Funded by the German federal and state governments’ Excellence Initiative, the Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies will admit up to ffeen PhD students to its doctoral programme, which is to begin on 1 October 2016. Up to ten of these candidates will receive a Graduate School grant; the other candidates will be supported in their search for funding. The Graduate School investigates the plurality, changeability, and global connectedness of Muslim cultures and societies. It invites applications from candidates whose dissertation project fts one of the Graduate School’s Research Areas. Applications relating to the topics of education, communication, cultural and media studies, and Islam and Muslims in the West are especially encouraged. Successful applicants will have a master’s degree in one of the disciplines represented at the Graduate School, with a ranking, where applicable, of above average. Our language of communication is English. Admission is initially for one year, and, contingent upon a positive evaluation afer the frst year of study, this will be extended for a further twelve months. There is the option of a second twelve-month extension thereafer, with a maximum of three years being covered by the grant.

As part of the three-year programme we expect doctoral students to take active part in the academic life of the Graduate School. Besides doing their PhD, doctoral students should be open to interdisciplinary and transregional exchange. A receptive attitude to challenging research questions on new terrain is very much appreciated.

The application package needs to include the following documents: a completed and signed application form; an outline of the dissertation project (up to 6 pages, with a brief summary); a curriculum vitae; certifed copies of degrees received; proof of profciency in English (native speakers of English or applicants who have graduated from an English-speaking university in a country with English as an ofcial language are exempt from this verifcation); evidence of profciency in the language(s) relevant to the dissertation project. Two letters of recommendation must be emailed by the applicant’s referees directly to BGSMCS as signed electronic letters. Holders of PhD scholarships that were awarded on the basis of academic references for the same project with which they are now applying to the Graduate School can submit copies of these references.

Scholarships

The Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies (BGSMCS) is funded by the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments and by Freie Universität Berlin.

The BGSMCS may grant up to ten scholarships per year for the three-year programme of study. The allocation of these awards is at the discretion of the selection committee. They may be extended after the first year, contingent upon positive evaluation of a first chapter of the dissertation, which is also crucial for the student’s continued participation in the programme. The scholarships amount to approximately € 1,400 per month.

Students admitted to the programme who cannot be offered a scholarship by the Graduate School will receive administrative assistance in applying for third-party funding (e.g. information about possible sources of such funding, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Submission of application

The application package, complete with all documents signed and scanned and compiled into one PDF fle, should be sent by email to:         application@bgsmcs.fu-berlin.de

Your application can only be processed if your application materials are complete. Please do not send any other materials except those listed on our homepage (see application form).

Schedule Interviews will take place for those who have been shortlisted in February 2016. If you cannot be present in Berlin, the interview can be conducted via Skype or telephone at the set appointment time. We will inform you about the results of the application process by March at the latest.

Please understand that we are unable to give you information on the application process or provide you with an individual review of your application.

If you have further questions, please contact: application@bgsmcs.fu-berlin.de

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://www.bgsmcs.fu-berlin.de/en/studies/application/index.html