diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1fd93aa..c4d97c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,20 +1,17 @@
 # LaTeX DFG template 
 
-__Last updated according to the DFG original template: June 2022__
-
-A LaTeX template for a basic DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, German Research Foundation) grant proposal. __Attention__: you need ``pdflatex`` and ``biber`` (not ``bibtex``) to compile the document. 
+A LaTeX template for a basic DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, German Research Foundation) grant proposal. __Attention__: you need ``pdflatex`` and ``biber`` (not ``bibtex``) to compile the document. **Last updated according to the DFG original template listed in the header of the compiled PDF file (or in the `*.tex` files). Please check and open an issue if there are any updates to the original template not reflected here!**
 
 ## Acknowledgements
 
-This template is based on the template of the [Measurement Engineering Group](https://github.com/emtpb/proposal_dfg) and based on the RTF [DFG form 53_01_en 11/20](http://www.dfg.de/formulare/53_01_elan/53_01_en_elan.rtf), __last accessed in February 2021__.
-
-Thanks [@nneuss](https://github.com/nneuss) a German version is also available. Please use `dfg-german.tex` instead of `dfg.tex` for the German version. The german version is based on [DFG form 53.01 elan 03/22](https://www.dfg.de/formulare/53_01_elan/53_01_de_elan.rtf, __last accessed in June 2022__.
+This template is based on the template of the [Measurement Engineering Group](https://github.com/emtpb/proposal_dfg) and mimicks the RTF template and PDF guidelines provided by [DFG with a focus on a "Sachbeihilfe" grant](https://www.dfg.de/foerderung/programme/einzelfoerderung/sachbeihilfe/formulare_merkblaetter/index.jsp). 
+Thanks [@nneuss](https://github.com/nneuss) a German version is also available. Please use `dfg-german.tex` instead of `dfg.tex` for the German version.
 
 Thanks [@dl1chb](https://github.com/dl1chb) for better ToDo handling via the [todonotes package](https://www.ctan.org/pkg/todonotes) and updates of the template.
 
 Thanks [@mank4](https://github.com/mank4) for the implementation of a gantt chart and better handling of subsections for work packages.
 
-Thanks [@klb2](https://github.com/klb2/dfg-proposal-template) for the implementation of consecutive section numbers for 1.2.1 and 1.2.2.
+Thanks [@klb2](https://github.com/klb2/dfg-proposal-template) for the implementation of consecutive section numbers for 1.2.1 and 1.2.2. *Deprecated* since DFG template version 54.01 09/22 where references are only listed in Section 3. 
 
 Thanks [@gituser789](https://github.com/gituser789) for the implementation of an own literature feature with separate numbering. 
 
@@ -65,6 +62,10 @@ docker run --rm -v $PWD:$PWD -w $PWD $DOCKER biber dfg
 ...
 ```
 
+## Optional content
+
+The template implements some stuff that is not required by the original DFG template (or even needs to be removed when submitting to DFG). This includes a nice title page, as well as sections for a Signature and a List of Attachements. The LaTeX code is still available, just uncomment in the respective `dfg.tex` or `dfg-german.tex`. 
+
 ## ToDo-Notes, reference labels and draft mode
 By default, ToDos and labels are activated (see below) which is considered the _draft_ mode of the template. To turn both of them off (e.g. for the final version) just change `\setboolean{finalcompile}{false}` in dfg.tex to `\setboolean{finalcompile}{true}`.
 
@@ -77,7 +78,9 @@ In addition you will see some labels at the margins. These are caused by another
 
 Most of customization (citation style, etc.) can be done by changes in the `proposal.sty`.
 
-## Bibliography
+## Bibliography 
+
+**deprecated since DFG template version 54.01 09/22. All literature is listed in Section 3 now.**
 
 To add references to different parts of the proposal, you can define categories:
 
@@ -131,6 +134,6 @@ I used this template for an actual proposal submission in 2019 to the DFG that w
 
 If you use this template and receive a confirmation, please let me know and I will be happy to reference your successful application here! :)
 
-Furthermore, please be aware that since May 2020 the proposal is split into a more research focused part (sections 1-4, max. 17 pages) and all the supplementary information (starting section 5, max. 8 pages). Please also always check if there are any changes to the [DFG template](https://www.dfg.de/foerderung/programme/einzelfoerderung/sachbeihilfe/formulare_merkblaetter/index.jsp)!
+Furthermore, please be aware that since May 2020 the proposal is split into a more research focused part (sections 1-3, max. 17 pages) and all the supplementary information (starting section 4, max. 8 pages). Please also always check if there are any changes to the [DFG template](https://www.dfg.de/foerderung/programme/einzelfoerderung/sachbeihilfe/formulare_merkblaetter/index.jsp)!
 
 
diff --git a/dfg-german.tex b/dfg-german.tex
index 5508519..9a7fde3 100644
--- a/dfg-german.tex
+++ b/dfg-german.tex
@@ -36,9 +36,13 @@
  
 \begin{document}
 \pagestyle{empty}
-\setcounter{page}{0}
+\setcounter{page}{1}
 
-\input{title_page-german}
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%% A NICE TITLE PAGE - OPTIONAL BC NOT IN THE ORIGINAL DFG TEMPLATE
+% if you use the title page, set the \setcounter{page}{0} above!
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%\input{title_page-german}
 
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 %%%%  MAIN MATTER  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
@@ -200,7 +204,7 @@ \subsection{Relevanz von Geschlecht und/oder Vielfältigkeit}
 % von den zitierten eigenen Arbeiten können max. 10 hervorgehoben werden; Schrift mind. Arial 9 pt
 \section{Projekt- und themenbezogenes Literaturverzeichnis}
 \label{sec:bib}
-\todo{Works cited from sections 1 and 2, both by the applicant(s) and by third parties. Please include DOI/URL if available. A maximum of ten of your own works cited may be highlighted; font at least Arial 9 pt.}
+\todo{[inline]Works cited from sections 1 and 2, both by the applicant(s) and by third parties. Please include DOI/URL if available. A maximum of ten of your own works cited may be highlighted; font at least Arial 9 pt.}
 %\AtNextBibliography{\small}
 \newrefcontext[labelprefix= ]
 \printbibliography[notcategory=reviewed, notcategory=nonreviewed, notcategory=patents_pending, notcategory=patents, heading=none, env=bibliographyNUM]
@@ -383,19 +387,21 @@ \subsection{Modul Öffentlichkeitsarbeit}
 \subsection{Modul Pauschale für Chancengleichheitsmaßnahmen}
 \todo[inline]{Bitte erläutern Sie ausführlich die geplanten Maßnahmen zur Förderung der Vielfalt und Chancengleichheit. Sofern Sie Ihren Sachbeihilfeantrag innerhalb eines Verbundkontextes stellen, so kann diese Pauschale nur gebündelt im Koordinierungsprojekt beantragt werden.}
 
-\section{Unterschrift}
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%% SIGNATURE - OPTIONAL BC NOT IN THE ORIGINAL DFG TEMPLATE
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%\section{Unterschrift}
 
-\includegraphics[width=0.18\textwidth]{/signatures/signature.pdf}\\
-Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
+%\includegraphics[width=0.18\textwidth]{/signatures/signature.pdf}\\
+%Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
 
-\section{Anhänge}
-\begin{itemize}
-  \item Curriculum Vit\ae, Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
-\end{itemize}
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%% LoA - OPTIONAL BC NOT IN THE ORIGINAL DFG TEMPLATE
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%\section{Anhänge}
+%\begin{itemize}
+%  \item Curriculum Vit\ae, Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
+%\end{itemize}
 
 \end{document}
 
-%%% Local Variables:
-%%% mode: latex
-%%% TeX-master: t
-%%% End:
diff --git a/dfg.tex b/dfg.tex
index 309eea7..2cc3326 100644
--- a/dfg.tex
+++ b/dfg.tex
@@ -36,9 +36,13 @@
 
 \begin{document}
 \pagestyle{empty}
-\setcounter{page}{0}
+\setcounter{page}{1}
 
-\input{title_page}
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%% A NICE TITLE PAGE - OPTIONAL BC NOT IN THE ORIGINAL DFG TEMPLATE
+% if you use the title page, set the \setcounter{page}{0} above!
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%\input{title_page}
 
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 %%%%  MAIN MATTER  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
@@ -51,7 +55,7 @@
 % concise description of your previous postgraduate training and research,
 % highlighting your abilities and demonstrating that you are capable of carrying
 % out the proposed project. Describe your scientific track record to date,
-% mentioning research topics that you’ve worked on so far. Previous scientific
+% mentioning research topics that you've worked on so far. Previous scientific
 % accomplishments must not be directly related to the project.
 
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
@@ -194,7 +198,7 @@ \subsection{Relevance of sex, gender and/or diversity}
 % A maximum of ten of your own works cited may be highlighted; font at least Arial 9 pt.
 \section{Project- and subject-related list of publications}
 \label{sec:bib}
-\todo{Works cited from sections 1 and 2, both by the applicant(s) and by third parties. Please include DOI/URL if available. A maximum of ten of your own works cited may be highlighted; font at least Arial 9 pt.}
+\todo[inline]{Works cited from sections 1 and 2, both by the applicant(s) and by third parties. Please include DOI/URL if available. A maximum of ten of your own works cited may be highlighted; font at least Arial 9 pt.}
 %\AtNextBibliography{\small}
 \newrefcontext[labelprefix=]
 \printbibliography[notcategory=reviewed, notcategory=nonreviewed, notcategory=patents_pending, notcategory=patents, heading=none, env=bibliographyNUM]	
@@ -370,16 +374,21 @@ \subsection{Module Public Relations}
 \subsection{Module Standard Allowance for Gender Equality Measures}
 \todo[inline]{Please detail what measures are planned to promote diversity and equal opportunities.  If you are submitting your proposal for an individual research grant within a network, note that this standard allowance may only be applied for within the coordination project. The coordination project must combine all such requests in its calculation.}
 
-
-\section{Signature}
-
-\includegraphics[width=0.18\textwidth]{/signatures/signature.pdf}\\
-Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
-
-\section{List of attachments}
-\begin{itemize}
-  \item Curriculum Vit\ae, Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
-\end{itemize}
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%% SIGNATURE - OPTIONAL BC NOT IN THE ORIGINAL DFG TEMPLATE
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%\section{Signature}
+
+%\includegraphics[width=0.18\textwidth]{/signatures/signature.pdf}\\
+%Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
+
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%% LoA - OPTIONAL BC NOT IN THE ORIGINAL DFG TEMPLATE
+%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
+%\section{List of attachments}
+%\begin{itemize}
+%  \item Curriculum Vit\ae, Dr.\ Martin H\"olzer
+%\end{itemize}