KLIPS 2.0! Please start by registering for a new applicant account.
All applicants need to provide:
- School leaving certificate (or an equivalent degree of qualification for access to German universities)
- Transcript of Records
- Bachelor of Science in Physics degree (or an equivalent university degree). The degree certificate can be handed in later.
Applicants who have obtained their university degree (e.g. a bachelor’s degree) in a country other than Germany also need
- officially certified translations of the documents if the original documents were not issued in German or English Language
- the preliminary review documentation (VPD) by uni-assist
For further information on requesting the VPD see the respective website of the International Office in Cologne.
A BSc degree (or equivalent) in Physics (or related fields) is required. In particular, we require applicants to have successfully completed the following coursework by the time the semester starts:
- at least 15 credit points in theoretical physics - note that either a course in quantum mechanics or a course in statistical physics is required.
- at least 15 credit points in mathematics
- at least 15 credit points in advanced experimental physics
- at least 12 credit points in experimental/practical training (e.g. laboratory practicals).
What does that mean?
In theoretical physics, the Master course requires prior knowledge of
- either non-relativistic quantum mechanics (including the axioms of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation and its time-independent solution for the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom, the angular momentum algebra, and time-independent perturbation theory)
- or thermodynamics and statistical physics (energy conservation, the principle of entropy, the canonical ensembles, introductory quantum statistics)
Advanced experimental physics refers to at least introductory classes in atomic, molecular, solid state and nuclear/particle physics.
Regarding the practical training: applicants need experience in performing experiments individually or in small groups and worked out written analyses of these experiments.
English proficiency at the level B2 is mandatory.
This may be proven by either a TOEFL/IELTS test/Cambridge Certificate of B2 or higher.
If your bachelor course is entirely held in English, it is also sufficient to get an official form or certificate from your university stating the language of instruction was English.
No certificate is required for native English speakers. However, the application portal will demand a file upload, so simply use a PDF stating you are a native speaker.
For your studies, command of the German language is not necessary, but having a basic grasp of the language and a little bit of vocabulary is very helpful in your day-to-day life.
Applicants from China are kindly requested to upload their APS certificate due to administrative issues. In case the respective document is not available yet, please upload the time schedule for your APS application instead. Please note that you have to hand in your APS certificate as soon as available to be able to join our program.
The APS certificate is not required during the application period and is not part of the evaluation process. HOWEVER, experience has shown that the proccess for applying for a Visa can take months, so we strongly advise you to check the website APS India for requirements and start preparing as soon as possible. BCGS will not grant extensions on the enrollment deadline for delayed Visa procedures.
A finished BSc degree is mandatory before joining the BCGS. However, you can finish your online application without uploading your final degree and submit the final certificate later. Note that we at least need your most recent transcript of records to judge on your application.
Command of the German language is not a prerequisite for our MSc studies, but of course, speaking German makes life easier and you will be able to apply for more part-time jobs, since many of them require German language.
The International Office of Bonn University offers a variety of courses
Please find further information on the website of the examination office in Cologne.
Please have a look at the following website on the research performed in Cologne.
Contact one of the professors working in the field you are interested in.
Please note that admission to our MSc or PhD program does not include accomodation, thus, you have to take care of that yourself. Unfortunately, the accomodation situation in Cologne is really tight. The best option is getting a room in one of the dorms run by the Kölner Studierendenwerk (KStW). Please check out both their information on student housing (including room offers as well as tips to find suitable rooms.
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