IEG Doctoral Fellowships

The IEG Doctoral Fellowships in Germany for PhD Students are open to both German and international doctoral candidates who hold at least a master’s degree in history, theology, or a related discipline with a historical focus. Applicants must not have been working on their PhD for more than three years at the time of the application deadline, although exceptions may be considered under certain circumstances. As the Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) is an independent research institution and not affiliated with a university, it does not conduct examinations or award academic degrees. Fellowship recipients are expected to complete their dissertation under the supervision of their academic advisor at their home university.

Host Country	Germany
Host Institute	The Leibniz Institute of European History
Scholarship Level	PhD
Stipend	€1,350 per month
Deadlines	15 February and 15 August

The Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) offers 8 to 10 fellowships for PhD candidates pursuing research in European history, the history of religion, or other historically focused disciplines. These fellowships provide a unique opportunity to advance your doctoral research while living and working at the Institute in Mainz for a period of six to twelve months. Fellows receive a monthly allowance of €1,350, with the possibility of additional support through family or child allowances.

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Support and Benefits for IEG PhD Fellows

The IEG Doctoral Fellowships for PhD students in Germany offer the following advantages:

Fellowship Advantages

The IEG Doctoral Fellowships are jointly funded by the federal and state governments. They are intended exclusively to support the research project proposed in the application, which must be conducted at the IEG. During the fellowship period, recipients are not permitted to undertake additional employment or receive other forms of financial support.

Doctoral fellows receive a monthly stipend of €1,350.

Family Allowance

Fellowship holders who are accompanied by their partners in Mainz may be eligible for a family stipend, provided the partner earns no more than €450 per month. Applicants should indicate in their application if a partner will be joining them.

Fellows who bring minor children to Mainz may also apply for a child allowance.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for IEG Doctoral Fellowships for PhD Students:

Applicants must reside at the Institute in Mainz for the duration of the fellowship.
Fellows are expected to actively participate in the IEG’s academic community, including weekly colloquia and other scholarly activities.
At the time of application, candidates should not have been working on their PhD for more than three years, although exceptions may be considered in justified cases.
The fellowship is intended to support the final stages of dissertation research and writing; it does not fund initial research, language training, or the revision of book manuscripts.
PhD supervision remains the responsibility of the fellow’s home university.
Proficiency in English is required.
The IEG actively encourages applications from women.

Submission Deadline

The IEG Fellowships for Doctoral Students have two annual application deadlines: February 15 and August 15.

Required Application Documents for IEG PhD Fellowships

Required Documents for IEG Doctoral Fellowships for PhD Students in Germany:

Completed application form
Curriculum vitae (CV)
List of publications (if applicable) – please do not include photos
Summary of the doctoral thesis (maximum 15,000 characters, excluding spaces and footnotes)
Detailed outline of the PhD project
Comprehensive timeline for the proposed research stay at the Institute
Copies of academic transcripts and certificates
Proof of language proficiency

All documents must be submitted in PDF format.

Application Procedure

Download the application form using the link provided below and fill it out carefully. Gather all the required documents and compile them into a single PDF file (excluding the application form). Once completed, send your application to application@ieg-mainz.de.

For more information about the IEG Doctoral Fellowships for PhD students, please visit the official website.