How to Apply for the Affiliated PhD Program

Call for Application

Please submit your application for the BIGSSS Affiliated PhD Program by May 13, 2026. 

Find the Call for Applications here.

Eligibility

Doctoral candidates who already work in research projects in the Social Scien­ces at the University of Bremen or Constructor University and are supervised by a BIGSSS faculty member can apply for admission to the BIGSSS Affiliated PhD program.

English language proficiency at the level of C1 is required.

General Information on Application - Please read carefully

Please submit your application for the BIGSSS Affiliated PhD Program in one single PDF file via email to admissions-officer@bigsss-bremen.de.

You will find a list of what your application should include below.

Please submit applications in one single PDF file. You can download a free version of PDFCreator.

If you have any questions regarding the admissions process, please check our website for information on the BIGSSS Affiliated PhD Program or contact our Admissions Officer (admissions-officer@bigsss-bremen.de).

Application Materials for Affiliated PhD Fellowships 

Candidates are asked to submit the following application materials:

1.  PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM
   Please note that there is no official “application form”. Instead, applicants are requested to submit the documents described below and provide us with personal information, contact data, and information on their professional background.
2. CURRICULUM VITAE
   Your CV should include information on your educational and work history, publications, language abilities and extracurricular interests (max. 2 double-spaced pages, incl. a statement on transferable skills).
3. LETTER OF SUPPORT BY FIRST SUPERVISOR
   Please provide a letter of support written by the head of the project which lends support to the application and confirms that you are able to take part in the BIGSSS program and meet all curriculum-related demands of the Affiliated Fellow status at BIGSSS.
4. PROPOSAL DRAFT WITH A FOCUS ON RESEARCH QUESTION(S) (1-2 PAGES)
   Please provide a draft of your dissertation proposal (double-spaced).
5. STATEMENT OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WITH METHODS OF EMPIRICAL SOCIAL RESEARCH
   Please provide information on your knowledge of research methods (including methods courses taken). Applicants from disciplines with little or no standard methods training should provide other pertinent information on relevant research skills. Statements must have a length of at least 1/2 a double-spaced page.
6. MA/ DIPLOM/MAGISTER CERTIFICATES
   Please provide a pdf-document of your Master’s degree (or equivalent). If a certificate is not issued in English or German, provide an English or German translation. If you are shortlisted, we will ask you to bring a notarized (or officially certified) photocopy of your original certificates and any translations.
   If you are shortlisted without an employment contract at UB or CU (e.g. because you are on a scholarship) and you hold an international degree, this degree must be assessed and certified prior to admission (Please contact us if you have any questions).
7. CERTIFICATION OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
   Proof of C1-level English language skills or the equivalent is required. These skills are assessed informally at BIGSSS, but you may include a certificate.
   • Scores:
     TOEFL: paper-based 600, computer-based 250, internet-based 100
     IELTS: Band 7.5
     Cambridge Certificate: pass CAE
   • Exempt from the English proficiency requirement are applicants who are native speakers of English or who have received either their Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (e.g. passed their A-levels) or earned a higher educational degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English.
   • No previous knowledge of German is required