Deadline:
February 16, 2025
Location(s)
Germany
Heidelberg
Overview
In yearly calls for application the GPTS is looking for excellently qualified graduates in the Humanities and Social Sciences who have developed an individual research project with a strong, innovative transcultural perspective.
Since 2019, the yearly application rounds are coupled with two doctoral scholarships granted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within its Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP). These scholarships are for non-German candidates only. The GPTS also welcomes applications by candidates with other funding sources. The new application round is now open for an intake in the winter semester 2025/26.
Details
The Graduate Programme for Transcultural Studies (GPTS) is a three-year, structured doctoral program that is taught in English. It was established in 2008 within the interdisciplinary research environment of the then Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context: The Dynamics of Transculturality". As an integral part of the HCTS, it has been host to a large variety of individual doctoral projects with a strong, innovative transcultural approach. The GPTS combines the European model of highly individualized doctoral studies and a system of guided courses, and thereby aims to develop scholarly knowledge on the specific theories and methodologies related to transculturality as well as soft skills relevant to an academic and/or non-academic career.
Structure
Doctoral candidates are trained primarily by members of the departments at the HCTS and further scholars committed to the institute's research agenda. In their first year they are located at Heidelberg during the regular teaching semester to attend the research colloquium, in which doctoral and postdoctoral researchers present the progress of their research and discuss it within the peer-group. A reading class in transcultural theories and methods further helps the doctoral candidates to discuss and conceptualize the theoretical and methodological framework of their project.
During the second year doctoral candidates ideally collect and analyze their primary data/source material. They thus do not have to be present at the HCTS, but are expected to present their work in the research colloquium if they are. The third year is again spent primarily at the HCTS, though individually further research/archival trips may be necessary. Doctoral candidates are then expected to put their results in writing and present them in the research colloquium and other academic platforms within and outside Heidelberg University. While ideally the doctoral thesis is submitted at the end of the three years, on average our doctoral candidates require four years to obtain their degree.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Application requirements
Applicants must hold an M.A. or equivalent in a discipline of the humanities or social sciences with an above-average grade (at least 1.7, B+, 2+, "magna cum laude", or equivalent). The degree has to reflect at least four years of study at university level. Applicants who plan to graduate in the current academic year must provide a university transcript that clearly indicates the degree progress.
Applicants must prove advanced language skills in English by providing a certificate confirming at least level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, e.g. a score of 100 in the Internet based TOEFL or a score of 7.0 in the IELTS. Other methods of proof may also be acceptable (see FAQs).
University and language certificates must be submitted in English, German, French or Italian. Documents in other languages must be submitted as certified translations into English or German.
Dates
Deadline: February 16, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
