External Funding for Associated Fellows

In the framework of the GRK 2833, associated doctoral fellowships are provided for researchers with externally own scholarships or other funded positions.

Candidates are expected to apply for and secure external funding prior to or at the same time as applying for the associated doctoral fellowship in the research training group GRK 2833 “East Asian Futures” (such as DAAD or other scholarships). The candidates’ applications for external funding will be supported by GKR 2833 and assisted if necessary. Upon admission, they are eligible for support of their fieldwork by travel grants of the German Research Foundation (DFG) for associated doctoral researchers in the research training group GRK 2833 “East Asian Futures”. The doctoral studies will be conducted at the Faculty of East Asian Studies at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) and the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), respectively its constituting faculties, with periods of field work and archival / library research in East Asia. The participating researchers cooperate and coordinate their activities in the Alliance for Research on East Asia (AREA) Ruhr.

Below please find a selected list of institutions that offer funding for doctoral dissertations.


DAAD Funding

International candidates may also apply at DAAD for a Research Grant for Doctoral Programmes. Deadlines for DAAD fellowships are usually one year before the beginning of the programme.


Gerda-Henkel-Stiftung

Link: https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/phd-scholarships

For applicants before the age of 28, with excellent grades. 

Scholarship awarded 4 times a year (processing time for applications max. 6 months)

Full-time scholarship (12–24 months, can be extended by a further 12 months).


Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung

Link (for German applicants): https://www.freiheit.org/de/infos-fuer-deutsche-promovierende

Link (for applicants from EU countries): https://www.freiheit.org/information-doctoral-students-eu-countries-0

Link (for applicants from non-EU countries): https://www.freiheit.org/information-foreign-doctoral-students-non-eu-countries-0

Deadlines for application: online portal open from 01 to 30 April / 01 to 31 October                       

Scholarships awarded according to the guidelines of the German Federal Foreign Office for applicants from non-EU countries, according to the guidelines of the BMBF for German applicants and applicants from EU countries.

Full-time scholarship, first approved for 12 months, usually extended to 36 months.


Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Link (for German applicants): https://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung/promotionsfoerderung-fuer-deutsche-und-bildungsinlaender-innen

Link (for international applicants): https://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung/promotionsfoerderung-fuer-auslaender-innen

Deadlines: anytime

Scholarship awarded for applicants with excellent performance, and political/volunteer commitment (student council, NGOs, party, etc.), German language skills C1 certified.

Full-time scholarship (24–36 months).


Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Link: https://www.kas.de/de/web/begabtenfoerderung-und-kultur/promotionsfoerderung

Deadlines: 15 January / 15 July

Scholarship awarded for applicants with excellent performance, (political/volunteer) commitment (student council, NGOs, party, etc.), membership in the CDU not necessary but identification with its values.

Scholarship: Full-time scholarship (24–36 months).


Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung

Link: https://www.hss.de/stipendium/wen-suchen-wir/

Link for international applicants: https://www.hss.de/weltweit-aktiv/

Application from abroad via the respective HSS representation abroad

Deadlines: 15 January / 15 July

Scholarship awarded for applicants with excellent performance, (political/volunteer) commitment (student council, NGOs, party, etc.), identification with the values of the HSS.

Scholarship: Full-time scholarship, first approved for 12 months, usually extended to 24 months.


Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

Link: https://www.boell.de/de/stipendien-promotion-landingpage

Deadlines: 01 March / 01 September

Scholarship awarded for applicants with outstanding performance, (political/volunteer) commitment Scholarship: Full-time scholarship usually 36 months, (extension by up to 12 months possible, e.g. care obligations, pregnancy).