PhD Scholarships at the Graduate School Practices of Literature 2019, University of Münster, Germany

In cooperation with the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

Two DAAD Scholarships starting October 1, 2019

The Graduate School Practices of Literature (GSPoL) at the University of Münster invites international students in literary studies to apply for a PhD scholarship starting on October 1, 2019. The four-year scholarships are part of the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) funded by the German Academic Exchange Service / Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienst (DAAD).

Graduate schools and structured doctoral training have been widely adopted by institutions across Europe to enhance students’ networking skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and employability in or outside research. High-quality standards regarding the selection and hosting of doctoral students, as well as an international research environment, create an ideal setting particularly for international candidates. At GSPoL, students benefit from interdisciplinary supervision and exchange and have the opportunity to prepare for careers in academic and non-academic contexts.

Participating areas of study: English/American Studies, Arabic/Islamic Studies, Baltic Studies, Book Studies, German Studies, Comparative Studies, Latin Philology/Studies, Neo- and Medieval Latin Studies, Dutch Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Romance Studies (Main Areas: French, Spanish, and Italian Literature), Sinology, Slavonic Studies

The program revolves around three main subject areas:

1. Literature and Society
(relationship between literature and society; social theories; cultural the-ories; cultural turn and literary studies) 
2. Theories of Literature
(science studies; history, theory, and methodology of/in literary studies) 
3. Putting the Study of Literature into Practice 
(professional sectors that require expertise in literary studies; the literary marketplace; transferable skills)

Curriculum: Lectures series and workshops, colloquia, research groups, and elective options such as internships, academic teaching, etc.

Supervision: Each doctoral candidate will have an individual, interdisciplinary support group consisting of three advisors. A written mentoring agreement and an individual timeline will be established and signed by the PhD candidate and their supervisors.

Guidelines for Applications to the Graduate School Practices of Literature

 

Each DAAD scholarship in this programme comprises funding for four years. 
The application deadline for the winter term 2019/2020 is November 30, 2018. Applications may be submitted in German or English.

Requirements

• Master’s/Magister/Staatsexamen degree (usually in literary studies) with a minimum grade of “gut”/B
• German language skills (if necessary, DAAD funding may include preparatory German language courses)
• additional foreign language skills according to § 5 (2) of the GSPoL study regulations
• applicants must have received their Master’s degree (i.e. taken their last final exam) no more than six years prior to the time when DAAD receives the nomination letter
• applicants should not have resided in Germany for more than fifteen months prior to the nomination to DAAD

Please also refer to the DAAD website for current information and their guidelines for foreign applicants.

The application for a scholarship follows a three-step procedure:

Step 1: Application to GSPoL
Applications to GSPoL should be submitted in written form (via email as a single PDF document) and include the following:

• letter of motivation stating the reasons for the application to GS PoL
• curriculum vitae (without photograph)
• proof that the applicant has completed a master's degree (usually in literary studies) with a final grade of 2,0 (B) (according to § 5 (1) of the GSPoL study regulations)
• proof of German language skills
• proof of additional foreign language skills according to § 5 (2) of the GSPoL study regulations
• brief (approx. half-page) abstract of the PhD project
• project proposal of about 10 pages in length, including a title, table of con-tents, detailed outline (of the topic; its originality and significance; aims and methodology), as well as a bibliography
• timeline, including optional stays/studies abroad of up to one year in total (= 25% of the duration of the scholarship), which may not be scheduled at the beginning of the programme
• two letters of reference. 

Step 2 (winter 2018/2019): personal interview at GSPoL and nomination to DAAD

Step 3 (spring 2019): standard application procedure at and final decision by DAAD (online application with supporting documentation via the DAAD portal)

Please send your application (via email as a single PDF document) and any questions you may have to:

Graduate School Practices of Literature
WWU Münster, Fachbereich 09 (Philologie)
Dr. Anna Thiemann
c/o Germanistisches Institut
Schlossplatz 34
48143 Münster, Germany
+49 251 83 - 24439
thiemann.gspol@wwu.de

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.