Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here you will find answers to questions we regularly receive about the HYT Young Academy. If you have further questions about the HYT Young Academy which are not answered here, or which are not answered completely, please contact us directly via the e-mail address stipendien-hyt@uni-siegen.de.

Application process

• What are the application deadlines?

  The The HYT Young Academy scholarships are announced twice twice a year, typically in November and and in May. The exact application deadlines can be found the respective call for applications.

• Can I apply at another time?

  No, that is not possible.

• When do the scholarships start?

  The scholarships begin on 1 April of each year (call for applications for the summer semester, typically published in November) or on 1 October (call for applications for the winter semester, typically published in May).

• Can I take up my scholarship at another time?

  In justified exceptional cases, the start of the scholarship can be slightly postponed. In this case, please contact us.

• Does the application have to be in German?

  No. You can apply in German or English.

• What application documents do I need?

  The documents required for an application are listed in the respective call for applications.

• Can I apply without a mentor?

  No, that is not possible.

• How do I find a mentor?

  As recipient of a doctoral scholarship, the main supervisor of your doctoral project is also your mentor. We recommend that you contact a professor working in the respective subject at the University of Siegen at an early stage before applying. Please note that HYT cannot provide individual support during this phase..

• My mentor does not want to sign the declaration of commitment, what can I do??

  Often, this is due to a misunderstanding, which we have so far always been able to clear up in conversation with the mentor. In this case, please contact us before the application deadline, as an application without a signed declaration of commitment must be rejected for formal reasons.

• My last degree is not from the University of Siegen. Can I still apply?

  Yes. Only the doctorate we are funding must be completed at the University of Siegen. This means that you must be enrolled in the relevant doctoral programme by the third month after the start of the scholarship at the latest and submit the certificate of enrolment to HYT.

• I have already started my doctorate, can I still apply for a doctoral scholarship?

  An application is only possible if the doctorate has only recently begun, typically a maximum of one semester before the start of funding. The exact cut-off deadlines can be found in the respective call for applications.

• My last degree was completed more than a year ago. Can I still apply?

  An application is then only possible in exceptional cases. The prerequisite is that you have pursued a relevant or related activity between your graduation and the start of your doctorate. Periods of own illness, family care or parental leave are also relevant reasons. If you have any doubts, please be sure to describe your situation to us before the application deadline.

• When is funding excluded?

  Funding is excluded in any case if you have already completed a doctorate or if your doctoral project is or has already been funded by another body (double funding). The exact criteria for funding and the exclusion criteria can be found in the respective call for applications.

• I am already a research assistant ("wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in"), can I combine my position with a scholarship?

  Relevant employment at the University of Siegen as a research assistant ("wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in" or "wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft (WHK)") is permissible with a maximum of half of the regular working hours. It is also important for the application when the position was taken up, as this date counts as the start of the doctorate (see question "I have already started my doctorate, can I still apply for a doctoral scholarship?").

Selection process

• What does the selection process look like?

  The selection of doctoral scholarship recipients takes place in two stages. In the second selection round, the applicants with the applications of the highest scientific quality are asked to present their doctoral project to the awarding committee (see question "Who makes the selection?"). This usually consists of a presentation of the doctoral project lasting about ten minutes, followed by a discussion with the awarding committee.

• How can I prepare for my short presentation?

  The short presentation is about your doctoral project. It therefore makes sense to present it as concisely as possible. Guiding questions can be, for example:
  - What is my research question?
  - What methods will be used to answer it? Why?
  - How do I link to existing research?
  - Where do I go beyond existing research?
  
  It does not matter whether you speak freely or prepare a text, whether you work with or without PowerPoint slides. The important thing is that you can present your project and yourself convincingly.

• What are the criteria for selection?

  The scholarship is an excellence scholarship, which means that only your academic achievements and the quality of your research project are decisive.

• Are there any quotas?

  No. The scholarship is an excellence scholarship, which means that only your academic achievements and the quality of your research project are decisive. If possible, at least one of the advertised doctoral scholarships should be awarded to an international applicant, but here, too, academic excellence is the decisive criterion.

• Who makes the selection?

  The applications are reviewed by a selection committee with the participation of all faculties (usually represented by the respective vice deans for research or young academics) and the House of Young Talents. The selection of the applicants to be supported is made solely by the selection committee. In the decision-making process, the central equal opportunities officer and the representative for disabled persons are involved in an advisory capacity, if necessary.

• How long does the selection process take?

  In general, you will be informed about two to three weeks after the application deadline whether you have advanced to the second round and will be invited to give a presentation to the awarding committee. The presentations of the doctoral projects usually take place four to five weeks after the application deadline. You will be informed whether your application was ultimately successful shortly after the second selection round.

During the scholarship

• What do I get as a scholarship recipient?

  The funding consists of a non-material and a financial part. As part of the non-material funding, the HYT Young Academy supports the preparation for an academic career through its own programme of events. Regular interdisciplinary events for the scholarship recipients (approx. eight per semester) are organised alternately by supervising mentors and, if necessary, additional external speakers from which the scholarship recipients can choose according to their own interests. The current semester programme can be found here.
  
  The financial support amounts to 1,500 EUR per month for up to three years. In addition to the basic funding, the HYT Young Academy also maintains a fund for material grants to cover the costs of e.g. research and research trips, participation in meetings and conferences, research-related purchases, or invitations from external guests for talks. The eligible costs are limited to a maximum of 1,500 EUR per year.

• What are my obligations as a scholarship recipient?

  As a scholarship recipient, you are obliged to regularly participate in events of the HYT Young Academy. In addition, you must submit a progress report on the doctoral project (informal, approximately one page in length), countersigned by the mentor, as well as a current certificate of enrolment to the HYT every semester during your sponsorship (cut-off dates 31 March and 30 September) without being prompted. However, the primary obligation is, of course, to advance the doctoral project in accordance with the purpose of the funding and to complete it quickly.

• Do I have to take care of my health insurance myself?

  The scholarship is not subject to compulsory social insurance as it does not constitute remuneration according to § 14 SGB IV. Consequently, the awarding of the scholarship is not associated with the assumption of contributions for health insurance. The scholarship recipient must take out health insurance at his or her own expense.

• Do I have to pay taxes on the scholarship?

  No, the scholarship is tax-exempt under the conditions of § 3 No. 44 EStG. Nevertheless, the university is obliged under the notification regulations to notify the competent tax authorities of the payment of the scholarship.

• Can I work alongside the scholarship?

  In principle, yes, but there are restrictions: In addition to the scholarship, doctoral students are permitted to work at the University of Siegen as a research assistant ("wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in" or "wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft (WHK)") with a maximum of half of the regular working hours. A combination of such employment with another is not permitted. Employment that is not relevant to the subject (scientific or non-scientific) is permissible for a maximum of 5 hours per week.

• Can I pause my scholarship?

  An break is possible in justified exceptional cases. These can be, for example, the student's own illness, the care of relatives or parental leave. It is also possible to interrupt the scholarship in order to complete a semester abroad. More details can be found in the scholarship guidelines.

• Can I change my mentor?

  When receiving a doctoral scholarship, the approval of the selection committee is required for a change of mentor. In any case, the signed letter of commitment from the new mentor must be submitted in the event of a change of mentor.