It is crucial that the supervisor and the prospective doctoral candidate are discussing funding options to cover the costs for the PhD project early on in the application process. Therefore, we provide a list of funding opportunities for all GAUSS supervisors to support them in finding the best scheme for their doctoral candidates. The list below is not exhaustive but includes the most suitable options for GAUSS candidates known to us. If you are aware of further funding schemes we would welcome your feedback.
Most of the funding opportunities are scholarships for which the doctoral candidates must apply themselves. For a better overview we have categorised the schemes according to the maximum duration of the funding. We also included short-term and wrap-up scholarships as those might be of particular importance to candidates whose funding expires before the end of the project. GAUSS as well as GGNB are also offering support for doctoral candidates for finalizing their PhD. The schemes are for 3 or 6 months and an application process is required. For further details check out the respective webpages/forms:
Please click on the different categories and external funding schemes in order to see more details.
How to fund your PhD students
monthly allowance of 1,700€, insurance costs, travel costs (lump sum of 1,400€), visa costs
wrap-up scholarships for only a few months before thesis submission are possible, follow-up funding after the receipt of a different stipend is also possible
two-stage selection process that usually takes 4 months
start of project from March deadline: 1 October at the latest; start of project from September deadline: 1 April at the latest
For German nationals: qualification to doctoral studies at a state-recognized university in Germany or abroad; outstanding professional performance and interdisciplinary interest; pronounced sense of social responsibility, voluntary commitment, creativity, openness and capacity for reflection; membership in the Catholic Church (for applicants who belong to a non-United Orthodox or Ancient Oriental Church, application is possible after individual assessment), a lived Christian faith, and a willingness to help shape the Church
For foreign nationals: (having obtained the requirements for) admission to doctoral studies at a state or state-recognized German higher education institution; students at German universities, who for formal reasons cannot apply at the Katholischer Akademischer Austauschdienst (KAAD) - German language skills at C1 level required; affiliation to the Catholic Church required
applications possible not later than 1 year after start of the project
all applicants must be of Muslim faith (in some cases – for example, if someone is particularly committed to the interfaith dialogue or has a specific reference to Islam in their studies – persons of other denominations can also apply)
German Research Foundation (DFG)
Doctoral students are funded by the DFG in two ways: in DFG-funded projects (including Individual Research Grants, Research Units, Emmy Noether Programme, Heisenberg Programme, Collaborative Research Centres) as well as in Research Training Groups (RTGs)
European Commission
The European Commission is funding PhD students in several ways, whereas the most commonly known are the Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks as well as the ERC Grants (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced). For the conditions of PhD opportunities in ERC Grants, please check the information available via the webpage links. In the following the focus is on the MSCA Doctoral Networks.
DAAD Short Term Grant
DAAD One-Year Grants for Doctoral Candidates
Deutsch-Amerikanische Fulbright-Kommission
FAZIT-Stiftung
FAZIT-Stiftung
Konsul Karl und Dr. Gabriele Sandmann Stiftung
Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
DAAD Research Grants
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
Bifond (Böhringer Ingelheim)
Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft
Evonik Stiftung
Johannes Hübner Stiftung
Hans Böckler Stiftung, Trade Unions
Kekulé Fellowship - Fonds der Chemischen Industrie
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, CDU
Hanns Seidel Stiftung, CSU
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, SPD
Heinrich-Böll Stiftung, Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen
Friedrich Naumann Stiftung für die Freiheit, FDP
Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, DIE LINKE
Cusanuswerk, Bischöfliche Studienförderung, catholic
Evangelisches Studienwerk Villingst, protestant
Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk, jewish
Avicenna Studienwerk, muslim