Information for International Applicants

Within the German university system, Graduate Centres like the GCSC have only recently been established.

Though there is a classical route to a doctorate, there are no general guidelines for PhD candidates at all German universities, but only specific ones set by individual universities and departments.

The GCSC follows the guidelines and statutes of Justus Liebig University. Please note that the statutes for doctoral programmes at JLU are currently under revision. They are being adapted to new modular curricula and to international requirements and are thus subject to change.

Entry Requirements for Undertaking a Doctorate at the GCSC/JLU

PhD candidates need to have an M.A. or equivalent university degree with a grade well above average in a field relevant to the dissertation.

The degree should have been gained no more than two years before applying and meet the international equivalence requirements.

Possible fields for your dissertation can be found in all disciplines of the departments 03, 04, and 05. If the dissertation is to be undertaken in a discipline other than that of your university degree, it has to fulfil the conditions of equivalence as stated in the statutes for doctoral programmes at the JLU. If your main subject does not appear on the list of affiliated subjects (for example, if you have a degree in Cultural Studies), you may be eligible for membership of the GCSC, provided your research project fits into one of the GCSC's research areas.

PhD candidates must be matriculated as doctoral students at the JLU for at least two semesters before handing in their thesis, and must also hand in a statement of approval from their supervisor.

Further information on the documents required for enrolling in JLU can be obtained from the university's international pages.

Language skills

For most disciplinary areas, the language of the dissertation and the dissertation defence is German or English.

The PhD Committee can accept the languages of your respective discipline (i.e. French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese) as well. If the language of the dissertation is other than German, sufficient skills in German have to be proven. In general, applications for doctoral studies require proof of at least two foreign languages (one of which can be German), including Latin for dissertations covering periods prior to and including early modernity. For the special language requirements of the different disciplinary areas, see the Postgraduate Handbook of Faculty 03 and 04 or 05 (in German).