Overview
- The GSSP is a DAAD‑funded scholarship for international PhD candidates in selected structured doctoral programmes. Leipzig’s GSGAS is one of the participating graduate schools. DAAD+2recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+2
- For 2026, Leipzig is offering 2 scholarships under GSGAS. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+2DAAD+2
- The PhD scholarship covers up to 48 months (i.e. 4 years). recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
Financial Support & What’s Included
- A stipend of €1,300 per month, which includes health and liability insurance, plus research allowances. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+2DAAD+2
- Funding can start in October 2026 for successful applicants. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you must satisfy several of these conditions:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Academic background | You need a Master’s degree (or equivalent). Your final Master’s exam should have been completed no more than six years ago. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+2DAAD+2 |
| Residency requirement | You must not have been living in Germany for more than 15 months at the time of application. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1 |
| International | The scholarship is for international candidates. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+2DAAD+2 |
| Research area & fit | Your PhD proposal should align with the interdisciplinary, global / transregional / transnational orientation of GSGAS. Topics in social sciences or history are typical: migration, crises, decolonization, climate change, etc. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+2DAAD+2 |
Important Dates & Process (2026 Round)
- Application deadline (to GSGAS): 15 November 2025. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
- After that, there is a selection interview & nomination by GSGAS (around Jan‑Feb 2026). recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de
- Nominees then apply via the DAAD portal; DAAD makes the final funding decision. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
- Funding (for successful candidates) begins October 2026. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
What You Need to Prepare / Documents
Here are what you’ll need with your application:
- Research proposal / exposé (describing what your PhD will be about, how it links to the Graduate School’s themes). DAAD+1
- Curriculum Vitae (CV). DAAD+1
- Motivation letter. DAAD+1
- Certificates of academic degrees (Master’s, etc.), transcripts. DAAD+1
- References (academic referees). DAAD+1
What to Check / Be Careful About
- Language requirements: The working language is English for this PhD. Confirm whether there are additional tests (though sometimes academic transcripts suffice). DAAD
- Timely completion of Master’s: If your Master’s was finished more than six years ago, that could disqualify or require justification. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
- Residency in Germany rule: If you have been in Germany more than 15 months recently, check if that disqualifies you. recentglobe.uni-leipzig.de+1
- Interdisciplinary alignment: Make sure your proposed research fits the GSGAS themes. If yours is too narrow or outside their interest areas, your chance may dro
