a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne University of Cologne in Germany

The a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne at the University of Cologne offers a doctoral pathway in the humanities with a strong interdisciplinary profile. It is part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, one of the largest faculties of its kind in Europe, and brings together a wide range of disciplines including philosophy, language and literature studies, linguistics, history, art history, ethnology and regional studies, media and theatre studies, musicology, archaeology, and digital humanities.

This opportunity is for PhD study in Cologne, Germany. Doctoral students can choose between the classic model of individual doctoral studies and the structured doctoral programme known as the Integrated Track. The Integrated Track is designed to support completion of the doctorate within three years and includes organised doctoral training, research discussion, and supervision structures. Participants are supervised by two graduate class mentors and three academic supervisors, including one from another discipline, which underlines the programme’s interdisciplinary character.

The programme is especially suitable for graduates who have achieved outstanding academic results in the humanities and wish to begin doctoral studies soon after completing their degree. Teaching and academic exchange take place in German and English, and the dissertation can be written in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, or Latin; other languages may be possible on request. The programme is full-time, lasts 6 semesters, and begins in the summer semester.

Funding is available through the structured Integrated Track: the school offers a scholarship opportunity, announced annually in late summer, with an application deadline around the end of October. If awarded, funding starts in April. The programme also includes a pre-doc funding option for six months and a full scholarship for three years. No tuition fees are charged.

The graduate school also provides support for international doctoral candidates, including a buddy programme, cultural and linguistic preparation, and help with registration procedures. General support for international students and doctoral candidates is available through the University of Cologne International Office, and the university’s Service Center Inclusion provides information and counselling related to accessibility, disability, and inclusion.

Applications for the regular doctoral programme are accepted at any time, while applicants interested in the scholarship-based Integrated Track should monitor the annual call in late summer and prepare their submission by the end of October. For more information and application details, visit the programme website.