Application information

• Nationality of a recipient country of development aid according to the OECD DAC list

• A completed MA/MSc degree with very good results in a subject related to the above-mentioned topics; the applicant's last academic degree must not have been awarded more than six years ago;

• If an applicant has already started their doctoral project, this must not have been more than three years ago;

• Funding is only possible for the first doctorate. If you have already completed a doctorate, funding is not possible.

• Very good knowledge of English (CEFR level: C1 or higher), proven by one of the following language certificates: TOEFL, with a minimum score of 95 IBT (internet-based test); IELTS 7.0 or higher; the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English or equivalent; native speakers and applicants who have completed their first degree entirely in English are not required to provide an English certificate; if the dissertation is written in a language other than English: very good command of English (CEFR level: B2 or higher) for participation in the Graduate School and GPN activities, proven by one of the language certificates just mentioned.

• Academic or professional experience in one of the disciplines related to the subject area of global partnership.

• For applicants for a doctoral scholarship at the University of Kassel: The applicant has not lived in Germany for more than 15 months (except for study purposes or as a recognized refugee).

Please attach the following documents in a single PDF file in English in English. Only complete applications in the order listed below will be accepted:

• A detailed CV (including academic background, list of publications [if applicable], professional experience, language skills, volunteer activities);

• a proposal for a PhD project (approx. 2000 words, including topic, research question, brief review of relevant literature, theoretical approach, research design and methodology, justified assignment to one of the three research clusters and possible supervisors from the GPN network. We ask you to refrain from contacting supervisors at this stage);

• a timetable for the doctoral project with a preliminary table of contents;

• a summary of the Master's thesis (approx. 1500 words);

• a scanned copy of a certificate of English language proficiency, if required;

• scanned copies of the following documents in the original language with attached translations, if the language of these documents is not German, English or French:

  • the certificate and transcript of records of your recognized Master's degree, listing all subjects and grades (if you have not yet completed your Master's degree, please submit only the transcript and replace the certificate with a letter from the program coordinator), confirming that you have already defended your Master's thesis and the date and probability of successful issuance of the degree);
  • the certificate and transcript of records of your recognized Bachelor's degree with details of all subjects and grades;
  • Certificates of completion of additional studies, including all subjects and grades, if applicable;
  • scanned copies of certificates of previous professional/work experience, if applicable.
• Application data sheet
• Signed declaration of good academic practice ("Declaration of good academic practice")

These components of your application must be submittedin the order listed above , with your CV first, followed by your project proposal, etc. All components of the application must be submitted in one/max. two pdf document(s) (use e.g. a pdf creator or your word processing program) of max. 10 MB. Submissions consisting of more than these two files cannot be accepted! However, the files must both be named correctly.

• Please name the file as follows: name_first_name_CfA_Phd_01_dd.mm.yyyy
• If you had to split the file, please name the second file as follows: name_first_name_CfA_Phd_02_dd.mm.yyyyy

To complete the online application form and upload your application documents (one/two pdf file(s)), please visit the following website (online survey tool of the University of Kassel, Germany).

Completing the online application and uploading your application documents is possible until the application deadline: October 31, 2025 (12:00, GMT+1).

The application must be completed in a single step. It is not possible to change or save it.

In addition to your application, two current letters of recommendation from professors, instructors or others who can evaluate your academic performance must be submitted. The letters of recommendation must be signed by the recommenders and sent as a scanned copy from the recommender's e-mail account to the following address:

phdapplication.gpn[at]uni-kassel(dot)de

As in the letters themselves, your full name and "Letter of recommendation" should also be included in the e-mail reference line. The letters of recommendation must also be by October 31, 2025 at the latest be received by the GPN.

Successful applicants will be required to submit officially certified copies of all submitted documents and translations at a later date.