DLGS Scholarship 2026
About this scholarship
The DLGS Scholarship funds interdisciplinary PhD study in sustainability, urban and regional development at Technische Universität Dresden in Germany, with a monthly scholarship and support for travel and research.
The DLGS Scholarship supports doctoral candidates in the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School, an interdisciplinary PhD programme focused on sustainability sciences, urban development, and regional transformation. The programme is jointly offered by the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) and Technische Universität Dresden in Germany.
It is designed for students who want to research the sustainable development and transformation of cities and regions, including the relationships between ecosystems and society across different spatial scales. The programme brings together perspectives from the natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering, and includes a structured doctoral curriculum in English.
DLGS fellows typically receive a full-time scholarship for three years, with the possibility of extension in some cases. Reported support includes a monthly stipend as well as funding for travel and research expenses. There are generally no tuition fees for the programme. Fellows also benefit from academic supervision, methodological training, access to the Graduate Academy at TU Dresden, and opportunities for international exchange, networking, and conference participation.
The scholarship is intended for applicants who already hold a strong Master’s degree earned recently and whose proposed research fits the annual call topic or the research profile of DLGS and IOER. Applications are submitted online in English and usually require a research proposal and supporting academic documents. Because the programme is competitive and topic-driven, applicants should carefully match their project to the school’s thematic focus and formal criteria before applying.
- Host country: Germany
- Study level: PhD
- Language of instruction: English
- Main area: interdisciplinary urban and regional development in sustainability sciences
Eligibility
Who can apply for this scholarship
Applicants should hold a first Master’s degree obtained within the last three years before application, usually with an overall grade of 'good' or better (German 'gut'). The proposed doctoral research must align with the annual DLGS topic or the research areas of DLGS and IOER. The programme is open to international applicants and is intended for candidates seeking full-time interdisciplinary doctoral study.
Requirements
Documents typically needed to apply
Language requirements
English proficiency required; typically IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100 iBT (or 600 paper / 250 computer)
Where you can use this
Open positions accepting DLGS Scholarship.
