New PhD Programme on Consequences of Demographic Change for Democracy
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the graduate programme "The Dynamics of Demography, Democratic Processes and Public Policies (DYNAMICS)", a joint endeavour of the Humboldt-Universität and the Hertie School of Governance. From fall 2019, a total of 35 doctoral students will address this complex topic. The graduate research programme will receive 3.4 million euros over four and a half years.
In Western societies, aging populations, changing family structures and migration affect not only the challenges facing policy areas such as health, pension and education policies. Demographic trends are also drawing new lines of conflict between voters, parties, interest groups and governments.
"We want to systematically research how demographic change impacts democratic processes, how policy decisions are made to address demographic challenges, and how public policies affect family dynamics, old-age care, the age of retirement, and the integration of migrants," says the new programme's spokeswoman Heike Klüver, Professor for Comparative Political Behavior at the Humboldt-Universität's Department of Social Sciences.
Michaela Kreyenfeld, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Hertie School's Doctoral Programme, adds: "DYNAMICS includes an internationally competitive curriculum that familiarizes students with the latest methods and theories. Central to this is an interdisciplinary approach, which enables our doctoral students to conduct innovative research on issues related to demographic change that are highly relevant for policy makers."
PhD Program
A comprehensive course programme provides the doctoral researchers with a unique combination of
- advanced theoretical courses in Demography, Democratic Processes and Public Policy,
- cutting-edge quantitative methods skills, and
- an interdisciplinary internal research seminar, as well as
- an interdisciplinary international lecture series.
The programme provides PhD students with a unique and internationally competitive curriculum taught and supervised by leading experts from Political Science, Demography and Public Policy. It fosters interdisciplinary exchange to enable PhD students to conduct innovative research that sheds much needed light on how demographic shifts affect and interact with democratic processes and public policy.
Qualification and requirements
We are inviting applications by highly qualified graduates from the fields of Political Science, Sociology, Demography, Public Policy or other related Social Sciences who already have a high level of quantitative methods training. Candidates must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the aforementioned subjects or be very close to completion.
Application materials
- Letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)
- 10-page dissertation proposal
- Certificates and transcripts of grades from each academic programme attended so far. MA degree (or equivalent) has to be completed before 31 August.
- Statement of methods skills (maximum 1 page)
- CV
- TOEFL Test with score of at least 250 (computer-based) or 600 (paper-based) or 100 (internet-based)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Two writing samples
- The name(s) of two potential dissertation advisors
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.sowi.hu-berlin.de/en/dynamics/news-events/dfg-grant