DAAD PhD Scholarship 2026 at Freie Universität Berlin Under GSNAS
If you’ve been waiting for a serious PhD opening backed by DAAD funding and hosted at one of Germany’s most internationally respected universities, this is your signal. The Graduate School of the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies at Freie Universität Berlin has officially opened applications for doctoral scholarships and funded PhD memberships for 2026, inviting ambitious researchers to pursue North America–focused doctoral projects across the social sciences and humanities. For candidates who want funded research time, structured doctoral training, and real international exposure in Berlin’s academic ecosystem, this is one of the strongest PhD calls of the year.
What makes this opportunity stand out is the range of funding routes under a single application. Successful applicants can be considered for two one-year doctoral grants (2026–2027) supporting the qualification phase, two fully funded four-year DAAD doctoral scholarships under the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP), and seven doctoral memberships for candidates who already hold competitive third-party funding (minimum 36 months). All routes place candidates within a fully structured PhD environment, with English as the working language and an academic home at the Graduate School of North American Studies (GSNAS)—one of Europe’s leading hubs for U.S. and Canada-focused research.
This call is tailored for candidates with a clear, research-driven agenda linked to North America. You’re a strong fit if you hold—or are completing—a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline and propose a doctoral project focused on the United States or Canada. The program welcomes projects in fields such as International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, American/North American Studies, Economics and Economic History, Cultural Studies, and Social & Modern History. Because the Graduate School operates in English, applicants must demonstrate advanced English proficiency (typically IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 100 or equivalent). This is a funded-only pathway—self-funded PhDs are not permitted—and all candidates must be able to submit two academic references by the referee deadline.
The application process is fully online through the GSNAS platform and allows you to save progress and complete your submission in stages. Applicants select “I want to apply to the GSNAS”, upload the required materials—CV, statement of purpose, degrees and transcripts, research proposal, writing sample, and language proof—and submit before the deadline so referees automatically receive upload links. Recommendation letters are uploaded separately by referees by the secondary deadline. Reapplications are permitted only with a substantially revised dissertation proposal, underscoring the school’s focus on originality and academic progression.
For researchers ready to compete for one of Germany’s most compelling funded PhD pathways, timing is decisive. The last date to apply for doctoral scholarships and doctoral memberships at Freie Universität Berlin under GSNAS is 31 January 2026. Referees must submit their letters by 15 February 2026, and candidates completing their Master’s degree must provide final transcripts by 31 July 2026 to secure admission. With DAAD backing, four-year funding options, and a premier academic base in Berlin, this call offers more than a PhD place—it offers a launchpad into international research careers for scholars focused on North America.
