Overview
The Predoc Scholarship supports students who are:
Completing their Master’s degree (MA) and preparing for doctoral studies Planning to pursue a Doctorate (PhD) at Freie Universität Berlin
Description
The Predoc Scholarship supports students who are:
Completing their Master’s degree (MA) and preparing for doctoral studies Planning to pursue a Doctorate (PhD) at Freie Universität Berlin
Eligibility
To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:
Be a non-German citizen
Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
Have not previously completed a PhD
Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)
Additional Information
Degree Level
The Predoc Scholarship supports students who are:
Completing their Master’s degree (MA) and preparing for doctoral studies Planning to pursue a Doctorate (PhD) at Freie Universität Berlin
1 Ancient Languages And Texts Alt
Focus: Ancient texts, philology, linguistics, digital humanities
Eligible Fields:
Ancient History, Late Antiquity, Early Middle Ages
Greek, Latin, Coptic, Ancient Oriental Languages
Egyptology, Iranian Studies, Jewish Studies
Comparative Indo-European Linguistics
Protestant Theology, Religious Studies, Roman Law
2 Ancient Objects And Visual Studies Aovis
Focus: Image communication, archaeological artifacts, visual culture
Eligible Fields:
Ancient Oriental Studies
Classical, Near Eastern, and Prehistoric Archaeology
Egyptology and Northeast African Archaeology
3 Landscape Archaeology And Architecture Laa
Focus: Landscape archaeology, architecture, geostatistical methods
Eligible Fields:
Classical, Near Eastern, Prehistoric Archaeology
Egyptology with a landscape focus
Benefits
Each selected PhD student will receive:
Monthly stipend of €1,300
Travel allowance
Health, accident, and liability insurance
Study and research funding
Material resources: €1,000 per year
Family and rent allowances (if applicable)
Pre-sessional German language course support
International research mobility support (up to 25% of scholarship period)
Eligible Nationalities
Open to international students of all nationalities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:
Be a non-German citizen
Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
Have not previously completed a PhD
Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)
Application Requirements
To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:
Be a non-German citizen
Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
Have not previously completed a PhD
Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)
Application Process And Deadline
Deadline: 15 October 2025, 00:00 CET
Where to apply: BerGSAS Application Portal
Two Stage Selection Process
Stage 1:
Register and submit your documents via the BerGSAS portal
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview
Stage 2:
Final decision made by DAAD, following university admission procedures
Required Documents
Copy of degrees and transcripts (B.A. and M.A.)
Proof of English language proficiency
Research proposal
Two letters of recommendation (one from your home university)
Curriculum vitae
Referees must send the letters directly to:
application@berliner-antike-kolleg.org
Additional Admission Options
Applicants may also apply for study places (without funding) in the following BerGSAS programs:
Ancient Languages and Texts
Ancient Objects and Visual Studies
Landscape Archaeology and Architecture
Ancient Philosophy and History of Science
Deadlines for Study Place Applications:
Summer semester (April 2026 start): Apply by September 30, 2025 of the previous year
Winter semester (October 2026 start): Apply by April 30, 2026
1 Can I Apply If I Have Not Yet Received My Masters Degree Certificate
Yes, but you must have submitted and received a grade for your master's thesis by the application deadline. Final documentation will be required before enrollment.
2 Do I Need To Submit Proof Of German Language Skills
No, but scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend a pre-sessional German language course funded by DAAD.
3 What Makes A Strong Application
A compelling research proposal aligned with the chosen program's focus, excellent academic performance, strong recommendation letters, and clearly demonstrated language skills (especially in ancient languages and English).
Frequently Asked Questions Faqs
Can international students apply for the predoc scholarships? Yes. The scholarship is open to all nationalities with no geographical restrictions.
Do I need to already be enrolled at Freie Universität Berlin? You must be enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral program at FU Berlin by March 2026, when the scholarship begins.
Is it mandatory to have a supervisor before applying? Yes. You must secure a letter of confirmation from a potential supervisor at FU Berlin and include it in your application.
Can I get an extension beyond 6 months? No, the scholarship is strictly limited to 6 months.
What is the main purpose of the predoc scholarship? The goal is to help you: Develop your PhD dissertation topic Prepare competitive applications for external doctoral funding Upon securing such funding, you can continue as a full doctoral member of BerGSAS.
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Card
Funding
Fully Funded
Organization
Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS)
Degree
PhD
Subjects
Archaeology, Theology, Ancient History
Nationality
International Students
Country
Germany
Source
Information provided by scholarships_ads.