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Current Calls for Applications

Advertisement of 2 Scholarships for Doctoral Studies (October 2025 – September 2029) in the Doctoral Program "Ancient Languages and Texts"

The Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering two (2) doctoral scholarships to earn a PhD within the framework of "Ancient Languages and Texts" doctoral program of the BerGSAS.

We welcome applications from highly qualified graduates from the fields of: Ancient History, History of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages; Ancient Oriental Languages; Ancient Philology: Greek (with Byzantine Greek) and Latin (Classical Latin, Middle and Modern Latin); Egyptology (with Coptology); Iranian Studies; Jewish Studies; Protestant Theology (with Old Testament, New Testament, Church History); Religious Studies; Roman Law. Applicants must hold an outstanding master's degree (MA, MSt, or MSc) or equivalent in one of the aforementioned disciplines or be very close to completion.

Objectives of the doctoral program "Ancient Languages and Texts"

The program "Ancient Languages and Texts" (ALT), focuses on the written heritage of ancient cultures which includes literary works as well as documentary texts like inscriptions and papyri. Also, research is carried out into phenomena of mediality such as the interaction between texts and pictorial representations. In this line of inquiry, traditional philological methods are being combined with historical and cultural issues. In addition to that, particular emphasis is placed on theories and approaches of modern literary studies and linguistics. Topics and methods in the digital humanities and computer philology also belong to the program ALT. Thus, the program is characterized by a plurality of research methods and a wide understanding of the concept of ‘a text’. Doctoral researchers are expected to participate in Digital Humanities training offered by BerGSAS. Applicants are be expected to have sufficient command of the relevant ancient languages for their dissertation project.

Who can apply?

  • The call is open ONLY to applicants who are not German citizens
  • Applicants must not have completed a PhD previously
  • The MA degree must not have been completed before March 1, 2019
  • Applicants must not have resided in Germany continuously before December 1, 2023

Duration of the scholarship and funding

The doctoral scholarship is available from October 2025 (winter semester 2025/26) for four years, subject to a satisfactory annual progress review. In accordance with DAAD guidelines, the scholarship holders receive a stipend of 1,300 Euros a month, a travel allowance, payments towards health, accident and liability insurance cover, allowances for study and research (and, where applicable, rent and family allowances) as well as financial support for a pre-sessional German language course. Plus, material resources and supervision allowance of 1,000 Euros per year, administered by the BerGSAS.

Application process

Applications must be submitted via the BerGSAS portal by November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT, quoting the reference 2025-ALT-BerGSAS-GSSP. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application procedure takes place in two stages:

1st stage: Please register at https://application.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/bergsas. After you have created a personal account, you can begin to fill in the application form and you can upload your documents. It is possible to save the application form temporarily and continue with the data entry at a later date. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT. BerGSAS will invite shortlisted candidates to an online interview within two months of the application deadline.

2nd stage: BerGSAS will nominate the candidates selected to the DAAD. The DAAD will make the final decision and will inform you. Please note that admission to doctoral studies and the receipt of a scholarship is subject to assessment by the host university (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, or Freie Universität Berlin) and by the DAAD.

Application documents

Your application documents: If registered at BerGSAS application portal (https://application.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/bergsas), you will find at the bottom of the form the list of the required documents. This includes among other things copies of various documents (which do not have to be officially certified!).

  • Certificate of a language examination in English e.g, IELTS Academic or TOEFL, at least B2 level. Please note: At the Freie Universität, a C1 certificate is required for admission to doctoral studies.
  • Certificates of any academic degree (B.A. and M.A.) or advanced qualifications indicating grades and explaining the grading system of your home university.

Two letters of reference:Two letters of reference from university professors are required, one of which must be from a professor at your home university! These letters are confidential documents and should be sent as a PDF file by the university professors directly to: carmen.marcks-jacobs@berliner-antike-kolleg.org

It is mandatory that the professors use the DAAD template, whichcan be downloaded here: https://www.daad.de/medien/deutschland/stipendien/formulare/recommendation.doc

Application deadline

The deadline for your application is November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT. The selection committee will not consider incomplete or late applications.

Forfurtherinquiriespleasecontactthe coordinator of the doctoral program:

Dr. Carmen Marcks-Jacobs, carmen. marcks-jacobs@berliner-antike-kolleg.org

Advertisement of 2 Scholarships for Doctoral Studies (October 2025 – September 2029) in the Doctoral Program "Ancient Objects and Visual Studies"

The Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering two (2) doctoral scholarships to earn a PhD within the framework of "Ancient Objects and Visual Studies" doctoral program of the BerGSAS.

We welcome applications from highly qualified graduates from the fields of: Ancient Oriental Studies, Classical Archaeology, Egyptology and Northeast African Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, or Prehistoric Archaeology. Applicants must hold an outstanding master's degree (MA, MSt, or MSc) or equivalent in one of the aforementioned disciplines or be very close to completion.

Objectives of the doctoral program "Ancient Objects and Visual Studies"

The doctoral program "Ancient Objects and Visual Studies" (AOViS) is concerned, among other things, with the effects of images and the mechanisms that make up communication with images. Key questions are: Who produces images and for whom? What message do these images convey? What are the elements of meaning (image ciphers) that make up the semantic field of images? To what extent can images be (or not) precisely determined in their semantic content? Such questions need to be explored by looking at the archaeological or historical object or artifact in its respective cultural context. Starting from the individual object, the general cultural influences on the perception of images should be worked out. Furthermore, the knowledge of the respective functioning of ancient images and artifacts should be combined with the contemporary possibilities of visual presentation. International perspectives are highly welcome here, especially those that question both the European-influenced role of images and the role of the museums.

Who can apply?

  • The call is open ONLY to applicants who are not German citizens
  • Applicants must not have completed a PhD previously
  • The MA degree must not have been completed before March 1, 2019
  • Applicants must not have resided in Germany continuously before December 1, 2023

Duration of the scholarship and funding

The doctoral scholarship is available from October 2025 (winter semester 2025/26) for four years, subject to a satisfactory annual progress review. In accordance with DAAD guidelines, the scholarship holders receive a stipend of 1,300 Euros a month, a travel allowance, payments towards health, accident and liability insurance cover, allowances for study and research (and, where applicable, rent and family allowances) as well as financial support for a pre-sessional German language course. Plus, material resources and supervision allowance of 1,000 Euros per year, administered by the BerGSAS.

Application process

Applications must be submitted via the BerGSAS portal by November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT, quoting the reference 2025-AOViS-BerGSAS-GSSP. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application procedure takes place in two stages:

1st stage: Please register at https://application.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/bergsas. After you have created a personal account, you can begin to fill in the application form and you can upload your documents. It is possible to save the application form temporarily and continue with the data entry at a later date. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT. BerGSAS will invite shortlisted candidates to an online interview within two months of the application deadline.

2nd stage: BerGSAS will nominate the candidates selected to the DAAD. The DAAD will make the final decision and will inform you. Please note that admission to doctoral studies and the receipt of a scholarship is subject to assessment by the host university (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, or Freie Universität Berlin) and by the DAAD.

Application documents

Your application document: If registered at BerGSAS application portal, you will find at the bottom of the form the list of the required documents. This includes among other things copies of various documents (which do not have to be officially certified!).

  • Certificate of a language examination in English e.g, IELTS Academic or TOEFL, at least B2 level. Please note: At the Freie Universität, a C1 certificate is required for admission to doctoral studies.
  • Certificates of any academic degree (B.A. and M.A.) or advanced qualifications indicating grades and explaining the grading system of your home university.

Two letters of reference:Two letters of reference from university professors are required, one of which must be from a professor at your home university! These letters are confidential documents and should be sent as a PDF file by the university professors directly to: regina.attula@berliner-antike-kolleg.org

It is mandatory that the professors use the DAAD template, which can be downloaded here: https://www.daad.de/medien/deutschland/stipendien/formulare/recommendation.doc

Application deadline

The deadline for your application is November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT. The selection committee will not consider incomplete or late applications.

Forfurtherinquiriespleasecontactthe coordinator of the doctoral program:

Dr. Regina Attula, regina.attula@berliner-antike-kolleg.org

Advertisement of 2 Scholarships for Doctoral Studies (October 2025 - September 2029) in the Doctoral Program "Landscape Archaeology and Architecture"

The Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering two (2) doctoral scholarships to earn a PhD within the framework of “Landscape Archaeology and Architecture” doctoral program of the BerGSAS.

We welcome applications from highly qualified graduates from the fields of:

  • Ancient Oriental Studies
  • Classical Archaeology
  • Egyptology and Northeast African Archaeology with a focus on Landscape Archaeology
  • Near Eastern Archaeology
  • Prehistoric Archaeology

Applicants must hold an outstanding master's degree (MA, MSt, or MSc) or equivalent in one of the aforementioned disciplines or in a neighbouring field or be very close to completion.

Objectives of the doctoral program "Landscape Archaeology and Architecture"

The focus of the doctoral program "Landscape Archaeology and Architecture" is not on the archaeology of specific regions, or spaces, but rather on the spectrum of methods and research strategies applied in the study of landscape archaeology and architectural history. We encourage candidates whose doctoral projects would fit within this broad framework to submit their applications. We welcome projects that deal with the intertwining of landscape and economy, or focus on cultural anthropology and social archaeology.

Who can apply?

  • The call is open ONLY to applicants who are not German citizens
  • Applicants must not have completed a PhD previously
  • The MA degree must not have been completed before March 1, 2019
  • Applicants must not have resided in Germany continuously before December 1, 2023

Duration of the scholarship and funding

The doctoral scholarship is available from October 2025 (winter semester 2025/26) for four years, subject to a satisfactory annual progress review. In accordance with DAAD guidelines, the scholarship holders receive a stipend of 1,300 Euros a month, a travel allowance, payments towards health, accident and liability insurance cover, allowances for study and research (and, where applicable, rent and family allowances) as well as financial support for a pre-sessional German language course. Plus, material resources and supervision allowance of 1,000 Euros per year, administered by the BerGSAS.

Application process

Applications must be submitted via the BerGSAS portal by November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT, quoting the reference 2025-LAA-BerGSAS-GSSP. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application procedure takes place in two stages:

1ststage: Please register at https://application.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/bergsas

After you have created a personal account, you can begin to fill in the application form and you can upload your documents. It is possible to save the application form temporarily and continue with the data entry at a later date. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT.

BerGSAS will invite shortlisted candidates to an online interview within two months of the application deadline.

2ndstage: BerGSAS will nominate the candidates selected to the DAAD. The DAAD will make the final decision and will inform you. Please note that admission to doctoral studies and the receipt of a scholarship is subject to assessment by the host university (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, or Freie Universität Berlin) and by the DAAD.

Application documents

Your application documents: If registered at BerGSAS application portal (https://application.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/bergsas), you will find at the bottom of the form the list of the required documents. This includes among other things copies of various documents (which do not have to be officially certified!).

  • Certificate of a language examination in English e.g, IELTS Academic or TOEFL, at least B2 level. Please note: At the Freie Universität, a C1 certificate is required for admission to doctoral studies.
  • Certificates of any academic degree (B.A. and M.A.) or advanced qualifications indicating grades and explaining the grading system of your home university.

Two letters of reference: Two letters of reference from university professors are required, one of which must be from a professor at your home university! These letters are confidential documents and should be sent as a PDF file by the university professors directly to: regina.attula@berliner-antike-kolleg.org

It is mandatory that the professors use the DAAD template, whichcan be downloaded here:

https://www.daad.de/medien/deutschland/stipendien/formulare/recommendation.doc

Application deadline

The deadline for your application is November 1, 2024 at 00:00 CEWT. The selection committee will not consider incomplete or late applications.

Forfurtherinquiriespleasecontactthe coordinator of the doctoral program:

Dr. Regina Attula, regina.attula@berliner-antike-kolleg.org

Study places (without funding)

The Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS) accepts applications for both winter and summer admissions for all five doctoral programs. The starting date for doctoral studies in the summer semester is the first of April – for the winter semester, the starting date is the first of October.

If you would like to apply for summer admission, please you submit your application materials by September 30 of the preceding year.

If you wish to apply for winter admission, we request that you submit your application materials by April 30 in the year you wish to start.

Prospective doctoral students apply for one of our five doctoral programs. Each of the programs has its own curriculum, which takes six semesters to complete. In the course of their doctoral studies, doctoral students have the opportunity to spend a semester at one of our partner universities – Harvard University, the University of Michigan, the University of Oxford or Princeton University – and can receive financial support for that purpose.

Minimum requirements for applicants

  • Completion of a master’s degree with a very good result in a field of ancient studies or a closely related discipline, e.g. prehistory, classical or Near Eastern archaeology, Egyptology, ancient Near Eastern studies, physical geography, ancient history, medieval history, religious studies, philosophy and the history of knowledge, theology, art history, classics, Byzantine studies, Iranian studies.
  • When you submit your application, you must be able to prove that you have a way of financing the three-year course of doctoral studies or at least show that you have submitted a request for the funding of your doctoral project to a third party.

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