In an effort to attract highly qualified doctoral candidates in the humanities and social sciences to the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz and to provide financial support for the preparatory and early stages of their PhDs, the Gutenberg Graduate School of the Humanities and Social Sciences is launching a call for applications for new research proposal scholarships. The proposal scholarships are intended to help potential recipients complete a convincing research proposal within the six-month scholarship period, which provides the foundation for a successful PhD scholarship application or university position. In addition to the financial support, the scholarship also offers a substantial level of non-material support such as workshops on research proposal writing and PhD preparation, along with other advisory and skills development opportunities.
Who can apply?
Applications are welcomed from:
- advanced students or graduates of any university (in Germany or abroad), who either already hold, or will soon hold, a degree entitling them to do a PhD at the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU);
- advanced students or graduates of foreign universities, who would like to do their doctorate at the JGU and who have either already submitted, or are about to submit, an application for recognition of their foreign qualifications;
- people currently participating in an aptitude assessment/fast track procedure at the JGU as preparation for admission to doctoral studies.
Applicants are expected to display an above-average aptitude and motivation with regard to their doctoral studies in humanities or social sciences at the JGU.
At the time of applying, the thesis (e.g. masters thesis) in the degree programme entitling the applicant to enter doctoral studies must have been submitted. If the degree programme did not require submission of a thesis, the applicant must provide separate evidence that they have made sufficient progress in their studies to make possible completion of the programme before the start of the funding phase. At the time the scholarship commences, the applicant must be in possession of a degree which, in accordance with the valid doctoral studies regulations, will entitle him/her to begin doctoral studies at the JGU in the selected faculty, school or academy immediately (e.g. master, Erstes Staatsexamen (German first state examination), Magister…).
This degree should not be more than three years old at the time of application. Where this period has been exceeded, reasons must be given in the application. Possible reasons for exceeding the time limit may include disability, illness, parental or care leave, participation in student bodies, refugee status or flight from war or violence, or other circumstances that have delayed pursuit of the doctorate.
Language ability
The accompanying programme is offered in German and/or English. The application and proposal may be written in either German or English. Knowledge of German is desirable, but not obligatory.
Selection criteria
Selection is based on the eligibility of applicants and on their motivation with regard to their doctoral studies in the humanities or social sciences at the Johannes Gutenberg University. Gender equality and diversity criteria will also be taken into account.
Amount and duration of scholarship
Regarding the amount of the scholarship, JGU guidelines follow those issued by the Federal Ministry of
Education and Research (BMBF) applicable to organisations dedicated to the promotion of gifted students (§ 6 Para. 1). In accordance with this, the scholarship amount currently stands at €1.650 per month (includes basic scholarship plus a research costs allowance). An additional subsidy for health
insurance and achildcare allowance may also be awarded. The usual period for which the scholarship is awarded is six months.
General conditions
The proposal scholarship is subject to all regulations contained in the current scholarship guidelines (“Richtlinie für die Vergabe von Stipendien an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (Englische Fassung)”).
At the start of the scholarship, recipients are required to attend workshops organised by the GSHS on preparing for a doctoral degree and drafting a research proposal (Exposé). It is expected that a total of six face-to-face workshops will take place during the funding period. The GSHS and its partners at the JGU will make further advisory, qualification and skills training opportunities open to the scholarship holder as and when required.
The scholarship holder also undertakes to submit a short final evaluation report on the scholarship, the current status of the doctorate and, where applicable, on any funding applied for or obtained, or any doctoral position acquired, to the GSHS no longer than four weeks after the end of the scholarship. Information contained in the final report will only be used for internal purposes by the GSHS and will not be passed on to any third parties. The GSHS will carry out a survey on candidates’ career progress approximately six months after the end of the programme.
Scholarship holders will be accepted as junior members of the Gutenberg Graduate School of the Humanities and Social Sciences for the duration of the scholarship. Once they have completed registration, doctoral candidates can be accepted as full members of the GSHS. If the programme is ended or cancelled early, the recipient will not be required to repay the scholarship funding.
Application documents:
- Application form
- Tabular CV
- Covering letter (1–2 pages)
- Certificates of all university degrees (including Transcripts of Records). Where a degree certificate is not yet available, you should include a current Transcript of Records
- Brief outline of project (max. 2–3 pages + max. 1-page bibliography) including a working title for the doctorate and indication of the discipline in which the doctorate is being done.
- Letter of recommendation from a university lecturer (JGU or home university) (max. 1–2 pages.)
- Confirmation from a JGU lecturer entitled to supervise in the chosen doctoral subject, and who is available to mentor the applicant during the funding period. (This does not imply any commitment to later supervision of the doctorate). The mentor’s confirmation of supervision can be submitted as an informal letter and should be attached to the application as a scan.
Application:
Please send all documents mentioned in the Call for Applications (https://gshs.uni-mainz.de/files/2024/02/Ausschreibungstext_Expose-Stipendien_Frist-15-06-2024_Start-01-10-2024-EN.pdf ) electronically by e-mail in a single pdf to the following address: gshs@uni-mainz.de.