Current Positions Available at the GSPoL, in cooperation with the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst).
In Germany doctoral education in structured PhD programmes has become an essential part of the qualification process of young academics. Stringent quality standards regarding the selection and hosting of doctoral students as well as a thriving international research environment create unique perspectives for a successful academic and social integration and make these programmes highly attractive, particularly for foreign applicants.
In cooperation with the DAAD the Department of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is offering two scholarships for interested and qualified international doctoral candidates in the area of literary studies starting October 1st 2016.
The Graduate School, 'Practices of Literature' offers the opportunity to complete your doctorate degree within three years and to prepare for an academic career in university or non-university professions.
In the framework of the GSSP, two scholarships will be awarded to international PhD-students, who will be financially supported for up to three years, in case of emerging countries for up to four years.
Participating areas of study:
English/American Studies, Arabic/Islamic Studies, Baltic Studies, Book Studies, German Studies, Comparative Studies, Latin Philology/Studies, Dutch Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Romance Studies, Sinology, Slavonic Studies.
The following three areas are to be emphasized in the individual doctoral dissertations:
1. Literature and Society
(The relationship between literary studies, social theories, cultural theories and Studies, and Literature)
2. Theories of Literature
(philosophy of science, history and theory of literature)
3. Putting the Study of Literature into Practice
(Occupationally-oriented areas that apply literary studies, the literary marketplace, key qualifications, the relationship between literary theory and professional practice)
Curriculum:
Lectures/series of talks, colloquia, group projects, workshops, practical training, academic teaching.
Mentoring:
Each doctoral candidate will be allocated to an individual, interdisciplinary support group consisting of three members. A written agreement regarding the mentoring as well as an individual work- and time schedule will be drawn up.
Guidelines for applications for the Graduate School Practices of Literature
Requirements
- A qualifying degree at the level of Master/Magister/Staatsexamen (minimum grade: “gut”/B), in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree (minimum grade: “sehr gut”/A).
- Very good German language skills are recommended, as the courses at the GSPoL are taught in German
- At the time of the application, the last final exam should have taken place during the past six years
- At the time of the application the applicant should not have resided in Germany for more than fifteen months.
Deadlines
Applications are accepted both for the winter and summer term. The deadline for application for the winter semester 2016/17 is the 30th of November 2015.
Format of the application
Applications for the Graduate School can be in German or English. They must be submitted in writing (preferably in electronic form/ PDF) and should include:
1. A letter of motivation explaining the application at the GS PoL
2. Curriculum vitae (without a photograph)
3. Proof that the applicant has completed a qualifying course of studies - the degree awarded must at least be 2,0 (B) or better (according to § 5, Abs. 1 and 2 of the study regulations )
4. Proof of German language skills according to appendix A (Anhang A) of the study regula-tions.
5. A detailed project proposal of the planned dissertation of about 10 pages length, including a description of aims and planned topics, relevance within literary scholarship and method of research, as well as a detailed work and time schedule and a bibliography.
6. Two letters of reference. If the applicant holds a Bachelor’s degree or has completed a first course of studies with a regular duration of less than eight semesters, three references must be submitted. Please use the DAAD template.
The Application for a scholarship follows a three-step procedure.
Candidates will submit an application, followed by a personal interview and a final nomination to the DAAD, followed by the standard application procedure at the DAAD.
Please send applications via e-mail (PDF-format) to
m.conrad@uni-muenster.de
Please address applications to
Graduate School 'Practices of Literature'
WWU Münster, Fachbereich 09 (Philologie)
c/o Germanistisches Institut
Schlossplatz 34
48143 Münster
For more information please contact
Dr. Maren Conrad (coordinator GSPoL)
m.conrad@uni-muenster.de