Scholarships for the Doctoral Phase

To promote academic qualification, Leuphana University Lüneburg offers various types of scholarships for academically excellent researchers in the doctoral phase.

Financing your doctorate with a scholarship is an attractive opportunity to devote yourself to your own research project with maximum freedom in terms of time management. Scholarship holders are not involved in the usual research and teaching duties that doctoral candidates in (academic) positions are required to perform as part of their job description. A scholarship therefore allows you to plan your time during your doctorate exclusively according to the needs of your own research project.

A doctoral scholarship generally funds a doctoral project for three years. Depending on the availability of funds, shorter or longer periods may also be possible.

An extension of up to 12 months is possible if the recipient is caring for a child, has a disability or illness, or is caring for a close relative at home.

The purpose of an initiation scholarship is to initiate subsequent funding for the doctoral project. A completion scholarship is used to support doctoral projects in their final phase.

The maximum funding period for these types of grants is 12 months. An extension is not possible.

The Doctoral Track Scholarship supports students during an undergraduate Master's programme at Leuphana who are already admitted to a doctoral programme at Leuphana. The purpose of this scholarship is to enable students to complete their Master's programme quickly.
The duration of this type of scholarship corresponds to the maximum standard period of study for the respective Master's programme.

The basic monthly amount for all types of scholarships is generally determined by the basic amount specified in the funding guidelines for talented students issued by the responsible federal ministry.

The basic monthly amount for doctoral scholarships and initiation or completion scholarships generally corresponds to the amount of funding provided for the "Förderung begabter Nachwuchswissenschaftler und
-wissenschaftlerinnen" (‘funding of gifted young scientists’) during the doctoral phase. The funding consists of the following components:

• Basic funding currently amounting to €1,650
• Fixed research allowance currently amounting to €100
• Family allowance currently amounting to €155, if applicable
• Child allowance currently amounting to €155 for the first child and €50 for each additional child, if applicable

The monthly basic amount for Doctoral Track Scholarships generally corresponds to the amount of the study allowance for the “Förderung begabter Studierender” (‘Support for talented students’) and currently amounts to €300. Research allowances, family allowances and child allowances are not provided for this type of scholarship.

Depending on the availability of funds, scholarships for the doctoral phase are advertised by Leuphana. Initiatory applications are not possible.

Applications for advertised doctoral, initiation and completion scholarships are submitted via the corresponding Leuphana online portal. Information on how to apply for advertised Doctoral Track scholarships is provided in the respective advertisement.

The process from application to the start of a scholarship is usually as follows:

1. Application for an advertised scholarship
2. Selection interview with the professor to whom the scholarship is assigned
3. If accepted: Application for admission and enrolment for a doctoral programme at Leuphana
4. Receipt of admission to the doctorate
5. Enrolment
6. Receipt of scholarship approval letter
7. Start of the scholarship

The scholarship guidelines form the legal basis for scholarships for the doctoral phase. In particular, they regulate the principles of funding, the type and amount of funding, the start and duration of funding, the application and selection process, the approval, rejection, interruption and revocation of funding, as well as the obligations in the event of funding.

The English version can be found in the document starting on page 8.

After the application deadline specified in the respective call for applications, all applications received will be reviewed by the PhD Scholarship Office with regard to formal criteria.

The professor responsible for the selection process or the selection committee will then decide on the award of the scholarship on the basis of the submitted documents and, if necessary, interviews, taking into account, for example, the following criteria for assessing academic excellence:

• rapid progress in studies, taking into account the applicant's biographical background
• above-average performance in the subjects or modules or in final theses relevant to the doctoral topic
• first publications, participation in scientific events or science training courses (conferences/workshops).

The duration of the selection process usually depends on the number of applications received.

You will be informed about all steps of the process via the online portal.

The prerequisite for a doctorate at Leuphana is formal admission to the doctoral programme at Leuphana and enrolment as a doctoral candidate. Scholarships during the doctoral phase can only be awarded to persons who are admitted and enroled at Leuphana University by the start of the scholarship at the latest.

In principle, all doctoral candidates and thus all scholarship holders at Leuphana are members of a doctoral research group and complete the doctoral courses comprising 30 CPs. Besides, the following services are available to all doctoral candidates through the Graduate School and other stakeholders:

• Application-based funding via the Qualification Fund for conference participation, summer schools, and research stays
• Extracurricular workshops and certificate programmes to promote academic and non-academic careers
• Consulting and (career) coaching by professionally trained staff
• Close academic supervision based on the multiple-eyes principle and using mandatory supervision agreements as well as planning and progress meetings
• Flexibly bookable PhD workstations (if needed) in the Graduate School

Leuphana University places great emphasis on intensive personal interaction, and the campus is an inspiring place for academic exchange. Funded researchers are therefore expected to be present on the Leuphana campus in accordance with the requirements of their doctoral courses and doctoral research group.

In principle, scholarship holders may only engage in professional or other activities in addition to their scholarship to an extent that does not prevent them from devoting themselves to the respective purpose of the scholarship.
The specific extent depends on the type of employment involved. The following table provides an overview:

Further information about the duration of the scholarship is available to scholarship holders on the intranet.

The intranet also allows you to submit the following applications and notify us of any changes relating to your scholarship:

• Application for family allowance and child allowance
• Application for extension of scholarship
• Application for interruption of scholarship
• Bank Account Details
• Proof of use with final report

Leuphana Graduate School
PhD Scholarship Office
Universitätsallee 1 C14
21335 Lüneburg

phd.scholarship@leuphana.de