Application and Funding

If you are interested to join the GIGA Doctoral Programme as a self-funded doctoral researcher, you are invited to apply to our yearly call for applications. The call is published in December of each year (see download to the right) with an application deadline until 1 February of the following year. The application process is completed in early April. The usual starting date is 1 October.

Applications need to include at least the following documents:

• GIGA DP Application Form (see download to the right)

• letter of motivation

• research proposal of 2.000 words max.

• curriculum vitae

• simple copies of degrees and academic transcripts (BA, Diploma, MA)

• proof of English language skills

• statement about funding plans for the duration of three years

• academic writing sample.

Additional documents depend on the respective call for applications. Applicants should inform themselves about suitable funding opportunities before applying to the GIGA. The final admission to the programme is dependent upon the applicant’s ability to provide proof of funding.

In exceptional cases, for example when deadlines for scholarship applications do not match up with the deadline of our yearly call, candidates with a high GIGA fit may submit applications to the DP academic director between calls throughout the year. Please note that only complete applications will be considered.

Doctoral researchers working in third-party funded projects at the GIGA while simultaneously pursuing their doctoral degree become members of the GIGA Doctoral Programme during the year depending on the starting date of their position and enrollment at a university. If you are interested to join the GIGA Doctoral Programme as a doctoral researcher working in a third-party funded project, please regularly check the vacancies for open positions.

For further questions regarding the applications procedure, please see our FAQs. Should you have additional questions that are not answered in the FAQs, please address them to dpgiga@giga-hamburg.de.

Doctoral researchers with high-quality projects and close relation to the GIGA’s research agenda may apply for a position as a visiting doctoral researcher at the GIGA Doctoral Programme for a period between two and twelve months. These positions come with the following benefits:

• full integration into the research structure of the GIGA and access to our research infrastructure

• participation in regular research meetings

• office space at the institute

• (free) participation in the courses and other events offered at the GIGA.

To apply, please send the following application documents to Gabriele Tetzlaff:

• motivation letter stating the main content of your project, illustrating how it would fit into the GIGA's research structure (please name one regional institute and one research programme where your research would fit) and how you would benefit from a stay at the GIGA (max. 2 pages)

• CV

• research proposal of max. 2,000 words

• a reference letter of your supervisor supporting the stay at the GIGA

• proof of enrolment as a doctoral researcher.

Please also indicate the start and end month of the period you would like to stay. Please note that there is high demand for these positions as well as a very strict limit on the number of visiting doctoral researchers the GIGA can host at once. Please apply well in advance! For further questions, please have a look at our FAQs.

Our self-funded doctoral reseachers receive their funding from different sources, such as foundations and institutions that offer scholarships for doctoral reseachers. Please see below a list of links to respective funding possibilities (all information is subject to change). We encourage candidates to inform themselves about suitable third party-funding opportunities and become familiar with respective requirements before applying to the GIGA. The final admission to the programme is dependent upon the applicant’s ability to provide proof of funding.

• Avicenna-Studienwerk

• Claussen-Simon-Stiftung

• Cusanuswerk

• DAAD – German Academic Exchange Service

• Dr. Jost Henkel Stiftung

• ELES - Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk

• Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. Villigst

• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

• FAZIT-Stiftung

• Friedrich Naumann Stiftung für die Freiheit

• Hanns Seidel Stiftung

• Hans-Böckler-Stiftung

• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

• KAAD - Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst

• Kölner Gymnasial- und Stiftungsfonds

• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

• Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft

• Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

• ZEIT-Stiftung