Hans Bockler Foundation International Scholarships

The Hans Böckler Foundation offers International Scholarships for foreign doctoral candidates. The foundation focuses on co-determination, research linked to the world of work, and supporting students on behalf of the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB). The page presents multiple scholarship options, each with its own research stay and academic focus in Germany.

The page includes the Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship (all disciplines; research at Christian theological faculties and institutes at a public university in Germany), the Ute and György Széll International PhD-Scholarship (Social Sciences and Humanities; six months at a German university or research institute, foundation, or archive), and the Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship (Economics; twelve to twenty-four months at a German university or research institute). The programme Paul and Maria Kremer is open to non-German citizens in foreign countries.

Selection expects applicants to be politically, culturally, or socially engaged and to show an active interest in the core values of the Hans Böckler Foundation (explicitly stated for Paul and Maria Kremer; also stated for Ute and György Széll and Dieter Schumacher). For the Ute and György Széll scholarship, the HBS handles announcements and the application procedure, HBS formally approves applications, HBS department of study promotion conducts pre-selection with participation of Ute and György Széll, and the final decision is taken by the HBS PhD-committee.

The Paul and Maria Kremer scholarship supports research stays from 6 up to 24 months; the Ute and György Széll scholarship provides a six month-stay; and the Dieter Schumacher scholarship enables a 12-24 months-stay, with an age limit under 30 for Dieter Schumacher. For each scholarship option listed, the current benefits include a stipend of EUR 1850 for living expenses and a travel lump sum up to EUR 1735.

• Applicant must be a foreign doctoral candidate (applications from all countries, especially from the global south, are welcome).
• Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship: enrollment in a PhD program in theology or adjacent fields of social sciences or humanities.
• Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship: open to non-German citizens in foreign countries.
• Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship: no age limit.
• Ute and György Széll International PhD-Scholarship: enrollment in a PhD programme in the fields of Social Sciences or Humanities.
• Ute and György Széll International PhD-Scholarship: no limit of age.
• Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship: applicant must be in Economics doctoral studies.
• Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship: applicant must be under the age of 30.
• For Ute and György Széll International PhD-Scholarship: applicants must be politically, culturally, and socially engaged and have an active interest in the core values of the Hans Böckler Foundation.
• For Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship: applicants are expected to be politically, culturally, or socially engaged and to demonstrate an active interest in the core values of the Hans Böckler Foundation.
• For Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship: applicants are expected to be politically, culturally, and socially engaged and to have an active interest in the core values of the Hans Böckler Foundation.
• Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship: research at Christian theological faculties and institutes at a public university (non-private) in Germany; host PhD supervisor must belong to such a Christian theological faculty or institute.
• Ute and György Széll International PhD-Scholarship: six month-stay at a German university or research institute, foundation, or archive.
• Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship: twelve to twenty-four months stay at a German university or research institute.
• Applicant must provide a description of the doctoral project in the required format and length, including context of further career development (research plan, 3 pages).
• Applicant must provide a research paper outlining topic, questions, methodology and goals of research in Germany (3 pages).
• Applicant must provide an invitation letter from the host PhD supervisor in Germany (with the supervisor responsibilities and institutional belonging as stated for the relevant scholarship).
• Applicant must provide an assessment by the PhD supervisor at the home institution (for Ute and György Széll and Paul and Maria Kremer).
• Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship: additionally requires a letter of recommendation from the PhD supervisor at the home institution.
• Applicant must submit a CV (table form for Ute and György Széll and Dieter Schumacher; CV otherwise listed for Paul and Maria Kremer).
• Applicant must submit a diploma that entitles the applicant to pursue a doctorate.
• Applicant must submit an application form and follow the submission instructions (signed PDF and required documents by e-mail).

• Stipend of EUR 1850 for living expenses (for each of Paul and Maria Kremer, Ute and György Széll, and Dieter Schumacher as stated on the page).
• Travel lump sum up to EUR 1735 (for each of Paul and Maria Kremer, Ute and György Széll, and Dieter Schumacher as stated on the page).
• Paul and Maria Kremer International PhD-Scholarship: research stay from 6 up to 24 months at Christian theological faculties and institutes at a public university (non-private) in Germany.
• Ute and György Széll International PhD-Scholarship: six month-stay at a German university or research institute, foundation, or archive.
• Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship: 12-24 months stay at a German university or research institute.

1. Download and use the application form as indicated on the page.
2. Sign the application form and prepare it as a PDF file.
3. Prepare the other required documents.
4. Send the signed PDF and the other required documents by e-mail to bewerbung[at]boeckler.de.
5. For data protection reasons, use encrypted documents (recommendation stated on the page).
6. Submit by one of the application deadlines listed for the relevant scholarship option.

• Application form (signed PDF, with explanation and download linked on the page for some scholarships).
• Research plan describing the doctoral project, including context of further career development (3 pages) for Paul and Maria Kremer and Ute and György Széll; for Dieter Schumacher: description of doctoral project (3 pages).
• Research paper outlining topic, questions, methodology and goals of research in Germany (3 pages) for Paul and Maria Kremer, Ute and György Széll, and Dieter Schumacher.
• Invitation letter from the host PhD supervisor in Germany (with the stated responsibility and, for Paul and Maria Kremer, requirement that the person belongs to a Christian theological faculty or institute at a public university in Germany).
• Assessment by the PhD supervisor at the home institution for Paul and Maria Kremer and Ute and György Széll.
• Letter of recommendation from the PhD supervisor at the home institution for Dieter Schumacher.
• Your CV (table form for Ute and György Széll and Dieter Schumacher; CV listed for Paul and Maria Kremer).
• Your diploma that entitles you to pursue a doctorate.