PhD Scholarships in Culture Studies, Giessen University, Germany

Giessen University’s International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), funded by the German federal government’s Excellence Initiative, offers a three-year structured PhD-programme in the study of culture. With its excellent research environment, a doctoral programme which is tailored to the needs of PhD students and the intensive personal support it provides, the Graduate Centre offers postgraduate students optimum conditions for their PhD-projects and a custom-made preparation for the time thereafter, both with regard to academic and non-academic careers.From 01st October 2009, the GCSC offers up to 9 PhD scholarships.

PhD scholarships include a monthly stipend of approximately €1000 and are offered for one year with the possibility of two extensions, each of a year. Scholarships commence on October 1st, 2009.

Acceptance of a scholarship requires participation in the study programme and the wide-ranging events offered by the GCSC, as well as active involvement in at least one GCSC graduate research group. Scholarship holders must register as PhD students at Justus Liebig University. There are no tuition fees for doctoral students at JLU, except for an enrolment fee of approximately €200 per semester. Scholarship holders are expected to take up residency in or near Giessen.

The GCSC encourages applications from graduate students who have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours M.A.-degree (or equivalent) in one of the GCSC’s academic subjects* or in the arts/humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences. Fluency in either English or German is required.

The main selection criteria are the candidates’ academic qualification, the academic quality of the research proposal and the suitability of the project for the GCSC’s research programme. Short-listed candidates will be invited to a 30-minute interview; telephone interviews can be arranged for candidates from overseas.

All applications (including an application form and further documents as stated on the GCSC website) have to be submitted online. Please find further information on the two-stage application procedure on our website at http://gcsc.uni-giessen.de/application.

If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact us at gcsc-application@uni-giessen.de.

On 2nd February 2009, the GCSC will host an Information Day at the Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC), Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Alter Steinbacher Weg 38, 35394 Gießen. The Information Day gives potential applicants the opportunity to meet the staff and students involved in the doctoral programme. You will also have the chance to obtain more information on the research areas and academic objectives of the GCSC, the wide range of interdisciplinary courses, colloquia, and conferences, the research support on offer, our international networks and partner institutions, as well as on publishing and funding opportunities available to GCSC-members.

The closing date for applications is 1st March, 2009.

www.uni-giessen.de/gcsc or http://gcsc.uni-giessen.de/research