If you’re passionate about ancient civilizations, languages, religious studies, or historical texts, here’s a golden opportunity to pursue a fully funded PhD in Germany! The prestigious Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP), funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is now offering two doctoral scholarships for the 2026–2030 session under the Ancient Languages and Texts (ALT) program at BerGSAS (Berliner Antike-Kolleg) in Berlin.
Scholarship Benefits
Selected candidates will receive a four (04) year DAAD-funded PhD fellowship with the following:
- €1,300 monthly stipend
- Health, accident, and liability insurance coverage
- Travel allowance to Germany
- Support for study materials (€1,000/year)
- Additional support for rent and family, where applicable
- Funding for a German language course before the program starts
- Short research trips abroad (up to 25% of total time)
You’ll be enrolled at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin or Freie Universität Berlin, both leading institutions in humanities and ancient studies.
Who Can Apply?
This opportunity is open only to non-German citizens who:
- Hold or are near completion of a Master’s degree (MA, MSt, MSc) in relevant fields like Ancient History, Philology (Greek, Latin), Iranian Studies, Religious Studies, Comparative Linguistics, Egyptology, Jewish Studies, Theology, or Semitic Studies.
- Have not completed a PhD before.
- Have not lived in Germany continuously before December 1, 2024.
- Completed their Master’s after March 1, 2020.
You must also demonstrate proficiency in ancient languages related to your research area and English at minimum B2 level (IELTS/TOEFL), with C1 level required for admission to Freie Universität Berlin.
What You’ll Study?
The Ancient Languages and Texts (ALT) program explores the literary and documentary heritage of ancient cultures, including inscriptions, papyri, and textual representations. It merges traditional philology with modern digital humanities, linguistic theory, and cultural studies—making it perfect for researchers who want a multidisciplinary approach to the ancient world.
Apply: https://www.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/en/bergsas/ausschreibungen/index.html
Application Timeline
- Applications Open: Now
- Application Deadline: 15 October 2025 at 00:00 CEWT
- Program Start: 01 October 2026
- Interview Invitations: Within 2 months after the deadline
- Final Selection by DAAD: After nomination by BerGSA.
