University of Erfurt Doctoral Scholarships 2027

The University of Erfurt awards up to four scholarships from funds of the Thuringian State Graduate Support as part of its structured doctoral programme from 1 April 2027. The scholarships will be awarded to excellent doctoral projects within the Erfurt Doctoral and Postdoctoral Programme (EPPP) that are carried out at a certified Graduate Centre within the University or at the Max-Weber-Kolleg.

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineNovember 24, 2026
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Erfurt
• City to studyThuringia
• School to studyUniversity of Erfurt
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• The standard funding period is three years. Upon request, it can be extended by one additional year. The monthly basic amount is €1,400.
• In addition, a family allowance of €300 per month is provided for the first dependent child and €150 for each additional dependent child.
• Subject to the availability of funds, research-related material and travel costs of up to €600 per funding year may be granted upon request.

Requirements

A doctoral scholarship may be awarded if all of the following requirements are met:

• Qualification: above-average academic achievements and examination results demonstrating a particular aptitude for academic research;
• Acceptance as a doctoral candidate: by the start of the funding period at the latest, by one of the University of Erfurt’s faculties or the Max-Weber-Kolleg, and maintained throughout the funding period;
• Matriculation: at the University of Erfurt by the start of the funding period at the latest;
• Graduate Centre membership: full membership by the start of the funding period at the latest in the Graduate Centre within the University or the Max-Weber-Kolleg to which the application is assigned;
• Health insurance: current proof by the start of the funding period at the latest;
• No inadmissible double funding: no simultaneous funding from other public funds or publicly financed institutions for the same period and purpose; funding for stays abroad that serve the doctoral project remains possible in accordance with the applicable regulations;
• Employment: paid work in research and teaching at a higher education institution or non-university research institution is permitted for no more than twelve hours per week, or other employment for no more than five hours per week. Participation in teaching must not exceed an average of two teaching hours per academic year.

Selection Process

• Selection is based on aptitude for academic research as well as the quality and significance of the doctoral project. The key criteria are academic achievements and examination results, previous academic work, research potential, methodological quality, and the plausibility of the work and time schedule.
• Where applicants are equally qualified and the projects are of equal quality and significance, scholarships should be awarded equally to women and men, provided that a corresponding number of suitable applications has been received. In addition, particular consideration may be given to the concerns of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, voluntary work, and social criteria.
• Providing such personal information is voluntary. Failure to provide it will not be disadvantageous. Applications are welcome regardless of origin, gender, disability, age, religion or worldview, sexual orientation, or identity.

Application Documents

Application documents · Part 1

Submit the complete documents in the following order:

1. a cover letter (maximum two pages), which includes the following points:

• Name of the Graduate Centre (or Max-Weber-Kolleg) for which the application is submitted; Note: It is not possible to apply to several Graduate Centres in parallel;
• Detailed reasons for applying for a scholarship for a specific Graduate Centre or the Max-WeberKolleg; information on thematic overlaps with other Graduate Centres and the resulting synergy effects is welcome;
• Information on whether work on the doctoral project has already begun and how far the preparatory work has progressed;
• If you consider it relevant to your application (voluntary information): information on particular circumstances of your personal situation (disabilities, chronic illness, family circumstances, voluntary work, social criteria);

2. a CV in tabular format AND the completed form supplementing the CV;

3. an exposé of the doctoral project including:

• A project outline presenting the research question, the current state of research, the planned methodological approach, and the bibliography. The project outline should not exceed 6–8 pages in length, excluding the cover page and bibliography.
• A work and time schedule for the standard funding period of three years;

4. the form confirming that contact has been established with a Graduate Centre or the Max-Weber-Kolleg OR, in the case of existing full membership, the admission form of the Graduate Centre / Max-Weber-Kolleg (available in German only);

5. if already available: confirmation from the faculty or the Max-Weber-Kolleg of acceptance as a doctoral candidate;

6. if applicable, a list of your academic publications and presentations;

7. your degree certificates (Diploma or Magister, or Bachelor’s and Master’s certificates); if the original docu ments are not in German or English, please also submit a certified translation into German or English;

8. a complete copy of your final thesis (Diploma, Magister, or Master’s thesis); if the original document is not in German or English, please also submit a summary in German or English (maximum two pages);

9. the signed consent to the processing of personal data (available in German only; you can find an English information sheet here).

Application documents · Part 2

• In addition, a current, signed letter of recommendation for the doctoral project must be submitted. It should be completed using the form (en) / form (de) by a professor or other university teacher at the University of Erfurt or another higher education institution.
• The reviewer must submit the letter of recommendation separately and on time by email to [email protected]. Therefore, it must not be included in the application PDF.

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Eutopia PhD Co-tutelle Call

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Combine all application documents – with the exception of the expert review sent separately – in full, with a table of contents and in the stated order, in one PDF file no larger than 5 MB.
• Submission by email only: [email protected]
• Subject: Application for the State Graduate Scholarship 2026 – surname, first name

Applications that are incomplete, do not meet the formal requirements, or are received after the application deadline cannot be considered in the selection procedure.

For more information, kindly visit the University of Erfurt webpage.