Who should apply
We are interested in applicants with an exceptionally strong master's degree (or equivalent) in economics, law, political science, sociology, public administration, management, data science or related fields. The master's degree should be completed before you enter the programme.
Please carefully read through the application paths described below and consult our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Application paths, funding, and deadlines
You may apply through the following applications paths. Each differs in the way the doctoral journey is funded and when and how you need to apply. All our PhD researchers must be fully funded throughout the doctoral journey.
You can apply to the Hertie School's Doctoral Programme in Governance with external funding, such as the DAAD, a German foundation (Begabtenförderungswerk) or other national or international foundations.
The application process begins with submitting your application to the Hertie School. If your application is successful, you will receive conditional admission, contingent upon your securing external funding. If you wish to apply, please refer to the 'Apply with External Funding' section on our Open PhD Positions page.
Deadline: In case you intend to secure external funding, you may apply throughout the year. Since you may require a letter of conditional acceptance from the Hertie School to pursue funding, we strongly advise submitting your application at least two months prior to your external funding deadline.
It is possible to get admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Governance if you have successfully applied to the Hertie School as a Research Associate.
Deadline: Research Associate positions are advertised throughout the year and have fixed application deadlines. Please submit your application by the application deadline of the position you are interested in. Please check open Research Associate positions here.
PhD stipends are offered within specific research areas of the Hertie School.
Successful candidates will be funded with a Hertie PhD stipend of 1,450 Euro per month plus a monthly health insurance contribution of up to 200 Euro. Find out about available stipend positions in this year's PhD recruitment on our Open PhD Positions page.
As stipends are limited and competitive, we strongly encourage all applicants to apply for external funding as well.
Deadline: Stipend positions in specific research areas are announced every year as of mid-November. The deadline to apply is 31 January 2025.
a) External Funding
Please read through the following information carefully if you would like to apply with external funding. You will be fully admitted as a Hertie PhD researcher once you secure external funding.
For information on the application process with the funder, please inquire directly with the funding organisation.
You should ensure that the research proposal you submit as part of your application documents is aligned with the research interests of our faculty. For this, please check our list of potential supervisors, some of whom are affiliated with one of our Centres of Competence. In the application form, you will be asked to name at least one potential supervisor.
We have a central selection committee and individual professors cannot decide on admission to our programme. We do not advise on individual research proposals. We therefore kindly ask you to refrain from contacting potential supervisors for your application.
The following documents and information will be required for application:
- Completed online application forms
- Abstract of research proposal (max. 400 words)
- Research proposal (1,500-2,500 words excl. references, bibliography or endnotes)
- Curriculum Vitae (max. two pages)
- Letter of Motivation (max. 250-400 words)
- Transcripts and certificates of all acquired (or to be acquired) university degrees
- English proficiency proof – in case available.
The English proficiency proof may be handed in at a later stage. In case you have completed at least four semesters of a full-time university programme taught in English, you do not need to submit proof of English proficiency. You will be able to indicate this in the online application form.
In addition, we require:
-
two academic letters of reference (in English)
These have to be sent by your referees, we do not accept letters of reference sent by the applicant. Reference letters must have an official letterhead and be signed by the referee. You will be able to find detailed information on how the submission of the reference letters works on the online application portal.
The research proposal outlines your dissertation project. Your research proposal is a key part of your application.
The programme is targeted at prospective researchers with a strong foundation in economics, law, political science, sociology, public administration, management, data science or related fields. Research projects should address research questions in the field of governance that are covered by our faculty. Please consult the list of potential supervisors and the topics they are interested in supervising to identify faculty members who could be interested in your research project.
The proposal should contain between 1,500 and 2,500 words (excluding references, bibliography, and endnotes).
The following guidelines may be of assistance when writing your proposal. However, keep in mind that a research proposal should always reflect your personal academic perspective and research interest.
In a first step, present a concrete problem in which you are interested.
- What is the research problem?
- Why have you chosen this issue?
- Why is the chosen issue relevant for investigation?
In relation to this issue, specify your central research question. This question is the focus of your project and should be presented clearly.
- What is the aim/interest of your project?
- Why is your research question relevant for academic debate?
- Where is the gap in the literature that you intend to address?
- Which sub-questions or hypotheses are relevant for answering your research question?
Next, specify the theoretical perspective that you will use in analysing your research question.
- Why did you choose this specific theoretical perspective?
- How does the theory help to answer your question?
- What are the theory’s main assumptions in this regard?
Based on your theoretical perspective, detail your methodological approach.
- What kind of methodology will you use and why?
- What data or other sources of information are relevant?
Furthermore, please reflect on the content of your planned PhD thesis.
- What will be the main arguments of the thesis?
- What might be the outcome of, or answers to, these arguments?
- How will you structure your thesis and why?
Finally, enclose a timetable indicating the timing of the main steps of your project including periods for research, analysis and writing.
Please note that your proposal should be properly referenced and include a bibliography.
Please check the section 'PhDs with external funding' on our Open PhD positions page and submit your application via the application portal link provided there.
Your application will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Thematic fit of the dissertation proposal with the research agenda of Hertie School’s faculty or Centres of Competence
- Applicant’s academic performance and references
- Quality of the research proposal
- Overall motivation
Applications will be evaluated by a central selection committee.
On the basis of the evaluation, we will invite short-listed candidates to an online interview. Depending on the number of suitable applications, this may take between 6-8 weeks.
b) Research Associate Position
Please read through the following application information carefully if you would like to apply for a Research Associate position.
If you would like to apply for a Research Associate position, please follow the application process for the position you are interested in on our Open PhD positions page and submit your application documents via the application link for that position.
c) Hertie PhD Stipend
Please read through the following application information carefully if you would like to apply for a Hertie PhD stipend.
You should ensure that the research proposal you submit closely aligns with one of the research areas outlined in this year's call for PhD stipends. For more information on the specific research areas for which Hertie PhD stipends will be awarded, please refer to the call 'Hertie PhD Stipends' on our Open PhD Positions page.
Each research area is led by one or two faculty members; you can find more information about them in our list of potential supervisors.
We have a central selection committee, and individual professors cannot make admission decisions for our program. We do not provide advice on individual research proposals, so we kindly ask that you refrain from contacting potential supervisors regarding your application.
The following documents and information will be required for application:
- Completed online application forms
- Abstract of research proposal (max. 400 words)
- Research proposal (1,500-2,500 words excl. references, bibliography or endnotes)
- Curriculum Vitae (max. two pages)
- Letter of Motivation (max. 250-400 words)
- Transcripts and certificates of all acquired (or to be acquired) university degrees
- English proficiency proof – in case available.
The English proficiency proof may be handed in at a later stage. In case you have completed at least four semesters of a full-time university programme taught in English, you do not need to submit proof of English proficiency. You will be able to indicate this in the online application form.
In addition, we require:
-
two academic letters of reference (in English)
These have to be sent by your referees, we do not accept letters of reference sent by the applicant. Reference letters must have an official letterhead and be signed by the referee. You will be able to find detailed information on how the submission of the reference letters works on the online application portal.
The research proposal outlines your dissertation project. Your research proposal is a key part of your application.
The programme is targeted at prospective researchers with a strong foundation in economics, law, political science, sociology, public administration, management, data science or related fields. Research projects should address research questions in one of the research areas specified in this year's call for PhD stipends.
The proposal should contain between 1,500 and 2,500 words (excluding references, bibliography, and endnotes).
The following guidelines may be of assistance when writing your proposal. However, keep in mind that a research proposal should always reflect your personal academic perspective and research interest.
In a first step, present a concrete problem in which you are interested.
- What is the research problem?
- Why have you chosen this issue?
- Why is the chosen issue relevant for investigation?
In relation to this issue, specify your central research question. This question is the focus of your project and should be presented clearly.
- What is the aim/interest of your project?
- Why is your research question relevant for academic debate?
- Where is the gap in the literature that you intend to address?
- Which sub-questions or hypotheses are relevant for answering your research question?
Next, specify the theoretical perspective that you will use in analysing your research question.
- Why did you choose this specific theoretical perspective?
- How does the theory help to answer your question?
- What are the theory’s main assumptions in this regard?
Based on your theoretical perspective, detail your methodological approach.
- What kind of methodology will you use and why?
- What data or other sources of information are relevant?
Furthermore, please reflect on the content of your planned PhD thesis.
- What will be the main arguments of the thesis?
- What might be the outcome of, or answers to, these arguments?
- How will you structure your thesis and why?
Finally, enclose a timetable indicating the timing of the main steps of your project including periods for research, analysis and writing.
Please note that your proposal should be properly referenced and include a bibliography.
Please check the section 'Hertie PhD stipends' on our Open PhD positions page and submit your application via the application portal link provided there.
The call will be opened each year in mid-November. The next application deadline is 31 January 2025. We are unable to accept late applications, so please make sure that your referees submit their reference letters by 31 January 2025 at the very latest!
Your application will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Thematic fit of the dissertation proposal with the research agenda of Hertie School’s faculty or Centres of Competence
- Applicant’s academic performance and references
- Quality of the research proposal
- Overall motivation
Applications will be evaluated by a central selection committee.
On the basis of the evaluation, we will invite short-listed candidates to an online interview. Final decisions for the award of PhD stipends will be taken around the beginning of April 2025.
