Doctoral Scholarships in Entrepreneurship, Management, & Innovation at Leuphana University Lüneburg 2026

Leuphana University Lüneburg promotes the qualification of academically excellent researchers in the doctoral phase. To finance their research project, two doctoral scholarships “Organizing in Times of Crisis”, one of them with a theoretical focus on “future-making”, will be awarded in the School of Management and Technology (doctoral research group “Entrepreneurship, Management, & Innovation”).

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMarch 30, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorLeuphana University of Lüneburg
• City to studyLower Saxony
• School to studyLeuphana University of Lüneburg
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Inclusion in the research-active Leuphana Center for Organization and Social Transformation (LOST)
• Unique doctoral program in the “Embracing Transformation” context featuring interdisciplinary seminars on transformation research and an exclusive professional program on “transformative leadership and responsibility”
• Access to dedicated office space within Leuphana’s outstanding campus facilities
• Application-based funding from the Qualification Fund for conference participation, summer schools, and research stays
• Advice and (career) coaching from professionally trained staff
• Close subject-specific supervision based on the multiple-supervisor principle and using mandatory supervision agreements as well as planning and progress meetings
• The scholarship is awarded for three years. It amounts to EUR 1,650 per month, plus a research allowance of EUR 100 per month. A family allowance and a child allowance may be granted upon application.

Requirements

• Above-average Master degree (or close to completion, at the latest by March 2026) in Management or Business Administration, ideally with a focus on organization theory, as well as a Bachelor degree, both according to the Bologna process (Master: two years, 120 ECTS; Bachelor: three years, 180 ECTS) or an equivalent qualification
• Initial skills in empirical social research, typically acquired in prior bachelor’s and master’s studies
• Ability to actively participate in English-speaking debates, reading groups, workshops, seminars, and research projects at business level
• Interest in and enjoyment of empirical and theoretical work as well as scientific writing
• Ability and willingness to develop and elaborate one’s own research project independently
• Willingness to discuss preliminary findings at national and international discipline-specific conferences and workshops
• Capacity for teamwork and self-understanding as being part of a mutually supportive research community
• Strong interest in the topic of "Organizing in Times of Crisis" in general and, for one of the two scholarships, in “future-making” in particular

Selection Process

Selection for the scholarship is based on the application documents submitted, whereby the following criteria are used to assess academic excellence, for example: 

• above-average performance in subjects or modules relevant to the doctoral topic or in final theses
• rapid progress in studies
• biographical background
• first publications, participation in specialist events or science-related further training (conferences/workshops) 

Application Documents

The application must include the following documents uploaded to the portal:

• Cover letter
  • Including evidence on the above-mentioned desired personal attributes with around 100 words each
  • Indicating which professor at the School of Management and Technology you consider suitable to supervise your doctoral project in the topic area “Organizing in Times of Crisis”; the primary supervisor for the scholarship on “future-making” will be Matthias Wenzel
• A short proposal [AH1.1]of ideas for your research (around 500 words)
• Curriculum vitae including a description of your academic career and previous research activities
• Certificates relevant to your previous academic qualifications, usually from your master's degree (in German or English; officially certified translations if in other languages)
• If already available, notification of admission to doctorate at the School of Management and Technology

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Konrad Adenauer Foundation Scholarship

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Please submit your application for the scholarship via Leuphana's scholarship application portal.

For more information, kindly visit the Leuphana University webpage.