BerGSAS-DAAD Scholarships 2026, Germany (Fully Funded)

Apply now for the prestigious DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) at the Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS) - offering fully funded doctoral scholarships for international students from October 2026 to September 2030.

The DAAD-funded program is hosted by top German universities - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin - and aims to support outstanding early career researchers in the fields of archaeology, ancient studies, philology, theology, and related disciplines.

Each selected PhD student will receive:

1. Monthly stipend of €1,300
2. Travel allowance
3. Health, accident, and liability insurance
4. Study and research funding
5. Material resources: €1,000 per year
6. Family and rent allowances (if applicable)
7. Pre-sessional German language course support
8. International research mobility support (up to 25% of scholarship period)

The Predoc Scholarship supports students who are:

• Completing their Master’s degree (MA) and preparing for doctoral studies
• Planning to pursue a Doctorate (PhD) at Freie Universität Berlin

1. Ancient Languages and Texts (ALT)

Focus: Ancient texts, philology, linguistics, digital humanities

Eligible Fields:

1. Ancient History, Late Antiquity, Early Middle Ages
2. Greek, Latin, Coptic, Ancient Oriental Languages
3. Egyptology, Iranian Studies, Jewish Studies
4. Comparative Indo-European Linguistics
5. Protestant Theology, Religious Studies, Roman Law

2. Ancient Objects and Visual Studies (AOViS)

Focus: Image communication, archaeological artifacts, visual culture

Eligible Fields:

1. Ancient Oriental Studies
2. Classical, Near Eastern, and Prehistoric Archaeology
3. Egyptology and Northeast African Archaeology

3. Landscape Archaeology and Architecture (LAA)

Focus: Landscape archaeology, architecture, geostatistical methods

Eligible Fields:

1. Classical, Near Eastern, Prehistoric Archaeology
2. Egyptology with a landscape focus

Open to international students of all nationalities.

To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:

1. Be a non-German citizen
2. Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
3. Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
4. Have not previously completed a PhD
5. Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)

Application Requirements

To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:

1. Be a non-German citizen
2. Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
3. Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
4. Have not previously completed a PhD
5. Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)

Application Process and Deadline

Deadline: 15 October 2025, 00:00 CET

Where to apply: BerGSAS Application Portal

Two-Stage Selection Process:

Stage 1:

1. Register and submit your documents via the BerGSAS portal
2. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview

Stage 2:

1. Final decision made by DAAD, following university admission procedures

Required Documents

1. Copy of degrees and transcripts (B.A. and M.A.)
2. Proof of English language proficiency
3. Research proposal
4. Two letters of recommendation (one from your home university)
5. Curriculum vitae

Referees must send the letters directly to:

[email protected]

Additional Admission Options

Applicants may also apply for study places (without funding) in the following BerGSAS programs:

1. Ancient Languages and Texts
2. Ancient Objects and Visual Studies
3. Landscape Archaeology and Architecture
4. Ancient Philosophy and History of Science

Deadlines for Study Place Applications:

1. Summer semester (April 2026 start): Apply by September 30, 2025 of the previous year
2. Winter semester (October 2026 start): Apply by April 30, 2026

FAQs

1. Can I apply if I have not yet received my master's degree certificate?

Yes, but you must have submitted and received a grade for your master's thesis by the application deadline. Final documentation will be required before enrollment.

2. Do I need to submit proof of German language skills?

No, but scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend a pre-sessional German language course funded by DAAD.

3. What makes a strong application?

A compelling research proposal aligned with the chosen program's focus, excellent academic performance, strong recommendation letters, and clearly demonstrated language skills (especially in ancient languages and English).