PhD and scholarship program LCCS
The newly established Leuphana Center for Cooperative Security (LCCS) at Leuphana University of Lüneburg invites applications for its international doctoral program “Cooperative Security”, launching in April 2027.
This interdisciplinary program supports innovative PhD research on pressing global security challenges from the perspectives of political science/international relations, economics, law, and psychology. As a doctoral researcher, you will join a vibrant international community at the forefront of 21st-century security research, engaging with leading scholars and practitioners from Germany and around the world.
The program will be closely connected to the LCCS which investigates the sources and consequences of security strategies at the state, societal, and individual levels—and translates these insights into actionable recommendations for politics, business, and society, with a particular focus on Germany in the European context.
For the first cohort, we invite proposals that examine international dimensions of security, particularly:
- Emerging international security threats shaped by patterns of (asymmetric) interdependence in the political, economic, legal, cultural and cognitive realms
- Strategies adopted by state and non-state actors to address international security threats
- (Changing) international security outcomes, including norms, market and governance structures, and institutions
- The interplay between cooperation and autonomy in addressing international security threats
Applications are welcome in the following areas:
As a doctoral candidate in the “Cooperative Security” program, you are enrolled as a regular doctoral student at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. You will experience close mentorship as well as integration into an international research network. The first cohort will start in April 2027. The three-year program is structured as follows:
You write a dissertation and earn an additional 30 credit points as part of the Leuphana doctoral courses, with the additional opportunity to choose seminars focusing on various aspects of cooperative security. The Leuphana doctoral courses consist of the following six modules:
- Engaging with Research Ethics
- Discussing Research Methods
- Discussing Research Perspectives
- Practicing Research for Science and Society
- Research Forum I and II
The program will also contain the following community and support features:
- Introductory workshop with all PhD students
- Writing and progress retreat
- Lectures, workshops and events with international visiting scientists and experts from the field
- Opportunity to contribute to the LCCS’s annual conference
- Workshops and classes for careers in academia and beyond
- Counseling and support structures for the doctoral process
- Additional funding available for participation in conferences and research stays abroad (application-based via the Graduate School)
- Dedicated office space on Leuphana’s award-winning campus
If you are a graduate with an excellent master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field and have a strong interest in interdisciplinary security research, this program is the right choice for you. Outstanding applicants in each research area will be considered for excellence-based scholarships (a monthly stipend of €1,850 plus child allowance, for up to three years). Self-funded or externally funded candidates who meet the academic criteria are also encouraged to apply.
The selection process operates according to the following timeline:
| Application deadline | Applicants submit all required documents | 30 September 2026 |
| Interview | Applicants are requested to save the dates | 26–30 October 2026 |
| Notification | Successful applicants will receive their notification | From 13 November 2026 |
| Acceptance | Successful applicants accept the awarded place in the PhD scholarship program | By 27 November 2026 |
| Apply for enrollment | Successful scholarship applicants submit their online application for enrollment in Leuphana’s doctoral studies program for the 2027 summer term (which starts in April) | As soon as possible from December 2026 |
| Matriculation | Participants are required to enroll at Leuphana | No later than 1 April 2027 |
| Opening week | Welcome event at the Leuphana Graduate School | Early April |
- A research proposal of the envisaged dissertation project (up to four pages)
- A letter of motivation stating your interest in cooperative security research at the LCCS (up to two pages)
- Curriculum vitae
- Certificate of your master’s degree
Once you have been chosen for a scholarship, you enroll in Leuphana’s doctoral program and send the enrollment confirmation to the Graduate School. Only then can the scholarship be granted.
The awarding of scholarships is based on the application materials submitted. In assessing academic excellence, the selection committee will consider, among other factors, the following criteria:
- above-average academic achievement in coursework, modules, or final theses relevant to the proposed doctoral project;
- completion of previous degree programs within an appropriate period of time, with due consideration given to individual circumstances;
- evidence of an emerging academic profile, such as an early publication record, presentations at academic conferences or workshops, or participation in relevant academic training and professional development activities.
We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to an ambitious and collaborative research environment.
Leuphana Graduate School
Universitätsallee 1, building 14
21335 Lüneburg
For general questions regarding the application process, please contact lccs@leuphana.de. For questions related to the subject and the required qualifications, please contact the main supervisor(s) of the respective research areas.