Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Institut für Sozialwissenschaften

Operating the System

1. In order to use the electronic application device, you must register first. An email with an activation key and further instructions will then be sent to your email address. As soon as your account is activated, you can login.
2. Using the fill-in forms, you can enter all data relevant to your application. Additional information can be uploaded in PDF - file format only. For identification purposes, please select file names that carry your surname (e.g. YOURSURNAME_CV.PDF).
3. Your data are saved automatically. You can edit your input as many times as you wish before actually submitting the application. Repeated logins are also possible.
4. „Show PDF Summary“ lets you view your application in the format that will be transmitted to the reviewers of the doctoral programme. Please verify if all files have been uploaded sucessfully before submitting your application, by choosing the PDF- Summary. The maximum size of your complete application should not exceed 3MB.
   
5. Only after you have submitted your application, our office will be able to consider your data and start the application process.

Select Your University

Please indicate first which of the Sess.EuroPhD partner universities you wish to apply to. Select only one university; multiple applications will not be considered.

Special Application Rules

All applications to Sess.EuroPhD must be submitted electronically through this website. There may however be special application rules and procedures at some of the partner universities that need to be observed in addition.

Rome: Candidates, without limits of age and citizenship, who wish to be admitted to Sapienza Università di Roma for their Sess.EuroPhD studies will be invited to participate in the university's official Call (Bando di Concorso per l'Ammissione all'European Ph.D.) to be published on the university's web page by the end of May. It will indicate the available number of places and specify how many out of these come with a regular three year scholarship. In addition, in proportion to the total number of allocated places, one or more extra-places, without scholarship, will be reserved for foreign citizens. For more information go to w3.uniroma1.it/sess.europhd.

Berlin: Besides by Sess.EuroPhD's Scientific Board, applications will be reviewed by the admission committee of the Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences (BGSS).

Language Skills

Please upload a certificate of your C1-level English language skills or equivalent. For TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, a copy of your personal score report must be included. Scores must have been officially reported and obtained within the last two years.

Applicants that are native speakers of English or have received either their High School Diploma (e.g. passed their A-levels) or earned an educational degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English are exempted from this requirement. Please include the relevant certificates.

Education

Please indicate all relevant educational degrees needed for the application to this Doctoral Programme. Upload all grade transcripts as PDF-files. If transcripts are not final, send updated versions by email or surface mail as soon as possible. If the transcripts are issued in a language other than English, provide a translation. You will be asked to hand in certified copies of these documents if you are invited for interviewing.

References

Using the recommendation form that can be downloaded from this website, two letters of recommendation are required. Preferably, one of the recommendations should be written by a professor who was your supervisor in the final paper or diploma research. References are preferably accepted as signed and scanned PDF - file format e-mail attachments send directly to sess@europhd.org or via mail:

Silvia Schürmann
Programme Assistant Sess.EuroPhD
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Institut für Sozialwissenschaften
Unter den Linden 6
D-10099 Berlin
sess@europhd.org

Statement of Purpose

Applications should include a one-page statement in English explaining why you feel that this programme is appropriate for your particular background and your academic and career goals. The statement should specify your particular research interests. Why is Sess.EuroPhD your preferential choice of a graduate school? The statement of purpose is an important part of your application. It should be clear, concise, and competently presented as regards style and format.

Curriculum Vitae

The C.V. should include complete information on your educational and work history, language skills and extracurricular interests.

Exposé of Doctoral Project (5 to a maximum of 10 pages)

At this early stage it  is not expected that you present the final version of your dissertation plan. Nevertheless, the exposé should be clearly structured with a concrete and elaborated research question. It should be written in English and 5 to a maximum of 10 pages long. Please be sure to include the following elements:

1. Summary
2. State of research (presenting theoretical and empirical debates on the chosen topic as well as deficiencies in the literature that the research project wants to address)
3. Your personal research experience in the field of study so far
4. Objectives, methodological approach, and details of the empirical methods used
5. Work plan (one-page time schedule for the project)
6. Bibliography (list of the most relevant references)

Statement of Skills and Experience With Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Detailed information on the knowledge of methods in empirical social science research should be provided (including all courses on methods taken and grades attained). The respective statement should be exhaustive, but limited to one page of text.