The Bielefeld
Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS) awards up to six four-month
start-up scholarships to international MA graduates who would like to pursue a
doctoral degree in history, sociology, anthropology, or political science at
the BGHS. Recipients receive the opportunity to prepare a persuasive proposal
for a dissertation project. Subsequently, they may app
ly for the doctoral
degree programme at the BGHS and/or for scholarships, doctoral positions and
funding programmes in Germany or worldwide.
Applicants should
hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in sociology, history, political science,
social anthropology or gender studies; applications from related disciplines
are welcome. We strongly encourage women to apply. Graduates from abroad who
wish to pursue a doctoral degree in history, sociology, anthropology or
political science may apply for a start-up scholarship. We welcome applications
from pre-doctoral researchers. Applicants should speak either German or English
fluently. Neither German nationals nor foreigners with a tertiary education
from a German university may apply (Bildungsinländer/innen). The start-up
scholarships are meant to further networking with scientists at the BGHS,
therefore no prolonged archival or research trips should take place during this
period.
By the end of their stay the candidates present their developed projects to the
BGHS community and submit a final report.
To ensure that your project fits with the BGHS profile, you should take a close
look at the Areas
of research covered by the BGHS. Your project should be relatable to
those areas.
The scholarships
will be awarded for the Summer Term of each year (1 April until 31 July) and
include a stipend of EUR 1,200 per month. This amount will be supplemented by
an allowance for children if applicable. Upon application, travel costs can
also be covered by the Graduate School. Moreover, the BGHS will offer a study
programme tailored to the particular needs of international MA graduates.
Scholarship holders will participate in workshops on German academia as well as
on writing a project description and will be supported intensively in finding a
funding for their research project. Frequent exchange with peer researchers,
BGHS staff, and professors facilitates guidance and support during these four
months. Scholarship holders will also take part in a German or English class at
PunktUm.
Applications
should be submitted until January 15, 2017 via the online
application portal.
- Covering
letter (600 words max.) (guidelines) - Curriculum
Vitae (1,000 words max.) (guidelines) - Summary
of your MA thesis (600 words max.) - Project
description (800 words max.) (guidelines) - Letter
of recommendation from your supervisor/advisor at your university (If
preferred, your supervisor/advisor can send the letter directly to the
BGHS: application-bghs@uni-bielefeld.de)
- University
and college certificates and transcripts (Master’s certificate or a
statement from your examination office that you have successfully
completed your Master’s studies. All your grades, including the grade for
your Master’s thesis, must be displayed in this statement). Please enclose
a certified translation if certificates are not written in English or
German.
Please read the FAQs
carefully. They contain all important information on application requirements
and procedures. Please also read the project description guidelines for information
on formal design and content as well as the covering letter and curriculum
vitae guidelines. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions:
application-bghs@uni-bielefeld.de.
Education: Our degree programme
includes not only candidates’ work on their own research, but also a structured
curriculum that combines research-oriented courses with courses providing
general qualifications.
Research: It is a primary mission of
the BGHS to offer a structured doctoral training programme for both
participating departments, with a strong focus on theories and methods.
Sociology at Bielefeld University features a plurality of theoretical
orientations unparalleled at any other German university. In the Department of History,
all chairs are staffed by professors who have a record in theoretical
reflection, are interested in special methods or are particularly attentive to
– among other areas – historiography. Moreover, Bielefeld is well-known for
interdisciplinary research. While disciplinary strength is the prerequisite for
interdisciplinary exchange, the BGHS fosters dialogue on theoretical and
methodological issues in all of its research
fields.
Areas of
research:
Both the broad range of research and teaching capacities in history and
sociology at Bielefeld University as well as familiarity with the current state
of research guarantees that a large spectrum of dissertation projects can be supervised.
In history, thematic fields range from ancient to contemporary history and from
political, social and cultural history to the comparative history of modern
societies, as well as transnational and global history. In sociology,
supervision can be provided in thematic areas such as world society studies,
social inequality, social policy, migration studies, sociology of networks or
organisations and professions, just to name a few. Chairs in political science
and social anthropology further extend the scope of potential supervision.
Teaching and supervisory capacities overlap in a considerable number of
thematic fields.
Supervision: Supervisors for doctoral
projects are found within specific areas of research. It is key to the success
of your application that you are able to assign your project to at least one
area of research www.uni-bielefeld.de/(en)/bghs/wir/forschung/felder.html .
Therefore, when writing your covering letter you should take the opportunity to
locate your own research within at least one of the research areas. Doctoral
researchers and their supervisors sign a Supervision agreement to ensure
regular, reliable supervision of all research projects.
Internationality: The diverse biographical,
social, and cultural backgrounds of BGHS community members are an exceptional
resource that enriches research and (international) cooperation. For this
reason, increasing the percentage of international doctoral researchers is a
central aim of the BGHS. BGHS degree programme courses are held either in
German or in English. In addition, there are many other ways in which the BGHS
helps build international networks for its doctoral researchers.
