Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Department of Social Sciences - Berlin Graduate School of Social Science

The BGSS seeks international applicants interested in completing a doctoral degree at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Outstanding academic records, first research experience and a strong dedication to becoming a researcher in the Social Sciences are expected.

Doctoral projects should correspond to the BGSS’ faculty’s research profile. Research and doctoral training at the BGSS concentrates on the comparative analysis of problems of social inclusion and democratic performance by addressing the following themes:

Inclusion
Migration, Education, Work and Labor, Social Demography, Social Inequality and Change, Welfare State

Democracy
Democracy and Political Institutions, Constitutionalism and Rule of Law, Political Behavior of Individuals and Collective Actors, Political Economy

Minimum Requirements

• 1. Evaluation of eligibility

  • Please note: If one of these eligibility requirements is not fulfilled, the application will be rejected.

  • M.A. degree (120 CP, state accreditation) or equivalent (Magister, Diploma) in Social Sciences (Sociology, Political Science, and neighboring disciplines such as economics)

  • English language proficiency at C1-level or equivalent

  • Secured scientific funding (e.g. a scholarship, research and/or teaching position), covering living expenses for a duration of minimum 3 years. Self-funding is not possible.

    • Listing potential funding organizations is not sufficient. Instead, a letter of acceptance of one academic funding organization needs to be enclosed, including the amount of funding.

  • A BGSS faculty member has confirmed willingness to supervise the thesis

• 2. Evaluation on quality and fit with BGSS faculty

  • Documentation of in-depth knowledge of quantitative or qualitative techniques of social science research

  • Exposé of doctoral project

  • Mission statement

  • CV

  • Fit with BGSS faculty in terms of research topics, theories, methodology and empirical expertise

Application period

Decisions on admission are made in September in 2025. To be considered for this selection round, applications must be submitted by August 31st. We strongly recommend you to submit your application by June 15th, in order to have a smooth start in October 2025.

Application Documents and procedure (see detailed information)

Only eligible applications will be considered. Given that having a faculty supervisor is one important eligibility criterion, only applications that are submitted by the confirmed supervisor to bgss@hu-berlin.de can be considered.

We recommend you first e-mail a potential supervisor with a one page exposé of your doctoral project and short CV, outlining the fit with your supervisor's expertise and ask for acceptance of supervision. 

Our faculty receive an enormous number of requests for doctoral supervision. We recommend you to carefully read the publications of your potential supervisor and to make sure that there is considerable fit with your supervisor's substantial, methodological and regional expertise.

Once your supervisor has agreed to supervise you in case of successful admission by BGSS, please send all the required documents for successful application, in one pdf, maximum 3 MB, to your supervisor, ca. 3-6 weeks prior to the BGSS deadline so that your supervisor can submit your application in time.

The following documents are compulsory and need to be uploaded (PDF - not write protected - or JPEG file format only):

• Curriculum Vitae
• Certificate of English Language Ability (TOEFL, IELTS, C-level etc.)
• Exposé of your doctoral project (5-10 pages)
• Copies of degrees and certificates (official transcripts, diplomas, including translations into German or English, if necessary)