Study and Research in Germany

For many years, young Hong Kong scientists have gone to English-speaking countries to do research degrees and train as research scientists. This is natural as English is used in learning situations in these countries. However, the Foundation believes it is important for Hong Kong to also have exposure to non-English speaking scientific nations which are among the top in the world, and Germany is one of them.

The Foundation therefore wishes to encourage young people to do doctoral degrees or post-doctoral fellowship research in Germany. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in March 2001 between the Foundation and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service), one of the major organisations for academic exchange in Europe. Under this Memorandum, DAAD will disseminate information on universities and research institutions throughout Germany and help identify the most appropriate host institution. Supervision will be conducted in English. For facilitating life in Germany, DAAD highly recommends a two months basic German language training. This course will be provided by DAAD and will take place before the start of the Croucher Foundation scholarship. In return, the Croucher Foundation undertakes to provide comprehensive financial support in such areas as fees, living expenses, airfare, etc., to these young researchers, on similar terms to its Fellowship and Scholarship schemes.

The DAAD-representative in Hong Kong is most willing to provide advice and assistance during the application process.

Dr Sylvia Brandt
DAAD Information Centre Hong Kong & Macau
Room 833, 8/F, David C Lam Building
Hong Kong Baptist University
Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Tel.: 3411 5666; Fax: 3411 2749
e-mail: daadhk@hkbu.edu.hk

Germany has a large variety of institutions at a high academic level that operate in science and education. There are about two hundred universities and technical universities offering academic education from first degree (Bachelor, Diplom or Magister) to Doctorate and Postdoctorate in a vast number of disciplines. They are mainly funded by the federal government, only a few institutions are private. To get an idea about the location of universities and research institutes in Germany, please click the “science map” compiled by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education. Please find below the information of some of the scientific institutions in Germany which may be of interests to potential applicants:

The German Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK, i.e. the Association of Universities and other Higher Education Institutions) is the body which unites institutions of higher education in Germany. Its functions include representing the interests of higher education institutions in political decision-making and informing the public about German higher education institutions. Therefore it offers a university guide on their website www.hochschulkompass.de with either the whole list of departments that offer courses for doctorates or chosen places for a certain discipline. Although the list itself uses German names of the institutes, the respective links often provide English websites.

Max-Planck-Institutes are dedicated to basic research. Their work covers a wide range of research areas selected from the biological and natural sciences as well as medical sciences and the arts and humanities. Max-Planck-Institutes contribute substantially to the education and training of junior scientists. More than 3000 undergraduates, doctoral candidates and scholarship recipients are working each year in one of the 80 Max-Planck-Institutes. Roughly 700 doctoral dissertations and 20 post-doctoral dissertations are completed annually. About 3000 guest scientists and scholars a year work at the institutes. A list of institutes can be found at www.mpg.de/english/institut.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a leading organisation of applied research. It undertakes contract research on behalf of the industry, the service sector and the government. Commissioned and funded by the Federal and Lander (states) governments, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft undertakes strategical research projects which contribute to the development of innovations in key technologies and spheres of major public concern, such as energy, transportation and environment. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a recognised non-profit organisation and currently maintains 48 research establishments throughout Germany. More information about the Institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft can be found at www.fraunhofer.de/english/company/com_01.html.

The Hermann-von-Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres is the union of 16 non-university affiliated research institutions like the Julich Research Center or the German Center for Air and Space Travel (DLR). The Helmholtz Centres do basic and preventive research as well as technical development for the industry in natural science/technical as well as biological/medical fields. Their research emphasises environmental research, geosystems, energy and health care. More information about the Hermann-von-Helmholtz Association and their centres can be found at www.helmholtz.de (only German version).

The Leibniz Association is a research organisation made up of 79 non-university research institutes and service facilities in Germany. The tasks undertaken by the institutes range from regional infrastructure research and economics through research projects in the area of social sciences to natural sciences, engineering and environmental research. The Leibniz institutes are demand-oriented, interdisciplinary centers of competence, which regard themselves as co-operation partners for industry, public administration and politics; scientific co-operation with universities is particularly close and intensive. More information about the Leibnitz Association and their institutes can be found at www.wgl.de (only German version).

The above mentioned research institutes advertise vacant positions for doctorates on their websites. You have to keep in mind, however, that research institutes cannot grant doctorates. The doctorate will be gained at a university which co-operates with the respective research institute. The German Doctoral Degree may be a bit different from other countries: The core of the doctorate is a research project. Normally, doctoral candidates do not attend taught courses. They pursue their project under the supervision of and in very close co-operation with a professor, the “Doktorvater” (i.e. Ph.D. supervisor). In recent years, however, international PhD programmes have been established which are particularly suitable for doctoral candidates from abroad. These 3-year-programmes offer research positions in small, interdisciplinary group, close co-operation with your academic supervisors and accompanying seminars.

• DFG’s Research Traning Programme (Graduiertenkolleg) and
• Max Planck International Research Schools
• PHD – “Promotion an Hochschulen in Deutschland”

The Graduiertenkollegs are a university institution which promote the development of scientific staff in a defined research area where the doctoral candidates pursue their thesis work in the framework of a systematic and interdisciplinary study programme and in joint groups of researchers who co-ordinate their research activities. At the Graduiertenkollegs 16.6% of the scientific staff are international scholars at doctoral, 38% at postdoctoral level. There are 85 Graduiertenkollegs for Biology/medicine, 97 for Natural Sciences, 41 for Engineering. A list of the Graduiertenkollegs can be found on the website of the DFG, www.dfg.de/foerder/grako.

International Max Planck Research Schools are newly established programmes which are meant to promote international collaboration and to significantly increase the interest amongst foreign applicants for earning a Ph.D. degree in Germany. The applicants are selected according to their qualifications and aptitude for special fields of research by the scientists involved in setting up the respective Schools. Through the collaboration between Max Planck Institutes and universities, attractive training and research possibilities are being made available for doctoral candidates. A list of the schools can be found at http://www.mpg.de/english/institut/imprs/index.html.

PHD – “Promotion an Hochschulen in Deutschland” is a new programme geared towards highly qualified foreign applicants who wish to pursue their doctoral studies at a German university. More than 30 programmes in a wide range of disciplines have been established by now. A list of the programmes and a short description can be found at http://www.daad.de/hochschulen/de/5.2.5.2.html.

For postdoc-visits, the scientific orientation will mainly determine the choice of an institute. Generally speaking, the international environment of many of the non-university research facilities like the Max-Planck- and the Fraunhofer-Institutes as well as some institutes of the Leibnitz Association attract most of the foreign postdocs. They advertise vacant positions for postdocs and doctorates on their websites. However, as Croucher scholars do not require funding from the German side, he or she should simply contact any institute of interest and ask for possible cooperation.

Potential applicants may also find the following links useful:
www.campus-germany.de
“Campus Germany” is a portal for finding out more about academic studies, as well as career and research opportunities in Germany. In addition to basic information on these topics the site offers portraits of all of Germany’s institution of higher education. There is also a dictionary explaining important terms, an interactive forum, and much more. (English version available)

www.research-in-germany.de
In addition to information about research at German higher education institutions, this website offers in-depth descriptions of non-university research activities at important German research institutions. The site contains a wide range of information about frequently asked questions concerning possible research opportunities in Germany. (English version available)

www.forschungsportal.net
This research portal is a gateway to Germany’s research establishment. Information about research institutions can be found using the search engine or the map. (English version available)

www.daad.de/deutschland/en/2.2.4.html
Students can find information about international degree programs at German universities at the link above.

The Croucher Foundation is the first and only private body in Hong Kong which has been invited into a partnership agreement with DAAD. Students and young scientists who are interested in seeking Croucher support should be mindful of the date when applications are open for Croucher Fellowships and Scholarships (see relevant section on this website).

Scientific Research in France

Applicants of the Croucher Fellowships and Scholarships should note that under this Fellowships and Scholarships scheme, they can choose to pursue their research studies in institutions in France, with supervision and written work conducted in the English language, at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels, upon prior mutual agreement between the host institution and the student.

The Foundation is a formal official partner with two leading national scientific bodies in France. These are the French National Centre of Scientific Research, better known as CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and INRIA (Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique). Both bodies have agreed to offer specific services to Hong Kong students who identify themselves as Croucher award applicants.

CNRS is of course a famous and leading establishment in the international scientific community, and has under its wings over 1,300 laboratories and research institutes across all scientific disciplines, with an annual research budget of well over US$2.5 billion. Most CNRS research institutes are accommodated in and collaborated with leading universities in different parts of France, and therefore there is no doubt on the standing and status of the degrees and qualifications awarded.

INRIA is dedicated to fundamental and applied research in information and communication science and technology (ICST). The Institute also plays a major role in technology transfer by fostering training through research, diffusion of scientific and technical information, development, as well as providing expert advice and participating in international programs. By playing a leading role in the scientific community in the field and being in close contact with industry, INRIA is a major participant in the development of ICST in France.

Throughout its six research units in Rocquencourt, Rennes, Sophia Antipolis, Grenoble, Nancy and Bordeaux-Lille-Saclay, INRIA has a workforce of 3,500, 2,700 of whom are scientists from INRIA’s partner organizations such as CNRS, universities and leading engineering schools. They work in 120 joint research projects. Many INRIA researchers are also professors whose approximately 950 doctoral students work on theses as part of INRIA research projects. INRIA has an annual budget of 135 million euros, 20% of which comes from its own research contracts and development products.

France is of course consistently among the top four in the world’s ranking of scientific nations. CNRS has alone produced 11 Nobel laureates and many other awards, medals and prizes which are equivalent to the Nobel status.

How to Choose the Right Institution in France
An applicant wishing to find out whether his/her academic studies would fit in any of the CNRS or INRIA laboratories and match interests with possible supervisors for their PhD or postdoc may initially contact:

For CNRS, Mrs Chamira Lessigny,  Asia Pacific Division, in charge of International Relations, CNRS, 
Mailing address: 3, rue Michel-Ange, 75794 Paris Cedex, France;
Tel: +33 1 44 96 48 56;
Fax: +33 1 44 96 49 10;
Email: chamira.lessigny@cnrs-dir.fr.
Website https://dri-dae.cnrs-dir.fr/.

For INRIA, Emmanuelle Platzgummer, INRIA,
Mailing address: Domaine de Volucceau – Rocquencourt – B.P. 105 – 78153 Le Chesnay Cedex, France;
Tel: +33 1 39 63 57 68; Fax: +33 1 39 63 58 88;
Email: emmanuelle.platzgummer@inria.fr.

The www.inria.fr/travailler/index.en.html INRIA website provides detailed information about the specific scientific topics on ongoing projects that are interested in recruiting doctoral or postdoc participants (click here to see the details).

However applicants are welcomed to consider seeking admission to other French universities and institutions. In this connection, applicants will also note that the French infrastructure for research and industries is one of the best developed in the world. Hong Kong has much to learn about this connection with first-hand exposure. Please find below the information of some of the scientific institutions in France that may also be of interests to potential applicants:

The Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Genie Rural, des Eaux et des Forets (CEMAGREF) is a public research institute for rural and environmental engineering. Its role is to develop science bases for sustainable development of land, to protect and manage hydro-systems and the environment, revitalise the activities that improve it and prevent the risks involved with it. Its fields of activity are in hydrosystem functioning; water and waste disposal engineering and management; management of predominantly rural areas; and agricultural and food engineering. More information about CEMAGREF can be found at www.cemagref.fr.

The missions of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) are to organise and carry out all scientific research relevant to agriculture and agriculture-related industry, and to contribute to the development of a national research policy in its fields of competence, etc. Its fields of activity are in environment, forest and agriculture; society, economics and decision-making; human nutrition and food safety; plants and plant products; agriculture, development and prospects; and animals and animal products. More information about INRA can be found at www.inra.fr.

The missions of the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM) are to contribute to greater knowledge of and improving health by encouraging interfaces between basic research, cognitive and clinical medical research and public health research; to transfer and disseminate knowledge and skills; and to valorise these results in the fields of clinical and industrial applications and public health. The Institute has defined three priorities for the coming years based on fundamental research: research in physiology/physio-pathology to understand diseases; research into therapeutics (research into medicine, biomedical engineering, life therapeutics); public health research for improved knowledge about the determinants of the health of the population. For more information of INSERM, please visit www.inserm.fr.

The Institut Pasteur is both a basic research centre in biology, a centre for applied research in public health, a postgraduate teaching centre (training for research and diagnosis) and a specialised health centre for infectious diseases, tropical pathology and diseases of the immune system. It also has a historical museum, a scientific museum and a new Centre for scientific information that houses a large library. Its fields of activity are in bacteriology and mycology; molecular biology; biotechnology; ecology; immunology; physio-pathology; virology (AIDS and retrovirus particularly); and biochemistry and molecular genetics. More information of the Institute can be found at www.pasteur.fr. Applicants may also approach Pasteur Institut in Hong Kong for advice, website: www.hkupasteur.hku.hk, tel: 2816 8403, or email Professor Roberto Bruzzone at bruzzone@hkucc.hku.hk for enquiries.

The Commissariat A L’energie Atomique (CEA) is a public research organization that helps France to master atomic energy and its applications in the fields of energy, industry, research, health and defence. It also contributes to the national effort in research, technological innovation and the transfer of high-tech technology to industry. The CEA constitutes a pole for expertise and consultancy services for the Government. It supports the French nuclear industry at large. Its fields of activity are in nuclear research, support for energy policies and associated basic research; innovation and distribution of technology; and the transmission of knowledge. More information about CEA can be found at www.cea.fr.

The Centre National D’etudes Spatiales (CNES) elaborates and implements France’s space policy around two complementary ideas:

1. participation in European Space Agency (ESA) programs, and
2. implementation of a national program largely open to multilateral co-operation. Its fields of activity include:

• Access to space: using the Ariane ESA Programme and the developing a range of launch vehicles,
• Earth observation, giving top priority to technological innovation enabling management of our planet resources, and its monitoring with more and more performing satellites,
• Radiocommunications, including telecommunications, navigation, localisation and future satellite constellations, for projects to come on a European level,
• Knowledge of the Universe, using remote exploration facilities offered by space-borne systems,
• Space infrastructure: micro-gravity,
• Activities linked to defence needs.

Please visit www.cnes.fr for more information.

The Institut Francais de Recherche pour L’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) is an institute created for the study and exploitation of the marine world. Its remit covers three main functions: finalised research, resources agency (provides the scientific community with the oceanographic fleet and the associated major facilities) and a centre of expertise (support for Government bodies in the exercise of their responsibilities in terms of management of the coastline and control of the quality of maritime products). Its fields of activity are in the management of living marine resources; marine and submarine engineering and technology; and coastal environment and oceanic research. More information about IFREMER can be found at www.ifremer.fr.

Last Modified: 05/07/2011