University of Münster Germany DAAD PhD Scholarships

The Graduate School Practices of Literature (GSPoL) at the University of Münster invites international candidates to apply for its three-year PhD programme, offering up to two scholarships. The opportunity is sponsored by the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP), funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in collaboration with the Federal Foreign Office. Scholarship awards are contingent upon available funding.

The programme is aimed at international candidates applying to the GSPoL PhD programme. Areas of study include English/American Studies, Arabic/Islamic Studies, German Studies, Latin Philology/Studies, (Neo-)Medieval Latin Studies, Dutch Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Romance Studies (French, Spanish and Italian Literature), Sinology, and Slavic Studies. The curriculum includes lecture series and workshops, colloquia, research groups, and mandatory electives such as internships and academic teaching.

Selection follows a three-step process. Step 1 is a written application to the GSPoL via email as a single PDF file (letters of reference sent separately by request). Step 2 is an interview at the GSPoL. Step 3 is nomination to the DAAD and a standard DAAD application procedure via the DAAD portal, with a final decision by the DAAD.

Support is provided for three years, with the possibility to apply for a one-year extension. The Graduate School offers interdisciplinary supervision through a support group with three supervisors and a written mentoring agreement with an individual timeline established at the beginning of the programme. Research phases outside Germany during the funding period can be supported under specified limits.

• Applicant must be an international candidate.
• Applicant must apply to the Graduate School Practices of Literature (GSPoL) PhD programme at the University of Münster.
• Applicant must have an excellent academic profile.
• Applicant must have a GSPoL-related university degree: typically a master’s degree in literary studies with a minimum GPA of 2.0, or in exceptional cases a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 1.50, according to the German grading system.
• Language requirements: German and English language skills are required, with one at level C1 and the other at level B1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• Additional foreign language skills are required according to Annex B of the PhD Study Regulations of the Department of Philology or History/Philosophy.
• At the time of nomination (submission of the nomination letter to the DAAD), applicants must not have resided in Germany for more than fifteen months.
• As a rule, applicants should not have graduated more than six years prior to the nomination date (exceptions apply).
• Applicants with a PhD are not eligible.
• Research phases outside Germany during the funding period can be supported if they do not exceed 25 percent of the total funding period and do not take place at the beginning of the programme.
• Applications may be submitted in German or English.

• Funding for three years.
• Possibility to apply for a one-year extension.
• Interdisciplinary supervision via an interdisciplinary support group consisting of three supervisors, with a written mentoring agreement and an individual timeline established and signed at the beginning of the programme.
• Curriculum components include lecture series and workshops, colloquia, research groups, and mandatory electives such as internships and academic teaching.

1. Submit a written application to the GSPoL via email as a single PDF file (letters of reference are handled separately; see documents required). The application content must include the items listed for Step 1.
2. Participate in an interview at the GSPoL.
3. After the GSPoL process, the applicant is nominated to the DAAD and completes the standard application procedure at and final decision by the DAAD (online application with supporting documentation via the DAAD portal).

• Letter of motivation stating the reasons for application to the GSPoL.
• Curriculum vitae (without photograph).
• Proof of completion of a GSPoL-related university degree, typically including a degree certificate and a transcript of records listing courses and grades and explaining the grading system at the applicant’s home university, plus a certified translation if original documents are not in German or English.
• Proof of German and English language skills, and possibly additional foreign language skills, according to § 5 (2) of the GSPoL study regulations.
• Brief (approx. half-page) abstract of the PhD project.
• Approx. 10-page project proposal discussing research aims and methodology, plus contents, originality and significance of the project.
• Timeline including optional stays/studies abroad of up to nine months in total (up to 25 percent of the duration of the scholarship) that may not be scheduled at the beginning of the programme.
• Two letters of reference (including at least one letter from a professor from the applicant’s home university); if the applicant holds a bachelor’s degree or has completed a first academic degree with a regular duration of less than eight semesters, three references are required, using the official DAAD template (Word), with professors emailing the confidential document to the GSPoL.
• Online application with supporting documentation via the DAAD portal as part of the DAAD application procedure in Step 3.