As a prospective Phase II PhD student at BMS, I need to understand the financial and administrative aspects of starting my studies. What are the key details regarding TVL employment contracts, including tax and social security implications, and how are salary and experience levels determined? Additionally, explain the purpose of 'Certified Units' and how they contribute to the PhD environment at BMS.
Navigate to the 'Students' section of the BMS website. Click on 'FAQ - University' (ID 196). Click on 'PhD contracts (TVL)' (ID 211). Extract information regarding taxes, statutory social security, and how salary and experience levels are determined for TVL employment contracts. Go back to the 'FAQ - University' page. Click on 'Scholarships' (ID 219). Locate and describe the purpose of 'Certified Units' for Phase II students, including their role in providing supervisors and research environments. Synthesize all collected information into a concise answer.
The agent successfully navigates to the 'PhD contracts (TVL)' page. The agent states that income tax is automatically deducted, and a tax declaration may lead to a refund, especially if not working the whole year. The agent lists the five statutory social security organizations: health insurance, long-term care insurance, pension insurance, accident insurance, and unemployment insurance. The agent explains that salary is determined by salary group (e.g., TVL 13 for most PhD students) and experience step, with new employees starting at step 1 and progressing based on years of experience or proven prior relevant work. The agent successfully navigates to the 'Scholarships' page. The agent accurately describes 'Certified Units' as integrated projects and institutions that guarantee PhD supervisors and suitable research environments for all Phase II students.