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John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies

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Graduate School of North American Studies (GSNAS)

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Application Procedure

The following documents will have to be included in the online application. You will find all relevant details on the specificities (length, file size, etc,) of the documents listed below after registering on our application platform. We therefore kindly ask you to refrain from inquiries on application documents before accessing the online application form. You can revise your application before submitting the complete application dossier and hence complete the application process in several steps. Please note that the referees listed on your application will not be sent the link to upload their reference letter until after application has been submitted. The upload deadline for reference letters is February 15, 2023.

• A Curriculum Vitae (in English)
• A Statement of Purpose of approx. 2 pages (in English)
• Copies of Earned Degrees/Diplomas/Graduation Certificates (High School, BA, MA, etc.) Please note: Applicants who have not obtained their MA/MSc degree by the deadline must provide a transcript of records specifying that two thirds of the credit points for the master's degree has been completed (e.g. that 80 out of 120 CPs have been obtained). I n case the MA/MSc thesis has not been submitted by the application deadline, one of the two referees must be the thesis supervisor . The final grade of the MA thesis/program should ideally be sent to the attention of the GSNAS office before the interviews in April. The official diploma for the final degree (MA, MSc) must be submitted no later than June 30, 2024 in order to ensure the admission by the respective school/department (Fachbereich).  The Graduate School reserves the right to review MA/MSc program completion on a case-by-case basis in the event that COVID-19-related delays can be documented.
• An Outline of the Dissertation Project of 8-10 pages (in English)
• A work plan/timeline (in English )
• A Writing Sample based on a chapter of the M.A. thesis or an already published journal article (in English or German)
• Proof of Language Proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, CAS, CPE) All applicants who are neither native English speakers nor have earned a degree at a university with English as language of instruction are required to submit certification of their English proficiency: minimum TOEFL scores of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) and 100 (internet-based) or equivalent minimum CAE (A and B), CPE (A, B, C) or IELTS (7.0) scores. A degree in North American Studies or English Language and Literature, earned at a German university is not sufficient as a proof of English language skills. It will only be accepted if the entire curriculum was taught in English. In addition, stays/semesters abroad will not be accepted as a substitute for a language test.
• Two Recent Letters of Reference (to be uploaded separately by the respective referee by February 15, 2024)

In the event that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional complications for submitting any of the above application materials, please contact us at [email protected] .

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"I am part of an incredible research group and I'm able to attend all the events that are constantly happening at the universities or other institutions, while getting to travel around the world for regular conferences and workshops. Due to this wonderful mix of activities I get to grow more and more academically and personally."

/// Sofía Garzón, Colombia, Berlin Mathematical School - BMS

„Berlin offers an excellent environment for my doctoral studies in the history of ancient Israel, providing access to renowned experts in the field and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for a comprehensive exploration of the subject.“

/// Jonathan Böhm, Germany, Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies

“The foundation of my research lies in the seamless collaboration of diverse disciplines. The Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies not only provides me with a comprehensive platform to embark on my PhD journey, but also offers me invaluable opportunities to foster interdisciplinary perspectives.”

/// Lu Tian, China, Berliner Antike-Kolleg

The capital region of Germany is the place to be for

Doctoral researchers:.

Five universities offer doctoral programs with excellent funding opportunities and join forces with outstanding non-university research institutions to generate a unique, vibrant academic environment.

This website will give you an insight into what the Berlin area has in store in all disciplines, ranging from ancient history to astrophysics – browse and be inspired!

Search Programs

Klick here if you wish to browse through relevant disciplines.

Doctoral Programs

The Literary and Epistemic History of Small Forms

/// Humanities, Languages and literature

Berlin School of Integrative Oncology

/// Berlin School of Integrative Oncology, BSIO, Cancer

Berlin School of Mind and Brain

/// Berlin School of Mind and Brain, mind sciences, brain sciences, linguistics

Berlin School for Regenerative Therapies

/// Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, BSRT, endogenous tissue...

Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience

/// Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, BCNN Berlin, brain

Clinical Exercise Science

/// exercise, prevention and rehabilitation

Biomedical Sciences (DRS)

/// life sciences, infectious diseases

German-Israeli Helmholtz Research School

/// Cell Signaling, Gene Regulation, Molecular Cell Medicine, biomedical sciences

Hertie School of Governance

/// Governance, social science

International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language And Brain

/// Erasmus Mundus, laboratory-based, language, brain

MDC-NYU PhD Exchange Program of the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology

/// Genomics, Medical Systems Biology

Medical Neurosciences

/// Neurosciences, central nervous systems, peripheral nervous systems, medical...

Multiscale Bio-Systems

/// biosystems, macromolecules in aqueous solutions, molecular recognition, free energy...

Plant Sciences

/// Plant Sciences, extinction of species, climate change

ZIBI Graduate School Berlin

/// infection biology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology

The International Max Planck Research School on Computational Methods in Psychiatry and Ageing Research

/// computer science, applied mathematics and statistics, psychology, psychiatry

Einstein Center of Catalysis/Berlin International Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Engineering

/// catalysis-related research, natural sciences, engineering

Berlin Mathematical School

/// Mathematics

Dahlem Research School of Molecular Science

/// molecular natural science, Molecular Switches on Surfaces, Protonation Dynamics in...

Dynamical Phenomena in Complex Networks

/// Networks with complex topology, self- organization in evolving complex networks

Gravitational Wave Astronomy

/// gravitational waves, astronomy, GEO600 gravitational wave detector

Helmholtz Graduate School for Macromolecular Bioscience

/// Biomaterial Science, Macromolecular Bioscience, natural sciences, engineering

Mass, Spectrum, Symmetry: Particle Physics in the Era of the Large Hadron Collider

/// Large Hydron Collider, elementary particle physics, astro-particle physics

Research School Materials for Solar Energy Conversion (MatSEC)

/// kesterite materials, semiconductor, absorber material, film solar cells,...

Molecular Biophysics

/// biophysics, biomolecular processes, protein-protein interactions

PharMetrX: Pharmacometrics & Computational Disease Modelling

/// life sciences, pharmacy, drug development, drug therapy, pharmacotherapy,...

IMPRS for Molecular Plant Science

/// biochemistry, biology, plant science, plant growth, plant biomass, primary metabolism

Quantitative Spectroscopy in Astrophysics

/// Quantitative Spectroscopy, Astrophysics, solar physics, stellar research,...

School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof

/// chemistry, biology, physics, natural sciences, analytical sciences

Helmholtz Research School on Security Technologies (HRSST)

/// physics, optical engineering, electrical engineering, informational techniques,...

Service-Oriented Systems Engineering

/// Software Systems Engineering, IT Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Computer...

Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies

/// transnational relations, international relations, globalization, governance, regional...

Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies

/// Berliner Antike-Kolleg, ancient languages and texts, ancient philosophy, ancient...

Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences

/// sociology, political science, social inclusion, democratic performance

Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies

/// Islam, muslim cultures, muslim societies, Area Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies

Doctoral Program in Business Research

/// business administration, management, marketing, information systems, FACTS, business...

Graduate School Global Intellectual History

/// intellectual history

Centre for Contemporary History

/// Cold War, contemporary german history, contemporary european history, communist...

Das Wissen der Literatur

/// deutsche Literatur, german literature

European PhD in Socio-Economic and Statistical Studies

/// socio-economic research, labor markets, employment, inequality, Welfare state, social...

Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies

/// literature, textaul practice, transnational perspective, intermediality

Graduate School of East Asian Studies

/// east asia, social sciences, institutions in east asia, interdependence of...

Graduate School of North American Studies

/// American Studies, Area Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, American Literature,...

High Dimensional Non Stationary Time Series

/// stochastics, statistics, volatility, copulae, high-dimensional time series,...

International Max Planck Research School on the Life Course (LIFE)

/// development of human behaviour, human life course, evolution of culture, learning,...

Knowledge of the Arts

/// artistic knowledge, art history, media studies, philosophy, engineering, pedagogy

Latin American Studies from a Comparative and Transregional Perspective

/// Cultural Anthropology, Social Anthropology, Gender Studies, History, Literature of...

Ludwig Rosenberg Kolleg: Historical Relations between Labor Movements and Modern Jewry

/// european-jewish studies, laboro movements, modern jewry

DIW Graduate Center PhD in economics

/// economics, microeconomics, macro-economics, econometrics, public economics,...

THESys Graduate Program - Transformations of Human-Environment Systems

/// IRI THESys, use of land, use of resources, urbanization, climate change impact, ...

Selma Stern Zentrum für Jüdische Studien Berlin-Brandenburg (ZJS)

/// jewish studies, jewish history, jewish philosophy, jewish theology, jewish...

Thinking Differences: Structures – Order – Communication

/// comparative history, histoire croisée

Walther Rathenau Kolleg: Liberalism and Democracy

/// European-Jewish Studies, democratic constitutional state, european post-war...

Wicked Problems, Contested Administrations: Knowledge, Coordination, Strategy

/// public administration, climate change, demographic tranistion, international...

Computational Systems Biology

/// biological networks, cellular systems, protein-protein interactions, systems biology

Global and Area Studies PhD Program

/// Globalization, Alternative Futures

Philosophy, Science and the Sciences

/// philosophy, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, ancient Arabic, classicist, ancient...

Berlin Graduate School of British Studies

/// british studies

Parasite Infections: From Experimental Models to Natural Systems

/// Parasite Infections, Immunology, molecular approaches, cellular interactions,...

Berlin International Graduate School in Model and Simulation based Research (BIMoS)

/// Modellierung, Smimulierung, modelling, modeling, simulation, optimation

Urban Water Interfaces (UWI)

/// urban water (systems), interfaces, modelling, urban soil, surface water, groundwater,...

IMPRS for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory

/// Gravitational Physics, Geometric Analysis, String Theory, quantum mechanics, black...

Religion – Knowledge – Discourse

/// Humanities, Social Sciences, Sociology, Political Sciences, Economics, Law

Berlin School of Movement Science (BSMS)

/// Humanities, Social Sciences, Sociology,

/// education, mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, technology, engineering

Identity and Heritage

StRATEGy: Surface processes, Tectonics and Georesources: The Andean foreland basin of Argentina

Cropstrengthen - european industrial doctorate.

/// PhD training, stress acclimation in plants, crop improvement, plant priming

Natural Hazards and Risks in a Changing World

/// natural hazards, risk, climate change, floods, landslides, earthquakes

BioMove - Integrating Biodiversity Research with Movement Ecology in dynamic agricultural landscapes

/// Biodiversity, Movement Ecology, Biological Science, Natural Science

Minor Cosmopolitanisms

/// Humanities; Social Sciences; Postcolonial Studies; Cultural Studies; Anglophone...

Theory – Empirics – Practices of Pedagogical Teaching Processes

/// Educational science – adult and further education – music pedagogy – school pedagogy...

Agricultural Economics

/// Agriculture, Doctoral Program

Research School Future Information Technologies (FIT)

/// information technologies, energy consumption, fundamental physics, communications...

Biodiversity, Evolution & Ecology

/// Biological sciences, Natural Sciences

CRC 1114 Scaling Cascades in Complex Systems

/// /// Mathematics, Biochemistry, Physics, Geo-Sciences

CRC / TRR 227 Ultrafast Spin Dynamics

TRR 170 Integrated Research Training Group in Planetary Sciences

Cinepoetics - Center for Advanced Film Studies

/// poetologies, audiovisual images, cinema, film philosophy, aesthetics

BB3R - Innovations in the 3R Research: Genetic Engineering, Tissue Engineering and Bioinformatics

/// Berlin-Brandenburg research platform BB3R, 3 R, Genetic Engineering, Tissue...

CRC / SFB 1078 Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function

/// CRC SFB Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function

Re-Figuration of Spaces

Helmholtz Einstein International Berlin Research School in Data Science (HEIBRiDS)

Health Data Sciences

/// Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Meta-research, Big Data, Health Data Sciences, Causal...

IMPRS Biology And Computation

/// sequence analysis, theoretical structural biology, computational chemistry, drug...

Robert Koch Doctoral Program

/// Robert Koch Doctoral Program, RoKoDoKo

Fluorine-Specific Interactions: Fundamentals and Functions

/// Collaborative Research Center 1349 „Fluorine-Specific Interactions: Fundamen-tals and...

Research Training Group (RTG) "Bioactive Peptides – Innovative Aspects of Synthesis and Biosynthesis"

/// Natural Sciences, Computer and information sciences, Chemical sciences, Biological...

Temporalities of Future in Latin America: Dynamics of Aspiration and Anticipation

/// Latin American Studies, social globalization, cultural globalization, cultural...

Berlin School of Economics

Max Delbrück Center Graduate School

/// Max Delbrück Center Graduate School

Differential Equation- and Data-driven Models in Life Sciences and Fluid Dynamics: An Interdisciplinary Research Training Group

BfR Doctoral Training Programme

/// Aasessment of food and feed, microbiological and chemical substance safety, safety...

Stochastic Analysis in Interaction

iNAMES -MDC-Weizmann Helmholtz International Research School for Imaging from the NAno to the MESo

/// computational sciences, imaging data sciences, artificial intelligence, machine...

BIOphysical Quantitative Imaging Towards Clinical Diagnosis

Berlin School of Optical Sciences and Quantum Technologies (BOS.QT)

Berlin Industrial Engineering and Management (BIEM)

/// Engineering, Technology, Economics, Business

Doctoral Program History and Cultural Studies

Berlin Institute for the Foundation of Learning and Data (BIFOLD)

/// Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Computer and information sciences, Physical sciences,...

"Charging into the future": Understanding the interaction of polyelectrolytes with biosystems

/// GRK 2662 „Charging into the future“: Understanding the interaction of...

Science of Intelligence (SCIoI)

Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces

/// IRTG of CRC / SFB 1449 Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces Biophysics,...

Doctoral Program Natural Sciences

/// Natural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physics

IMPRS - Knowledge and Its Resources: Historical Reciprocities

/// Media and communications Humanities History and archaeology Languages and...

Normativity - Critique - Change

Crc1644: phenotypic plasticity in plants – mechanisms, constraints, and evolution, data assimilation - the collaborative research centre sfb1294, approx. 3000.

Graduate School Students

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PhD in Physics

Doctorate studies in physics.

• Degree - Dr. rer. nat
• Qualification for an in-depth scientific work
• Duration - approx. 4 years
• Language - German or English
• Beginning - at any time

Excellent international research community

• supportive and trusted working atmosphere
• cooperation with national and international research institutions
• measuring times at the synchrotron BESSY II reserved for Freie Universität
• additional qualification at the DRS possible

Requirements

• Degree as Master of Science or Diploma
• You have already found an open doctoral position in one of our research groups. 

Our research

Doctoral program at freie universität, doctoral program in physics - creating fundamentals for future innovations.

Around 130 doctoral students study and work at the Department of Physics. Every year, we award some 30 PhD degrees to physicists at Freie Universität Berlin.

If you are interested in a doctoral program, please contact the research groups of your interest directly.

PhD Program Structure

• 1 supervisor
• 1 written doctoral thesis
• 1 disputation

Doctoral students are usually employed as scientific staff in the research group (AG) where they do a doctorate. 

Doctoral Thesis

• The dissertation can be submitted as a monograph or cumulatively made up of at least four publications with the doctoral candidate as first author.
• The dissertation must be submitted in 8 printed copies and as a pdf file.

Obligatory parts of a thesis:

• Title page ( draft )
• Summary in German and English (maximum one page)
• Declaration of authorship ( draft )

Disputation

The disputation allows the doctoral student to demonstrate their presentation skills and ability to engage in scientific discussions.

• 30 minutes of presentation
• 30 to 60 minutes of professional discussion with members of the PhD commission.

The disputation is open to the public: Interested persons can participate as listeners and ask questions about the research results.

Scheduled days for disputation

Mon 16:00 - 21:00 (lecture hall A) Wed 16:00 - 21:00 (lecture hall A) Thu 9:00 - 14:00 (Lecture hall B)

Research Integrity

PhD positions and doctoral thesis

The topic of your doctoral thesis will be determined by the scientific focus of the research group in which you will take up your doctoral position. Please contact the individual research groups directly for information on open doctoral positions.

• Theoretical physics
• Experimental physics
• Physics education

• Doctoral Program Natural Sciences

New structured doctoral program offers a variety of qualification seminars and workshops. Those who successfully complete the program can choose between the titles "Ph. D." and "Dr. rer. nat."

Please note that the German version only is legally binding.

• Doctoral studies - registration form in German
• Doctoral Study Regulations - Physics (2013)
• 1st Modification Doctoral Regulations Physics (2013) - valid from 27.09.2023
• List of documents for enrollment
• Good scientific practice for scientific qualification reports and theses in physics

PhD Program Office Mr. Andreas Heß Arnimallee 14, Room 1.1.15 Tel. +49 30 838 56017

Image Credits

Image Credit: —

Promotion-Dokumente

Promotionsbüro

Habilitation - Qualification for University Teaching

What is the next step after a PhD program? If you want to teach at a university, you should strive for a habilitation. Habiliation proves that a scientist can independently represent an academic field in research and teaching. For further information please contact our habilitation office.

• Habilitation Office
• doctor of physics
• doctorate degree in physics
• phd in physics education
• phd in quantum physics
• phd physics
• phd theoretical physics
• physics phd program
• postgraduate physics

Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy

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Graduate Center / Doctorate

<a href='/en/graduiertenzentrum/index.html' title='Read more'><h3>The Graduate Center supports doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.</h3></a>

Graduate Center

The Graduate Center of the Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy is the central service facility for all those who consider to do a doctorate or are doing their doctorate at the department. Here you will find information on how to start a doctorate and its procedure, further education offers, networking opportunities and advisory services during the doctoral studies as well as information on how to complete your doctorate.

In addition, the Graduate Center offers information and advice for postdoctoral researchers and for supervisors at the department.

• Contact Graduate Center
• Contact Doctoral Degree Office

Overview Doctorate Procedure

1. Supervision, Topic and Funding

What are the requirements for admission? What has to be done before starting the doctorate? What funding opportunities are there?

2. Start of Work

What insurance cover is required at the start of work?

3. Admission

When and where should I submit my application for doctorate admission? What documents are required for admission?

4. FU Membership and Enrollment

Is there a need to become a member of the FU Berlin? Is enrollment including the student ID card and the semester ticket necessary?

5. Standard Processing Time

What is the standard processing time for the doctorate? What should I do if the standard processing time can not be met? How can a change of supervisor take place?

6. Writing the Thesis

Is a monograph necessary or may a cumulative work also be submitted? What must be considered? What should be on the title page?

7. Submission of the Thesis

How many copies have to be submitted? What should be taken into account when submitting a cumulative thesis? Which forms are necessary for submitting the thesis?

8. Review and Display Period

Who appoints the doctoral committee? How is the review procedure organized? How long is the display period?

9. Defense of the Thesis

Who organizes the disputation? When should the disputation be announced? How many members of the doctoral committee must be present? How long does the disputation take?

10. Publication of the Thesis

When does the publication take place? Which kinds of publication are possible? Is the publication required for the award of the certificate?

11. Awarding of the Doctoral Degree

When can the title be used? When and where do I get the certificate?

12. Offer: Joining the Alumni Network of ERG

How can I register for the alumni network of the Ernst-Reuter-Gesellschaft? What are the advantages?

Image Credits

Thema / Topic

Image Credit: Marion Kuka

Arbeitsbeginn / Start of Work

Image Credit: Michael Fahrig

Zulassung / Admission

Mitgliedschaftsverhältnis FU / Enrollment

Image Credit: Bernd Wannenmacher

Regelbearbeitungszeit / Standard Time to Completion

Schreiben der Dissertation / Writing the Thesis

Image Credit: http://www.istockphoto.com

Abgabe / Submission

Image Credit: Alette Winter

Begutachtung / Review

Image Credit: Lum3n.com von Pexels

Disputation / Defense

Veröffentlichung / Publication

Verleihung / Awarding

Offers of the Graduate Center

Advisory Services

• Lesen Sie weiter

Beratung / Advisory Services

Image Credit: SciVisTo

Veranstaltungen / Events

Vernetzung / Networking

Weiterbildung / Training

Department of History and Cultural Studies

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• Doctoral Studies Program History and Cultural Studies

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• Academics & Teaching
• PhD programme at the Department of History and Cultural Studies

Application

The program HCS admits up to 10 doctoral students each year in the winter semester.

Where successful applicants do not bring their own funding, they will be supported in applying for scholarships.

Applications can be submitted in German or English exclusively via the online application platform of the Dahlem Research School . The online application platform will be accessible with the publication date of the call.

Following an internal selection process, selected applicants will be invited to interviews.  

Successful applicants will receive written notification. Please note that this does not constitute automatic admission to the doctoral program. You must apply for admission to the doctoral program separately at the doctoral office of the Department of History and Cultural Studies and enroll as a doctoral student once you have been admitted .

Pursuing a PhD at the Department of History and Cultural Studies

Application requirements

Excellent university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a degree programme relevant to the PhD.

A compelling dissertation project, which can be supervised at the Department of History and Cultural Studies by a suitable first supervisor.

Interest in the exchange between the specific subjects and different methodological approaches within Cultural Studies; willingness for interdisciplinary academic discussion within the framework of the structured doctoral studies program.

What are the language requirements?

Very good knowledge of German and English are expected. Knowledge at the level C1 CEFR for one of the two languages is necessary, the other at the level of B2 CEFR. Native speakers only need to prove their proficiency in the non-native language(s) with a recognized certificate. Please note the language requirements in the respective subject in which you would like to do your doctorate. Further information can be found in the rules and regulations governing foreign language skills .  (f u-berlin.de)

Proof of language levels can be submitted later, if necessary; please upload a statement in your application with details of existing and outstanding certificates or diplomas and the date on which they can be submitted. In case you are invited, the day of the interview is the latest day possible to hand in your results.

Language certificates for German C1 CEFR for example :

• DSH 2 German language test for university entrance

• TestDaF (TDN 4 in all four components of testing)

• Goethe certificate C1 or C2 (Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom) from the Goethe-Institute

• TELC German C1 - Hochschule

• University entrance diploma that is equivalent to the German counterpart

Language certificates for German B2 CEFR for example:

• TestDaF (TDN3 in all four components of testing)

• Goethe- Zertifikat B2

• TELC German B2 - Hochschule

Language certificates for English C1 CEFR for example:

• IELTS 6.5

• Cambridge Examinations: First Certificate (FCE), Advanced (CAE), Proficiency (CPE) overall score of 170

• TOEFL: paper 585, Computer 240 or Online 95

• TELC English C1 - University

• Successful completion of an English-language course at an English-speaking university

Language certificates for English B2 CEFR for example:

• IELTS 5.5

• Cambridge Examinations: First Certificate (FCE); Advances (CAE); Proficiency (CPE)

• TOEFL: Paper 500, Computer 170, or Internet 80

• TELC English B2 -University

• Seven years school English at German schools

Application documents

Statement of motivation (max. 2 DIN-A4 pages, Font Times New Roman 12, 1.5 line spacing)

Dissertation proposal (max. 10 DIN-A4 pages, Font Times New Roman 12, 1.5 line spacing)

Project timeline for 3 years

Curriculum Vitae (max. 4 DIN-A4 pages)

One recommendation letter from a university professor/lecturer

A work sample (e.g. from the Master’s thesis no longer than 25 DIN-A4 pages)

Copies of certificates: university entrance qualification; university degrees

Language certificates for German and or English (one language at least at level C1, the other at least at level B2), unless these languages are your native languages.

Depending on your chosen subject, further language certificates may be necessary (please find out in advance whether you fulfil the foreign language requirements in your chosen subject as per the rules and regulations governing foreign language skills/ Fremdsprachenordnung ( fu-berlin.de ))

Information about the application process

You will not receive response in case your application cannot be considered for formal reasons. All formally approved applications will go through an internal review process.The selection committee votes to select applicants who will be invited to the selection interviews in February. During the interviews, each applicant has 5–10 minutes to give a verbal presentation on their project, followed by a 10–15 minute discussion. Shortly after the selection interviews you will receive an acceptance or rejection.

Subjects you can do your doctoral in

Graduate School of East Asian Studies

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<a href='https://www.ewi-psy.fu-berlin.de/news/wahl_promovierendenvertretung_2024.html' title='Read more'><h3>15 May 2024: Elections for Doctoral Council of FU Berlin</h3><p>Please vote at your respective department!</p></a><div class="box-slideshow-picture-credit-container"><br />Image Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/3002018955">Mykl Roventine </a></div>

<a href='https://www.openpetition.de/petition/online/gegen-den-ausschluss-von-promovierenden-vom-deutschlandsemesterticket' title='Read more'><h3>OPEN PETITION: Semester ticket for the PhD Students!</h3><p>Sign the petition against the exclusion of PhD students from the semester ticket!</p></a><div class="box-slideshow-picture-credit-container"><br />Image Credit: Gengenbach</div>

<a href='/events/calendar/index.html' title='Read more'><h3>Summer 2024 Course Program</h3><p>Colloquium, Summer Symposium as well as Fieldwork Workshop are coming up this summer, starting 18 April 2024</p></a>

<a href='https://userblogs.fu-berlin.de/urban-rural-migration-japan/' title='Read more'><h3>Urban-rural migration and rural revitalization in Japan</h3><p>On this blog, members of the DFG-research project, led by Cornelia Reiher (PI), will give insights into the research process and progress. They investigate the impact of urban-rural migration on rural revitalization in Kyūshū, Japan’s most southern main island. <br/></p></a><div class="box-slideshow-picture-credit-container"><br />Image Credit: Cornelia Reiher</div>

Publications

• Lotti, Valeria (2022) | What women want: an analysis of cosmetic surgery and social achievements in contemporary urban China. Dissertation. Refubium
• Isaksson, Erik (01.2024) | Japan's Expanding Diplomatic and Military Horizons. OIIP Trend Report 5. 23.01.2024
• Li, Jingyi (2023) | Recreated homeland and space imagination: the dilemma of the left-behind Korean community in China.In: Cho, Roberts, Seon (eds): Transnationalism and migration in global Korea. Routledge: 170-186
• Ryu, Seunghwan (2023) | Between Second and Third World: North Korean Use of “Imagined Affinity” in the Socialist Globalization Project with Regard to Tanzania (1965–1970). In: Comparativ 33 (3): 359-376. DOI: 10.26014/j.comp.2023.03.05
• William M. Zolinger Fujii (2023) | The Escalating China-U.S. Strategic Rivalry: Where Does Brazil Stand? Global Americans, Oct 2023.
• Yura Hyeon (2023) | Reimagining Nativeness from a Migrant Anthropologist's Positionality. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology.
• Luzi, Cecilia (2023) | Adapting schedules and learning to collaborate: Reflections on a PhD experience in a group project during the pandemic. In: Polak-Rottmann/Miserka (eds.). Research into Japanese society [...]. Wien: Universität Wien.

School of Business & Economics

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Doctoral Program in Business Research - DPBR

Welcome to the doctoral program in business research @ freie universität berlin..

Welcome to the website of the DPBR! Our doctoral program aims to provide doctoral students at Freie Universität Berlin's School of Business & Economics with courses, workshops, and social events to support them during their dissertation. It's important to note that the DPBR program is not a structured PhD program like those found in many English-speaking countries, but rather a supplementary program for doctoral students who have already been accepted by a professor from our school as their PhD project supervisor.

Events & Courses

Quick Contact

Your contact person:

Catalina Wache

[email protected]

Department of Political and Social Sciences

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PhD Programs

(Last update: 30. Juni 2023)

If you are interested in starting your doctoral thesis at our institute, you can choose between two options:

1. Individual Doctorate

2. PhD Program in Research Clusters or at a Graduate School

For an overview of ongoing and completed doctoral projects at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology please see:

-  List of completed doctoral dissertations

-  List of ongoing doctoral research projects

The individual doctorate – independent research under supervision of a professor – is still the most common way to pursue a doctorate in Germany. This usually provides greater freedom as far as the choice of subject is concerned. If you have an interesting idea for a doctoral project, please contact one of the following professors who are authorized to supervise doctoral projects. Your proposed project should fit into their areas of research:)

• Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Dilger Full Professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology - thematically : Anthropology of religion (esp. Pentecostalism and Islam; religious diversity); Medical anthropology (HIV/AIDS, anthropology of biomedicine, transnationalization of health, medicine and healing), Sexuality, kinship and gender (esp. masculinities), Transnationalism and migration, Anthropology of education and learning. - regionally : Eastern and Southern Africa, migratory and transnational contexts - see also : List of currant doctoral projects supervised by H. Dilger
• Prof. Dr. Claudia Liebelt Full professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology - thematically: anthropology of the body and the senses, gender and sexuality, religion, migration and Critical Beauty Studies as well as debates on new materialism, toxicity and postsecularism. - regionally: Middle East, Turkey, Israel and Morocco, Philippines.
• Prof. Dr. Kai Kresse Special professor of Social and Cultural anthropology and Vice-Director of the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient Berlin - regionally : Africa (East Africa, Swahil Coast, Southern Africa, trans-regional connections esp. Indian Ocean, Muslim World; open for all regions - thematically : anthropology and philosophy; intellectual culture and social practise; regional literatures; local thinkers; religion and society, Muslim Worlds; post-colonial experience; anthropology of texts; Cultural and Social theoriy; mobility and trans-regional Research
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka Junior Professor at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology regionally: South East Asia thematically: Psychological Anthropology, Social Inequalities, marginalization, stigmatization, Medical Anthropology, Childhood, Youth, Life course, Emotion and Affect, Reflexive Ethnography

- r egionally : Mexico and the transnational space of Mexico/USA; Mesoamerica and the Gran Chichimeca; Cuba and the transnational space of Cuba/USA; the Spanish-speaking and Anglophone Caribbean; Peruvian Amazonia

• Prof. Dr. Stephanie Schütze Univ. Prof. for Social and Cultural Anthropology at Lateinamerikanisches Institut of Freie Universität Berlin Regional Focus on: Latin America Research Focus on: migration and gender
• Prof. Dr. Barbara Göbel Honorary Professor of Social and Cultural Antrhropology and Director of the Ibero-American Institute - regionally : Latin America - thematically : Cultural dimensions of risk management; vulnerability; Institutions and global environmental change, environmental perception; Gender relations and social identity; Knowledge circulation, knowledge forms, archives of knowledge
• PD Dr. Tilo Grätz Privatdozent Social and Cultural Anthropology - thematically : media anthropology, economic anthropology, political and social anthropology, technical anthropology, migration and transnationality, politics of memory - regionally : West Africa (esp. Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ghana); Europe (Brandenburg; South Italy)

PD Dr. Paola Margherita Ivanov Privatdozentin Social and Cultural Anthropology; main profession: curator of the East-, North East-, Central and South African Collections at the Ethnological Museum - regionally : Indian Ocean Indischer Ozean and Eastr Africa coastal cities;  Central-, North East - and East Africa - thematically : yet to be published here

Once you contact one (or several) of the above mentioned professors with the proposal of pursuing a doctoral degree under her/his supervision, please add:

• a short sketch of your doctoral project (150-200 words)
• copies of your academic qualifications (requirement for acceptance as a doctoral candidate is generally a very good final degree)

If you have found a supervisor who is interested in supervising your doctoral project, he or she will also inform you about funding or scholarship opportunities.

There are no scholarships for individual doctorates provided directly by the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology.

2. PhD Programs in Research Clusters or at a Graduate School

Pursuing doctoral studies in a doctoral degree program, doctoral candidates come together to work on projects related to a common interdisciplinary research topic. During the course of their doctorate, junior researchers are trained in obtaining a broad set of skills to enhance their personal, professional and career development. 

The Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology participates in the following Research Clusters and Graduate Schools which offer formalized PhD course programs. For information and modes of application please consult the following websites:

• Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies
• Graduate School of East Asian Studies

Detailed Information on PhD Procedures

Detailed information on the technical aspects of PhD procedures in our faculty (Department of Political and Social Sciences) can be found on the website

Attaining a Doctorate in the Department of Political and Social Sciences http://www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/nachwuchsfoerderung/promotion/index.html

There you find detailed information on

• the Individual Doctorate
• the Structured Doctorate
• the Cumulative Doctoral Thesis
• the Conflict Counselling as well as
• a List of Frequently Asked Questions and
• the Regulations for the Conduct of Doctoral Examinations

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PhD and Postdoc

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science awards the academic degree of Dr. rer. nat. (doctor rerum naturalium / Doktor der Naturwissenschaften / = PhD in natural sciences) according to departmental guidelines and regulations. The PhD provides a special scientific qualification exceeding the regular university degree. This is achieved by profound research work which includes a scientific thesis (dissertation) and an examination colloquium (disputation) in the PhD field of Mathematics and Computer Science. The PhD concludes either a student’s postgraduate studies (Aufbaustudium) or PhD studies (Promotionsstudium).

On 1 December 2021  new PhD regulations entered into force. They differ from the former PhD regulations in the following points:

• Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in one of the PhD relevant subjects can be admitted to PhD proceedings after passing a “Feststellungsprüfung” (entrance examination) in their area of specialisation and the adjoining subjects.
• Restrictions concerning the subject of the oral examination have been lifted.
• Doctoral candidates/Postgraduates who are neither registered students nor employees at the Freie Universität Berlin need to enrol here as PhD students.
• A PhD can be obtained in cooperation with foreign universities.
• a publication-based dissertation is now possible 

Postdoc / Habilitation = postdoctoral university degree with lecture qualification

The Habilitation (postdoctoral university degree with lecture qualification) provides the qualification for scientific teaching at universities (=Lehrbefähigung) in the chosen subject (=Habilitationsfach). Possible subjects at this faculty are mathematics or computer science. Demands on candidates are:

• The submission of either an all-embracing monograph (Habilitationsschrift) which must be a significant scientific contribution exceeding the standards of a dissertation, or a publication of one’s latest research results which represents an equivalent to the above “Habilitationsschrift”.
• A public lecture in the chosen subject, followed by a scientific discussion.
• Documented lecturing activity (Lehrtätigkeit) at a scientific university in a subject relevant for the postdoctoral university degree.

Habilitation procedures follow the Habilitation Regulations of 4 October 1999 .

Related Links

• FU Berlin PhD Portal
• FUBright for International Doctoral Candidates
• Dahlem Research School DRS
• PhD programs at the International Max Planck Research School for Computational Biology and Scientific Computing
• Berlin Mathematical School
• Graduiertenkolleg: Methods for Discrete Structures
• Funding Opportunities for Postdocs