Social Sciences (Ph.D./doctorate)

Application deadlines:

• September 15th for the winter semester
• March 15th for the summer semester

Previous studies:

• Completed M.A. programme with a standard period of study of one year ( minimum of 240 ECTS credits ) or equivalent programme in a subject area represented at the Faculty of Social Sciences or a related subject area.
• M.A. degree or equivalent degree with a marking of “good” (2.5) or better , or proof of eligibility by means of an exposé; the decision will be taken by the Graduate Committee on the basis of an expert report written by an external evaluator.
• The relevance and validity of the previous studies must be substantiated by the following documents:
  • Proof of examination achievements completed during the B.A. or M.A. programme or an equivalent programme amounting to at least 100 ECTS credits earned in the subject that the proposed doctoral thesis deals with, or
  • Proof of examination achievements completed during the B.A. or M.A. programme or an equivalent programme amounting to at least 50 ECTS credits earned in the subject that the proposed doctoral thesis deals with, and proof of examination achievements completed during the B.A. or M.A. programme or an equivalent programme amounting to at least 50 ECTS credits earned in other subjects that can be selected for doctoral studies at the Göttingen Graduate School of Social Sciences (GGG) or the Graduate School of Humanities Göttingen (GSGG).
  • The Graduate Committee may grant provisional acceptance, allowing the student to earn credits not yet earned within the following two semesters ( “study contract” amounting to 30 ECTS credits max. )

Language requirements:

• Applicants who are neither in the possession of a German university entrance qualification nor of a B.A. or M.A. degree (or in an equivalent degree) from a German university must possess sufficient knowledge of the German language (DSH 2 level) .
• Persons with sufficient knowledge of the English language do not have to submit proof of their knowledge of German. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English must prove their proficiency in English by meeting the minimum requirements in one of these internationally acknowledged tests:
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English,
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English,
  • “International English Language Testing System” (IELTS), at least on “Band 6” level,
  • at least 550 points in the hand-written version of the “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (paper-based TOEFL),
  • at least 220 points in the computer-based version of the “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (computer-based TOEFL),
  • at least 83 points in the “new Internet-based TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language”,
  • UNIcert level „III“,
  • C1 certificate in accordance with CEF (Common European Framework).
• No more than three years must have passed between the successful completion of the test and the application for admission to the doctoral studies programme.
• Applicants who have spent two or more years in an English-speaking country (English is official language) for education or work within three years before applying for admission do not have to submit proof of their proficiency in English.

Further requirements:

• Confirmation of supervision:
  a confirmation of a member of the Faculty of Social Studies who is an authorised examiner that he or she is going to supervise the candidate’s doctoral thesis