Heinrich Böll Foundation Doctoral Scholarships

Heinrich Boll Foundation,Germany

Each year the foundation awards between 80 and 100 scholarships to students and doctoral candidates. The foundation attaches great importance to sponsoring foreign students.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a federally organised, independently operating foundation. It sees its main tasks in political education, in promoting democratic decision-making, in sociopolitical commitment and in international understanding. The sponsorships concerned are full sponsorships. Besides the formal requirements, the foundation particularly wishes applicants to operate according to the principles of the foundation and to be willing to assume political and social responsibility.

In return, students are well provided for. In parallel to the material support, immaterial support is also provided; for example a supporting programme and regional fora are organised. The study scholarships are open students of all disciplines. However, applicants for a doctoral sponsorship must already have acquired admission to the doctorate at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, or if they hold a foreign degree they must have been admitted to a doctorate by a higher education institution in Germany.

Target Group

• Eligible for sponsorship are doctoral candidates who have a positive attitude towards the aims of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (democracy, ecology, solidarity and non-violence) and are sociopolitically active

• Excellent academic achievements and a pronounced interest in scientific discovery are important.

• An interest in critical science and the relationship between theory and practice, openness to unconventional and interdisciplinary research questions, open-mindedness regarding innovative research approaches and an interest in university, educational and science policy issues are particularly desirable.

• Applicants with professional experience or adult education are particularly welcome.

Academic Requirements
Applicants for a doctoral sponsorship must have achieved the requirements for admission to the doctorate at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, or if they hold a foreign degree they must have been admitted to a doctorate by a higher education institution in Germany.

Number of Scholarships
The Study Agency of the Heinrich Böll Foundation awards around 80 to 100 scholarships a year for particularly gifted and politically interested German and foreign students and doctoral candidates of all disciplines at universities and universities of applied science.

Duration
Generally three years, however the duration of sponsorship also depends on the status of the dissertation and on whether the applicant has previously held another sponsorship.

Scholarship Value
The Heinrich Böll Foundation provides both material (scholarship, book allowance, allowance for being abroad) and immaterial support (supporting programme, networking, counselling).

Application Requirements
1. Submit short application

• Sociopolitical commitment / reflection / responsibility

• Research project; academic achievements

• Social criteria

• International orientation

• Formal criteria relating to the application

2. Submit extensive application along with a synopsis; specialist interview with liaison lecturer / letter of recommendation

• One-hour interview with liaison lecturer (research topic, theoretical and methodical approach, relevance, relation to science - practical experience - politics; criticism of science; key areas of work; research interests; career perspectives; target orientation)

3. Selection workshop with individual interview and group discussion The selection workshop methodologically consists of a structured interview and a group discussion with a short presentation where the personal competencies of the applicants are of central importance

Application Papers
Persons interested in the study agency’s scholarship and sponsoring programme are requested to send their short application in duplicate to the study scheme of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Documents must be submitted in German. The brief application includes the following documents:
1. Application form
2. Covering letter (one page): giving reasons for the application to the Heinrich Böll Foundation
3. Curriculum vitae in table form (one page):

• with information on academic studies / training, sociopolitical activities etc.

4. Description of the intended doctorate (1 page):

• Problem, theoretical context, methodological approach, relevance

5. Reference from a third party regarding sociopolitical activity (1-2 pages):

• including confirmation and an extensive description of the applicant’s sociopolitical commitment from a person who knows the applicant well and is able to judge his or her commitment.

Application Deadline
The stated application dates and deadlines may be subject to change. Therefore please always note the current information on our website.

• Application deadline for short applications: 1st March / 1st September

• Invitation to submit extensive application: by 15th April / 15th October

• Application deadline for an extensive application: 15th May / 15th November

• Selection workshops: January / June (exact dates will be made available)

• Notification of granted scholarships: July / February

• Sponsorship expected to begin: 1st October / 1st April

Main Contact:

Heinrich Böll Foundation
Office hours: Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Frau Bärbel Karger
Rosenthaler Straße 40/41
10178 Berlin
Phone: 030 / 28534-400
E-Mail: karger@boell.de

Official website: www.boell.de