The Graduate School of the Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ at CSMC invites applications for doctoral scholarships within the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), for a 3-year period of doctoral studies starting from 1 January 2026 onwards.
Table of Content
Summary
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Benefits
- Awardees will receive a full scholarship (1300 EUR/month) plus health insurance and additional allowances.
Requirements
- Highly qualified, very motivated English-speaking international candidates (non-German citizens), in particular from the Global South
- Candidates holding a Master’s or equivalent degree in any discipline concerned with the study of manuscript cultures or written artefacts, regardless of region (for an exemplary list of disciplines, please click here).
Who cannot apply?
- Researchers who have already obtained a PhD degree or have completed substantial parts of their doctoral studies at another institution
- Persons who have obtained their Master’s degree more than 6 years ago
- Persons who have been residing in Germany for 15 months or longer at the time of nomination (November 2025)
Selection Process
The application follows two steps: In a first step, a committee of PIs reviews all applications and makes a selection of promising candidates. The main criteria are the quality and innovative potential of the candidate’s research proposal, and its contribution to and compatibility with the Cluster’s existing research objectives.
Application Deadline
September 30, 2025How To Apply
The following documents have to be submitted by e-mail as one PDF file by 30 September 2025 to the Coordinator of the Graduate School (contact: see below):
- A detailed research proposal of the planned dissertation project, compatible with the Cluster’s research objectives
Please structure it as follows and do not exceed 5 pages:
- Abstract of the proposal
- Research proposal
- Work schedule outlined for 3 years (please create a chart in 3-month intervals), including research phases abroad (i.e. outside of Germany), if applicable.
- A CV including personal information (first name, last name, date of birth, place of birth), the educational and professional background, any relevant publications, and language skills
- A letter of motivation explaining the candidate’s academic and professional interests, and how the doctoral programme would in their opinion contribute to achieving their personal career goals (1 page)
- Copies of B.A./B.Sc., M.A./M.Sc. and other relevant certificates.
- One letter of recommendation from a professor of the candidate’s home university. Professors may use the DAAD template (PDF) or write their own letter (which then has to contain at least the same information as shown in the template).
- Proof of English language proficiency at least at level B1.
Please do not submit any documents other than these.
Please submit a certified English or German translation for documents issued in other languages.
Contact
Coordinator of the Graduate School
For more information, kindly visit University of Hamburg scholarship webpage.
