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Technical University of Munich
Participants of the Global Fellows Program 2024 at Imperial College London (Foto: Chris Meadows)

Global Fellows Program

Application for the Global Fellows Program 2025 is now open until 15 April 2025!

From 28 July – 1 August 2025, TUM will hold the 5th trilateral Global Fellows Programme in partnership with the Imperial College London (Imperial) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore). 

In the current scientific environment, international and interdisciplinary collaborations and networking are fundamental to developing successful projects. In a competitive research environment, funding bodies increasingly look for interdisciplinary, collaborative research with partners worldwide. The modern researcher requires both excellence in research and strong professional collaborative competencies. Over one week, approximately 40 doctoral researchers from TUM, NTU, and Imperial will develop collaborative interdisciplinary competencies and intercultural awareness required to establish and continue successful collaborations. Participants will also engage in intercultural and interdisciplinary discussions under the program theme “Multidisciplinary solutions for climate-responsive societies” and will develop creative innovations to address global challenges under the program theme.  

Climate change demands urgent action, with rising temperatures and extreme weather affecting the health, economies, and infrastructure of societies worldwide. Many cities grapple with worsening heatwaves and flooding, while more and more rural areas face declining crop yields, droughts, and ecosystem degradation. Climate responsivity creates societies that are resilient, flexible, adaptive, and sustainable in a changing climate. Climate-responsive societies protect people and ecosystems while maintaining social and economic stability. Developing climate-responsive societies requires technological innovations and calls for the convergence of diverse fields, including social and political sciences, health sciences, life and environmental sciences, economics, engineering, and urban planning. This convergence of scientific perspectives opens exciting opportunities to develop innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to immediate and long-term climate challenges. During the Global Fellows Programme participants will enhance their interdisciplinary and collaborative skills and competencies while creating holistic and inclusive strategies to boost adaptation and climate responsivity in urban and rural societies while ensuring that solutions are equitable and applicable to global and local contexts. 

Guest speakers from Imperial, TUM, and NTU will provide participants with insights into current research (but not limited to) within the topics of the program to inspire the development of creative solutions.  

A background on the subject is not essential, doctoral candidates from any discipline are invited to apply for this 5-day professional development course. 

During the 5-day program, participants will work in interdisciplinary and international groups, assisted by a coach from one of the partner universities. During the program, participants will enhance the following:

  • Their ability to work collaboratively on research ideas
  • Their ability to network and communicate effectively and with impact in interdisciplinary and intercultural groups
  • Their intercultural and international competency and awareness
  • Their creativity in developing collaborative research ideas
  • Their appreciation of research in international institutions

While the program will provide insights into current research on “Multidisciplinary solutions for climate-responsive societies,” the Global Fellows Program focuses on practical, transferable skills and international & intercultural networking. This emphasis on real-world skills and global connections makes the program a valuable opportunity, even though it does not count towards the minimum of 6 semester credit hours of mandatory subject-specific training.

Each year, the GFP follows a similar program. Get an idea by looking at last year's GFP program here.   

Application is open to doctoral candidates from all disciplines and TUM Schools/Campus Straubing. Applicants should have a keen interest in the academic theme and be willing to engage with topics and concerns in this area. However, an in-depth background in the area is not required.

TUM applicants must:

  • Be a current doctoral candidate at TUM (no guest doctorates)
  • Be a full member of the TUM Graduate School
  • Be fluent in English and comfortable to engage with other participants in English
  • Have already secured support for participation from their respective thesis supervisors
  • Be able to participate in the entire one-week program (from 28 July - 01 August 2025) in Munich
  • Be willing to share their experiences on the program with the TUM-GS community

Apply now until Sunday, 30 March 2025. 

To apply for the Imperial-TUM-NTU Global Fellows Program 2025, please submit the following documents in one single PDF file via email to Mrs Zizheng Zhang:

  • Fully completed Imperial-TUM-NTU Global Fellows 2025 Application Form
  • CV
  • Motivation letter outlining why you are applying for the Global Fellows Program and why you are interested in the academic theme. Please state your expectations and goals for the summer school - max. 2-page
  • Summary of your doctoral research project - max. two pages

Successful applicants will be notified by mid-April 2025.

The TUM Graduate School offers 13 fully funded spots, which include the following: 

  • Course fee for the entire course week
  • Upon request- accommodation during the course week for TUM participants from TUM Campus Heilbronn and TUM Straubing
  • Lunch during the course week

General terms of participation

  • TUM Graduate School offers 13 funded 2025 Global Fellows Program spots.
  • The course will take place in Munich at a TUM-external venue near Munich Ostbahnhof. Participation in all five course days is required.
  • The Global Fellows Program is an intense 5-day program. Participants must be committed to all five days of the program and benefit most when they can take leave from their usual workload. We recommend discussing the time commitment with your thesis supervisor in advance. Supervisors must have agreed to the doctoral candidate's participation in the program.
  • For TUM participants based on the TUM campuses in Straubing and Heilbronn, the TUM Graduate School will- upon request, arrange for accommodation for the course week from Sunday, 27 July 2025 (check-in) to Saturday, 2 August 2025 (check-out).
  • TUM Graduate School will not reimburse travel costs to/from the program venue. 

Cancellation policy

  • Cancellation of participation is free of charge until 15 May 2025.
  • For any cancellations after 15 May 2025, a cancellation fee of 500 euros will apply if we cannot find another candidate to fill your spot on short notice.
  • If you cancel your participation after 1 July 2025 or fail to appear on the day the course starts, we will need to charge you the full course fee of 1,000 euros for the summer school.
  • In the event of illness, we will waive the cancellation fee. However, please inform us of this no later than 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, 27 July 2025, and provide us with a doctor’s letter within 3 days. Otherwise, you will be charged the full course fee of 1,000 euros.

Before or following the Global Fellows Program (GFP) in July/August 2025, participating TUM doctoral candidates have the opportunity to do a research stay at Imperial College London or at the Nanyang Technology University Singapore. As a financial supplement for accommodation, travel, and living expenses in London/Singapore, the TUM Graduate School offers 5 exclusive grants of 1,000 EUR* each for TUM participants of the Imperial-TUM-NTU Global Fellows Program 2025.

In order to apply for the exclusive Research@Global Fellows Grant, please: 

1. Discuss this possibility with your doctoral supervisor and contact a potential host at Imperial/NTU directly.
2. Once you have found a suitable host at Imperial/NTU, please ask him/her for an invitation letter for your intended research stay.
3. Submit the Research@Global Fellows application form and invitation letter from your Imperial/NTU host via email to Mrs Zizheng Zhang. 

*It is possible to combine the Research@Global Fellows Grant with other TUM-GS funding options.

For information about the Global Fellows Program, please contact:

Mrs Zizheng Zhang 
International Engagement & Diversity
TUM Graduate School
Email: zhang@zv.tum.de
Phone: +49 89 289 10631

I just started my doctorate at the TUM and am not yet registered on the doctoral list of my School. Can I apply for the GFP? 

We can only accept doctoral candidates already registered in the doctoral candidacy list. However, we still encourage you to apply as we might be able to offer you a place on the waiting list and a spot at a later time. 

I am at the end of my doctorate. Can I still participate in the GFP? 

All doctoral candidates are encouraged to apply for the GFP. 

I have already participated once in the GFP. Can I apply again? 

Unfortunately, doctoral candidates can only participate once in the GFP. 

What does the program look like? 

The week focuses on international and intercultural collaboration with 5-6 input talks by academics from TUM, NTU Singapore, and Imperial College London. Most of the time, participants work in small groups on their collaboration projects. Have a look at last year’s program here for a better idea of the program. 

I am mainly interested in the scientific exchange with the other participants and academics. Is the GFP the right course for me? 

The GFP is not a scientific course. There will be 4-5 talks from academics related to the course theme of “Multidisciplinary solutions for climate-responsive societies.” However, the GFP is a transferable skills course focusing on international and interdisciplinary collaboration. If you are looking for a scientific course, the GFP is not the right program for you. 

What is included in a fully funded spot? 

If chosen for participation, the TUM-GS will cover the course fee and one welcome dinner and lunch during the course week. 

Will the TUM-GS reimburse any travel expenses to/from the course venue? 

No. The TUM-GS will not reimburse travel expenses to/from the course venue. 

I am based at TUM Campus Heilbronn/TUM Straubing. Can I still apply, and what kind of financial support will I get? 

Upon request, the TUM-GS will cover accommodation expenses in the designated course hotel during the course week for TUM participants from TUM Campus Heilbronn and TUM Straubing. However, the TUM-GS will not reimburse travel expenses to/from the course venue. 

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