Why it fits you

See whether this opportunity fits you

Create your profile in a few minutes: we compare each criterion with your situation, with no document to upload.

Create my profileI already have an account

Who can apply

Three different things not to mix up: the country where you study, your nationality and the country where you live when you apply.

Country of study
Germany
Target level
Doctorate
Fields of study
Humanities, Social sciences and Law
Other conditions
  • You must hold an authorisation to enter higher education (for example Abitur or Fachabitur) and be at the beginning of your doctorate.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Die Ausschreibung richtet sich an deutschsprachige Promovierende mit einer Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (z. B. Abitur oder Fachabitur), die am Beginn ihrer Promotion stehen
  • Your doctoral project must have a thematic link with the summer school or deal with the relationship between religion and democracy.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Gesucht werden Promovierende, deren Dissertationsprojekte einen thematischen Bezug zur summer school haben bzw. Promovenden, die sich in ihren Dissertationen mit dem Verhältnis von Religion und Demokratie im Allgemeinen auseinandersetzen
  • You must give a detailed description of your social engagement (max. 1 page).RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Ausführliche Beschreibung über das gesellschaftliche Engagement der Bewerberin / des Bewerbers (max. 1 Seite
  • A fundamental agreement with the values and funding goals of the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung is expected.PreferredOrganisation’s wording: Eine grundsätzliche Übereinstimmung mit den Werten und Förderzielen der Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung wird erwartet
  • Participation in the summer school is compulsory; the first summer school takes place in Berlin from 16 to 20 August 2027.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Die erste summer school wird in Berlin vom 16. bis 20. August 2027 stattfinden und ist verpflichtend für diejenigen, die sich erfolgreich auf das Promotionsstipendium bewerben.

The real funding

What the opportunity pays, what is left for you to pay and the money to plan before leaving.

Number of places
5 places

Dates

Applications open
15 December 2026 at 00:00 GMT+1, time zone not specified
Applications close
15 January 2027
Studies start
Funding can start at the earliest on 1 April 2027.

Application steps

In the order set by the programme. Open a step to see the details.

  1. Step 1: Prepare and submit your application documents via the application portal of the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung
    With whom
    You (applicant)
    By when
    15 January 2027 — 15 January 2027
    Documents to provide
    • Cover letter stating the motivation (max. 2 pages)
    • Detailed tabular CV (max. 4 pages) with certificates (Abitur or other proof of higher education entrance qualification, transcripts and grades of degrees)
    • Short exposé of the doctoral project (approx. 5 pages, plus a 250-word abstract)
    • Supervision agreement or confirmation by a professor
    • Two assessments by academics confirming the scientific qualification
    • Detailed description of social engagement (max. 1 page)
  2. Step 2: Take part in the selection interviews, after which the final award of the scholarships is decided
    With whom
    Shortlisted applicants, invited by the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung

Where to apply

Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (opens in a new tab) · Religion und Demokratie · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; Hochschule für Philosophie München; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; Katholische Akademie Berlin

Official title (in German): Ausschreibung für 5 Promotionsstipendien im Rahmen einer dreijährigen internationalen summer school

Edition 2027–2029 · Verified on 31 October 2026

Apply on the official website (opens in a new tab)

Official website of Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung: hss.de