Gerda Henkel Foundation PhD Scholarships for International Students in Germany

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Countries: Applications are accepted from around the world
• Eligible Course or Subjects: The scholarship will be awarded in any subject offered by the university
• Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible, the applicants must meet all the following criteria:
• Students have to enroll in PhD degree coursework at the university.
• If an applicant was 25 when graduating, they can still apply to the Foundation for a Ph.D. scholarship when they are 35. This age limit shall be extended to consider the following situations: night school, bringing up children, military service, work experience, and other exceptional circumstances.

Offered Benefits

The Gerda Henkel Foundation will provide the amount of 1,600 euros, and The simultaneous receipt of salary or retirement pension and a scholarship is not possible. The funding period for PhD scholarships of the Foundation is up to two years.

Application Process

• How to Apply: To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must complete the scholarship application form, and Letters of recommendation must be uploaded via the online recommendation form by their authors with a personal signature. Please do not additionally send the documents by email and postal mail.
• Supporting Documents: The following documents must be included in an application for a PhD scholarship (in German or English)
• Description of the research proposal (max. eight pages)
• Plus bibliography if necessary (in addition to the max. eight pages)
• At least font size 11 and line spacing 1.5
• Schedule and working plan with information about the necessary travel to archives, libraries, and museums, or other destinations required for the completion of the dissertation (max. two pages)
• Detailed cost calculation (estimates if need be) of the probable travel and material costs
• No college or tuition fees
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Certificate of the university degree qualifying for PhD studies (generally Master certificate; for direct doctorates: seminar attendance certificates; please do not send Bachelor certificates). Please send us copies; references do not have to be attested.
• Two expert opinions which provide information on the applicant’s qualifications and the quality of the doctoral project:
• The choice of the referees is up to the applicant.
• The second report must not be compiled by the person who later acts as the second examiner for the Ph.D. thesis.
• Online recommendation form
• Possibility to submit more than one letter of recommendation.
• Admission Requirements: Applicants must have at least 1.5 or above in Germany (comparable with grade A in other countries). For candidates with a foreign degree, a special examination for inclusion in the selection process will be performed in the Foundation’s office.
• Language Requirement: Students must have a certificate of English language proficiency.