Scholarships

The GCSC offers up to 13 doctoral scholarships a year to excellent students wishing to pursue a doctorate in the study of culture. Scholarships amount to €1.468 a month and are granted on an annual basis with two potential annual extensions, thus covering the entire three-year programme. The GCSC supports young researchers with families; doctoral researchers with children under the age of twelve are eligible for renewals of up to four years.

We welcome applications from students who…

• … graduated with excellent marks from two-year research-track master’s programmes in the humanities or social sciences no longer than two years ago, and
• … propose a research project of outstanding academic quality which contributes substantially to one or more of our research areas.

Scholarships are advertised annually in December / January for entry in the following winter semester starting in October.

We employ a two-stage application process. For stage 1, candidates will be asked to upload a statement of intent, along with a CV and a short abstract outlining the goals of their PhD project onto the application website (open only during application periods). Furthermore, we ask you to submit two references from university teachers.

After we have reviewed and approved of the initial application, candidates will, at stage 2, be asked to submit the following documents:

• copies of all degree certificates
• a research proposal of no more than 10 pages. All proposals should include a brief abstract summing up aims and methods, sketch the guiding questions of the project within the context of current academic debates, and show how the dissertation will make an original and important contribution to the field. The proposal should also clearly indicate how the project can contribute to the GCSC research profile and outline the source materials that will be used.
• a realistic timetable for the completion of the project
• a printed copy of the undergraduate or master’s thesis (no CD-Roms)

After scrutinising the applications, the selection committee will invite the most promising applicants for an interview at Giessen which will determine which candidates will receive the scholarships.

Scholarship Advice

For all its predoctoral members, the GCSC provides specialist scholarship advice, helping to secure funding for living expenses.
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