BerGSAS-DAAD Scholarships 2026, Germany (Fully Funded)
Apply now for the prestigious DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) at the Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS) — offering fully funded doctoral scholarships for international students from October 2026 to September 2030.
The DAAD-funded program is hosted by top German universities — Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin — and aims to support outstanding early career researchers in the fields of archaeology, ancient studies, philology, theology, and related disciplines.
Degree Level
The Predoc Scholarship supports students who are:
- Completing their Master’s degree (MA) and preparing for doctoral studies
- Planning to pursue a Doctorate (PhD) at Freie Universität Berlin
Available Subjects
1. Ancient Languages and Texts (ALT)
Focus: Ancient texts, philology, linguistics, digital humanities
Eligible Fields:
- Ancient History, Late Antiquity, Early Middle Ages
- Greek, Latin, Coptic, Ancient Oriental Languages
- Egyptology, Iranian Studies, Jewish Studies
- Comparative Indo-European Linguistics
- Protestant Theology, Religious Studies, Roman Law
2. Ancient Objects and Visual Studies (AOViS)
Focus: Image communication, archaeological artifacts, visual culture
Eligible Fields:
- Ancient Oriental Studies
- Classical, Near Eastern, and Prehistoric Archaeology
- Egyptology and Northeast African Archaeology
3. Landscape Archaeology and Architecture (LAA)
Focus: Landscape archaeology, architecture, geostatistical methods
Eligible Fields:
- Classical, Near Eastern, Prehistoric Archaeology
- Egyptology with a landscape focus
Benefits
Each selected PhD student will receive:
- Monthly stipend of €1,300
- Travel allowance
- Health, accident, and liability insurance
- Study and research funding
- Material resources: €1,000 per year
- Family and rent allowances (if applicable)
- Pre-sessional German language course support
- International research mobility support (up to 25% of scholarship period)
Eligible Nationalities
Open to international students of all nationalities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a non-German citizen
- Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
- Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
- Have not previously completed a PhD
- Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)
Application Procedure
Application Requirements
To be eligible for the DAAD GSSP scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a non-German citizen
- Hold a master's degree (or be close to completing it) after March 1, 2020
- Not have resided in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
- Have not previously completed a PhD
- Demonstrate proficiency in English (minimum B2; C1 required for FU Berlin)
Application Process and Deadline
Deadline: 15 October 2025, 00:00 CET
Where to apply: BerGSAS Application Portal
Two-Stage Selection Process:
Stage 1:
- Register and submit your documents via the BerGSAS portal
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview
Stage 2:
- Final decision made by DAAD, following university admission procedures
Required Documents
- Copy of degrees and transcripts (B.A. and M.A.)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Research proposal
- Two letters of recommendation (one from your home university)
- Curriculum vitae
Referees must send the letters directly to:
application@berliner-antike-kolleg.org
Additional Admission Options
Applicants may also apply for study places (without funding) in the following BerGSAS programs:
- Ancient Languages and Texts
- Ancient Objects and Visual Studies
- Landscape Archaeology and Architecture
- Ancient Philosophy and History of Science
Deadlines for Study Place Applications:
- Summer semester (April 2026 start): Apply by September 30, 2025 of the previous year
- Winter semester (October 2026 start): Apply by April 30, 2026
FAQs
1. Can I apply if I have not yet received my master's degree certificate?
Yes, but you must have submitted and received a grade for your master's thesis by the application deadline. Final documentation will be required before enrollment.
2. Do I need to submit proof of German language skills?
No, but scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend a pre-sessional German language course funded by DAAD.
3. What makes a strong application?
A compelling research proposal aligned with the chosen program's focus, excellent academic performance, strong recommendation letters, and clearly demonstrated language skills (especially in ancient languages and English).
