PhD Programme in Global and Area Studies at Leipzig University Leipzig University in Germany

The Graduate School Global and Area Studies (GSGAS) at Leipzig University offers a unique PhD programme that brings together global and transnational history, international, area, and transregional studies. The programme is designed for excellent PhD candidates from diverse backgrounds including area studies, history, social sciences, and international studies, aiming to explore how societies worldwide respond to the dialectics of deterritorialisation and reterritorialisation. The research focus includes commodity chains, international organisations, migration systems, and cultural transfers, examining critical junctures of globalisation and the exercise of power and dominance.

GSGAS is a collaborative effort involving the Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe), Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL), Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO), Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Regionalstudien (ZIRS) at Martin-Luther-Universität, and IMPRS "Global Multiplicity: A Social Anthropology for the Now" at MPI for Social Anthropology. The programme is full-time, fully on-site with voluntary online elements, and lasts six semesters. Courses are taught primarily in English (90%) and German (10%), and participants may write their thesis in either language.

The curriculum is structured according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), requiring 180 credit points, with 60 from lectures and seminars and the remainder from dissertation progress. The programme includes weekly seminars, monthly working groups, regular doctoral colloquia, and special workshops on key skills such as presentation techniques, empirical methods, academic writing, and application techniques. Annual events include a PhD conference and the Leipzig Summer School on Globalisation and Area Studies.

PhD candidates benefit from individual supervision, annual thesis committees, and a vibrant academic community of over 100 PhD students and post-docs. International elements include guest lecturers, thematic reference to the international context, and content-related regional focus. Funding opportunities are available through the Leipzig Excellence Fund for Young Researchers (LE4YOU), positions for doctoral researchers, Saxony State Postgraduate Scholarship, and Sylff Fellowship. There are no tuition fees, but a semester contribution of 279 EUR applies, and living costs are approximately 1,200 EUR per month.

Applicants must have a Master's degree or equivalent, outstanding academic performance, excellent English skills, and at least basic German skills. Applications for the winter semester (October to March) must be submitted before 1 July 2026. Support services for international students include welcome events, specialist counselling, and assistance with registration procedures. For more information and to apply, visit the programme website or contact the Graduate School Global and Area Studies at Leipzig University.