University of Erfurt CEREB PhD Scholarships 2027

About this opportunity

The Center for Empirical Research in Economics and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Erfurt is inviting applications for PhD scholarships beginning in 2027, funded through the Thuringian State Graduate Support Programme. The University intends to award up to four doctoral scholarships under this call.

Successful applicants receive €1,400 per month as the basic scholarship amount, with standard funding running for three years and the possibility of applying for a fourth year, subject to the applicable scholarship rules and approval. Scholarship holders with dependent children may receive an additional €300 per month for the first child and €150 per month for each further child. Up to €600 per funding year may also be applied for toward approved research materials and travel, such as academic travel, conferences and fieldwork. Funding is planned to begin on 1 April 2027 and must begin no later than 1 July 2027.

CEREB suits researchers working where economics, psychology, behavioral sciences, management, organizational research, decision-making, health communication, corporate governance and business ethics meet. The centre is interdisciplinary by design, and its doctoral programme combines a structured graduate programme, supervision within a research network spanning economics, psychology, management and behavioral sciences, and international academic connections.

Note that applications go in by email, not through a portal, and the requirements are precise. Documents are combined into one PDF with a table of contents, in the prescribed order and no larger than 5 MB, while your academic recommendation letter must be sent separately by the referee before the

Application timeline

There is no nationality restriction stated in the official scholarship announcement, and applications are welcomed regardless of origin.

What you receive

€1,400 per month doctoral scholarship
Three years of standard funding with the option to apply for a fourth year
Family allowance of €300 per month for the first dependent child and €150 for each additional child
Up to €600 per funding year toward approved research materials and travel
Membership of an interdisciplinary graduate centre connecting economics, psychology, management and behavioral sciences
Access to a structured graduate programme rather than fully independent doctoral study
International academic connections within the University of Erfurt research environment
Funding expected to begin on 1 April 2027, and no later than 1 July 2027

Who can apply

Above-average academic achievements and examination results demonstrating particular aptitude for academic research
Accepted as a doctoral candidate by the beginning of the funding period at the latest
Formally enrolled, or matriculated, at the University of Erfurt by the start of the funding period
Full membership of the relevant Graduate Centre, in this case CEREB, no later than the beginning of the funding period, with evidence that contact was established during the application process
Current proof of health insurance by the beginning of the scholarship funding period
Applicants must not apply simultaneously to several Graduate Centres, so choose the centre that best fits your research
No nationality restriction is stated in the official scholarship announcement, so international candidates may apply if they meet the academic, admission, membership and enrolment requirements

Who should not apply

The scholarship generally cannot be combined with another source of public funding covering the same period and purpose
Scholarship holders may undertake limited paid employment but restrictions apply, so candidates planning substantial employment alongside their PhD should review those conditions
Applications cannot be submitted to more than one Graduate Centre at the same time
Incomplete applications, submissions that fail formal requirements, and late applications cannot be considered

Documents to prepare

Cover letter of no more than two pages identifying the Graduate Centre you are applying to and explaining why that centre, in this case CEREB, suits your doctoral research
Curriculum vitae in tabular format plus the University's supplementary CV form
Detailed PhD research proposal of approximately 6 to 8 pages excluding the cover page and bibliography, setting out the research question, background and state of research, objectives, proposed methodology and bibliography
Work and time schedule showing how the PhD will be completed within the standard three year funding period
Evidence that you have established contact with the relevant Graduate Centre, or Graduate Centre admission documentation if you are already a full member
Confirmation of doctoral acceptance from the relevant University faculty or the Max-Weber-Kolleg, where already available
A list of academic publications, conference papers or presentations, where relevant
University degree certificates for diploma, Magister, Bachelor's and Master's degrees, with certified German or English translations where documents were issued in another language
A complete copy of your relevant final thesis, with a summary of up to two pages in German or English if the thesis was written in another language
Signed consent regarding the processing of personal data
A current signed academic recommendation from a professor or other university teacher, submitted separately by the referee and not included in your main application PDF

How to apply

Read the official call document at https://www.uni-erfurt.de/fileadmin/Hauptseiten/Forschung/Graduiertenfoerderung/Ausschreibungen/Ausschreibung_Promotionsstipendien_Landesgraduiertenfoerderung_2026_EN.pdf for the complete requirements
Establish contact with CEREB during the application process and keep evidence of that contact for your file
Confirm your doctoral admission position and, if needed, the steps to enrolment and Graduate Centre membership before funding begins
Prepare all documents and combine them into one PDF with a table of contents, in the prescribed order, not exceeding 5 MB
Ask your referee to submit the recommendation letter separately before the deadline
Email your application to the University of Erfurt Research and Graduate Services with the subject line 'Application for the State Graduate Scholarship 2026' followed by your surname and first name, before 24 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET

Selection process

Applications are evaluated primarily on academic capability and the quality of the proposed doctoral project
The committee considers academic achievements, examination results, previous scholarly work, demonstrated research ability, research quality, methodological rigor, academic relevance, feasibility of the plan and realism of the timetable
Where candidates have equivalent qualifications and projects of comparable quality, the University's selection framework addresses gender equality and may consider circumstances including family responsibilities
The University expects evaluation and decision to take approximately ten weeks, with results expected by around the end of February 2027
The final number of scholarships depends on the availability and allocation of state funding

Sources and verification

Official source

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Questions applicants ask

Is there a nationality requirement?

No nationality restriction is stated in the official scholarship announcement. Applications are welcomed regardless of origin, gender, disability, age, religion or worldview, and sexual orientation or identity, provided you meet the academic, admission, enrolment and Graduate Centre requirements.

Can I apply to more than one Graduate Centre?

No. The official scholarship documentation states that candidates cannot apply simultaneously to several Graduate Centres, so identify the centre that best fits your proposed research.

How long does funding last?

Three years as standard, with the possibility of applying for one additional year, giving a potential maximum of four years subject to the applicable scholarship rules and approval.

Do I need to be enrolled at the University of Erfurt?

Yes. Scholarship recipients must be formally enrolled, or matriculated, at the University of Erfurt by the start of the funding period, and must hold current proof of health insurance from that date.

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