PhD Programme in Transnational Studies
Starting date of programme: 3 year full-time PhD programme starting September 2018
Starting date for applications: 1 December 2017
Deadline for submitting applications: 31 January 2018 (4 January 2018 for applicants with Chinese citizenship)
Who we are
The Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies (BTS) is a joint graduate school of Freie Universität Berlin, the Hertie School of Governance, and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. It offers a rigorous and dynamic English-language PhD programme for exceptionally talented graduate students in the field of transnational and international relations, encompassing related disciplines, such as political science, history, economics, law, among others.
The programme
The BTS provides a distinctive platform for ambitious, innovative, and cutting-edge projects and offers an inspiring environment to undertake theory-driven, methodologically rigorous research. The focus of the programme is on international and regional institutions, with a special emphasis on multilateral and non-state actors. Questions that form the centre of our work are related to the legitimacy, authority, and politicization of global governance; regional cooperation and integration including the European Union; and normative interfaces of international politics and international law. Research undertaken at the BTS should be driven by an interest in transnational and international actors as well as a comparative approach to problems and questions related to regional and global governance structures.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with the research interests of BTS faculty members and indicate one or several potential supervisors in their application.
Required documents
Certificates and transcripts of your bachelor’s and master’s degree qualifying you for PhD studies in political science, international relations, sociology, economics, law, or related disciplines
- Proof of C1-level English language skills or the equivalent (see specification here)
- An up-to-date CV
- A short letter of motivation (600 words maximum)
- A research proposal (5,000 words maximum) with a timetable for your project
- Two letters of reference from professors at universities or research institutions
Scholarships
Two PhD positions for international (non-German) students are funded by the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for a period of three years. Two further PhD positions for students with Chinese citizenship are funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC).
Two additional stipends are available for PhD students at the Hertie School of Governance: One for people interested in EU studies (Profs. Dawson, Enderlein, and Jachtenfuchs), one for people interested in quantitative approaches to political violence and conflict processes, especially (ethnic) civil war and terrorism (Prof. Wucherpfennig). Please indicate to which stipend and supervisor you are applying.
As there is only a limited number of institutional scholarships available, in certain cases, candidates who are not offered a scholarship can be admitted to the programme provided that they secure their own external funding. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to apply to other sponsors/foundations at the same time of your BTS application. To support that process, we are happy to provide documentation if need be.
Application procedure
All applicants, except those from China, are required to apply online. The application platform opens on 1 December 2017.
Please note that candidates selected for a nomination for a DAAD or a CSC scholarship have to submit yet another application to the respective funding organisation, who make the final decision.
Applicants from China must submit their application via the Bejing Office of the Freie Universität Berlin until 4 January 2018.