The University of Erfurt is inviting applications for up to four doctoral scholarships funded through the Thuringian State Graduate Support for the 2027 funding cycle. The scholarships are designed to support excellent doctoral research projects within the Erfurt Doctoral and Postdoctoral Programme (EPPP). Successful applicants will receive a monthly basic scholarship of €1,400, with additional financial support available for eligible dependants and research-related expenses. The standard funding period is three years, with the possibility of an extension for a further year. The funding will begin on 1 April 2027, while applications must be submitted by 24 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET. University of Erfurt Doctoral Scholarships 2027 The scholarships support doctoral candidates whose research projects are hosted within one of the University of Erfurt’s certified Graduate Centres or the Max-Weber-Kolleg. The programme is intended for candidates with strong academic records and promising research projects. Selection considers both the applicant’s academic achievements and the quality, significance and feasibility of the proposed doctoral research. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their suitability for academic research through their examination results, previous academic work, research potential and methodological approach. Up to four scholarships will be awarded, subject to the availability and allocation of the necessary state funding. Scholarship Benefits The University of Erfurt doctoral scholarship provides several forms of financial and academic support. Successful scholars will receive: €1,400 per month as the basic scholarship amount. €300 per month for the first dependent child. €150 per month for each additional dependent child. Up to €600 per funding year for eligible research-related materials and travel costs, subject to available funds and approval. A standard funding period of three years. The possibility of extending the scholarship by one additional year upon request. Access to research and networking opportunities. Academic Skills Training provided by the University. Opportunities for science communication and public engagement. Scholarship holders are expected to participate actively in their Graduate Centre or Max-Weber-Kolleg programme, attend at least six Academic Skills Training courses and engage in academic networking. They must also submit a report on the progress of their doctoral project after 18 months. Who Can Apply? Applicants must meet several requirements by the beginning of the funding period. They must have above-average academic achievements and examination results demonstrating particular aptitude for academic research. They must also be accepted as a doctoral candidate by one of the University of Erfurt’s faculties or the Max-Weber-Kolleg by the start of funding at the latest. Successful applicants must be matriculated at the University of Erfurt and hold full membership in the relevant Graduate Centre or Max-Weber-Kolleg by the start of the funding period. Applicants must also provide proof of current health insurance and comply with the rules concerning other sources of funding. Employment alongside the scholarship is restricted. Research and teaching employment at a higher education or non-university research institution may be undertaken for no more than 12 hours per week, while other employment is limited to five hours per week. Teaching participation must not exceed an average of two teaching hours per academic year. What Documents Are Required? Applicants must prepare a complete application package and submit the documents in the specified order. The application should include a cover letter of no more than two pages explaining the selected Graduate Centre or Max-Weber-Kolleg, reasons for applying, the project’s current progress and relevant personal circumstances where the applicant wishes to provide them. Applicants must also provide: A tabular CV and completed CV supplement. An exposé of the doctoral project. A research project outline of approximately 6–8 pages, excluding the cover page and bibliography. A three-year work and time schedule. Confirmation of contact with the relevant Graduate Centre or Max-Weber-Kolleg. Confirmation of doctoral acceptance, if already available. A list of academic publications and presentations, where applicable. Degree certificates. A complete copy of the final Diploma, Magister or Master’s thesis. Signed consent concerning the processing of personal data. Applicants whose degree documents are not in German or English must provide certified translations into one of those languages. Where the final thesis is not in German or English, a summary of no more than two pages in German or English is also required. Recommendation Letter Required In addition to the main application PDF, candidates must arrange for a current, signed recommendation letter for the doctoral project. The recommendation must be completed using the University’s prescribed form by a professor or other university teacher at the University of Erfurt or another higher education institution. Importantly, the recommendation letter must not be included in the applicant’s main PDF. The reviewer must submit it separately and on time by email to the University. How to Apply All application documents, except the separately submitted recommendation letter, must be combined into one PDF file of no more than 5 MB. The application must contain a table of contents and follow the required document order. Applications should be submitted by email to: graduiertenfoerderung@uni-erfurt.de Applicants should use the following email subject: Application for the State Graduate Scholarship 2026 – surname, first name Incomplete applications, applications that do not meet the formal requirements, or submissions received after the deadline will not be considered. The application deadline is 24 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET. Funding is scheduled to start on 1 April 2027, with a latest possible start date of 1 July 2027. Selection Process and Timeline The University expects the evaluation and decision-making process to take approximately ten weeks. Applicants are expected to receive notification of the outcome by the end of February 2027. Selection will focus on academic achievement, previous academic work, research potential, methodological quality, the significance of the doctoral project and the plausibility of the proposed work and time schedule. Applicants should therefore ensure that their research exposé clearly establishes the research question, current state of research, methodology, bibliography and realistic three-year research plan. Why Applicants Should Prepare Early The University of Erfurt doctoral scholarships offer a combination of financial support and structured academic development for candidates pursuing doctoral research in Germany. Because applications require several supporting documents, including a detailed research exposé, academic records, a final thesis and an external recommendation letter, prospective applicants should begin preparing well before the November deadline. Candidates should also establish contact with the relevant Graduate Centre or Max-Weber-Kolleg early enough to satisfy the programme’s membership and acceptance requirements. Applicants should carefully review the official announcement and applicable University regulations before submitting their applications, as funding is subject to available state funds and there is no legal entitlement to receive a scholarship. Application Deadline: 24 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. CETFunding Start: 1 April 2027Number of Scholarships: Up to 4Monthly Basic Scholarship: €1,400Funding Duration: 3 years, with possible 1-year extensionApplication Method: EmailApplication Email: graduiertenfoerderung@uni-erfurt.de SEE MORE DETAILS HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Important: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the offering organisation. This opportunity is shared for informational purposes based on the official announcement. Applicants should verify all eligibility requirements, application documents, deadline details and submission procedures directly with Umeå University before applying. GSO does not accept applications or CVs on behalf of applicants. JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW