General Information
As a non-university research institution, the AIP does not offer any university classes or degrees for students. Through a close collaboration with the nearby University of Potsdam, however, AIP scientists are professors and lecturers at the University and can officially supervise students for their final projects. About 10 graduate and 25 PhD students are currently carrying out research projects at AIP in preparation of their final degrees. Since January 2012, we have established a Structured Doctoral Training Program in Astrophysics – a common and lasting framework for the supervision and training of doctorate students in astronomy and astrophysics at Universität Potsdam (UP), at the Leibniz-Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), and at DESY/Zeuthen with a view to optimally prepare our students for a professional career in research and technology.
Students at the University of Potsdam have the possibility to work on the final projects (bachelor and master theses) of their degree in physics or similar disciplines at the AIP. At the moment, seven professors and lecturers at AIP can officially supervise such projects at the University of Potsdam.
Interested and qualified students from other - especially close-by - universities, are also welcome to do their projects at the AIP if this is in accordance with their own university's regulations. General information about studying in Germany can be found at the webpages at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
To work on your final project at the AIP means that you can choose from a wide range of astrophysical topics and methods. During their project the students are fully integrated in a research group at AIP, get a work desk and are part of the institute's life. The research-oriented, communicative, international atmosphere at AIP is an additional training for the students' further careers.
It is of course possible to work on a PhD thesis at the AIP. Formally, the dissertation is always associated to a university - mostly the University of Potsdam - and it is the university which decides on the regulations for beginning and successfully completing your PhD. The project work itself and the publication of your results is done at the AIP, where the students are fully integrated in a research group, allowing intense interaction and exchange with other PhD students and scientists. Topics for PhD theses at AIP are normally associated to available PhD jobs. As the number of available jobs varies, interested students should look at the job openings and get in touch with potential supervisers well in advance.
