University of Freiburg PhD Economics Scholarships 2027 in Germany
The University of Freiburg PhD Economics Scholarships 2027 offer an excellent opportunity for international students and researchers who want to pursue a funded PhD in Economics in Germany. The University of Freiburg is currently recruiting a Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Organization and Competition Economics at the Chair of Economic Policy.
Unlike a traditional scholarship where students receive a fixed stipend, this opportunity is offered as a salaried doctoral researcher position. The successful candidate will be employed on a contract equivalent to 65% of the German TV-L E13 salary scale for up to three years.
The position is particularly suitable for applicants with a strong background in economics, econometrics, quantitative marketing, or another closely related quantitative field. The working language is English, and applicants from different countries can apply.
University of Freiburg PhD Scholarships 2027 Summary
- Host Country: Germany
- Host University: University of Freiburg
- Faculty: Faculty of Economics and Behavioral Sciences
- Research Area: Industrial Organization and Competition Economics
- Degree Level: PhD / Doctorate
- Position: Doctoral Researcher
- Employment Contract: 65% of TV-L E13
- Duration: Up to 3 years
- Working Language: English
- Eligible Nationalities: Applicants of all nationalities
- Required Degree: Master's degree in Economics or a related quantitative field
- Starting Dates: October 1, 2026; March 1, 2027; or April 1, 2027
- Application Reference: 00005118
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2026
- Application Method: Online / Email application
- Application Fee: No application fee stated
Degree Level
The opportunity is available at the doctoral level and is intended for applicants seeking to pursue a PhD while working as a doctoral researcher at the University of Freiburg.
Applicants should have a Master's degree in Economics or a closely related quantitative discipline. Students who are close to completing their M.Sc. studies may also apply.
Available Subjects
The doctoral position focuses on Industrial Organization and Competition Economics. Possible research areas include:
Industrial Organization
Competition Economics
Competition Policy
Antitrust Economics
Digital Markets
Platform Economics
Market Structure
Firm Behaviour
Innovation and Market Dynamics
Regulation
Public Policy
Consumer Behaviour
Empirical Industrial Organization
Applied Microeconomics
The research group is open to theoretical, empirical, and experimental research as well as numerical simulations.
Benefits
The University of Freiburg PhD opportunity provides financial support through paid employment rather than a traditional scholarship stipend.
Successful applicants will receive:
A doctoral researcher employment contract for up to three years.
Employment at 65% of the TV-L E13 salary scale.
Approximately €3,094 gross per month at Step 1 based on the 2026 salary scale.
Salary progression may apply depending on the recognized experience level.
Opportunities for doctoral research and academic development.
Access to doctoral courses and professional development opportunities.
Opportunities to participate in conferences and research activities.
Supervision and research experience in Industrial Organization and Competition Economics.
The advertised salary is gross, meaning taxes and social security contributions such as health insurance, pension, and unemployment insurance will be deducted.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should meet the academic and professional requirements of the doctoral researcher position.
The ideal candidate should:
Hold an excellent Master's degree in Economics or a closely related quantitative discipline.
Have strong knowledge of microeconomics.
Have solid training in econometrics.
Demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical skills.
Have an interest in Industrial Organization or Competition Economics.
Have excellent written and spoken English.
Be able to conduct independent academic research.
Meet the doctoral admission requirements of the University of Freiburg.
Applicants with backgrounds in quantitative marketing may also be considered. Knowledge of statistical and programming software such as Stata, R, Python, or Julia is desirable.
Applicants whose Master's degree is primarily in business administration or another field with limited training in microeconomics and econometrics may be less competitive.
Can Students Completing Their Master's Apply?
Yes. Applicants who are close to completing their Master's studies are welcome to apply.
However, applicants should be sufficiently advanced in their degree to meet the university's doctoral admission requirements. Students should therefore carefully consider their expected graduation date before applying.
Is IELTS Required?
The advertised position requires excellent written and spoken English, but no specific IELTS or TOEFL score is listed in the vacancy information.
Therefore, applicants should not assume that a particular IELTS score is mandatory for submitting the job application.
However, language requirements may also be considered during the formal doctoral admission process, particularly for international applicants. Applicants should check the University's doctoral admission requirements based on their individual circumstances.
Is GRE Required?
A GRE requirement is not mentioned in the advertised doctoral researcher vacancy.
Applicants should nevertheless review the official admission requirements and contact the relevant university department if they need confirmation about whether any additional test is required for their specific academic background.
Application Procedure
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
Cover letter explaining their motivation and research interests.
Curriculum vitae (CV).
Academic transcripts.
Degree certificates.
Master's thesis, if available.
Another representative research paper if the Master's thesis is not available.
Contact details of academic references, where applicable.
The university requests that application documents be submitted in English and combined into a single PDF.
Applicants should include the vacancy reference number 00005118 as requested in the application instructions.
Application Process
Interested applicants should apply directly to the University of Freiburg rather than submitting a separate DAAD scholarship application.
Follow these steps:
Review the official doctoral researcher vacancy and eligibility requirements.
Prepare your CV, cover letter, academic records, and research work.
Combine the required documents into a single PDF.
Clearly mention vacancy reference 00005118.
Submit the application electronically to the address specified in the official vacancy announcement.
Submit the application before August 31, 2026.
Wait for the university's selection and further instructions.
Applicants should tailor their cover letter to Industrial Organization and Competition Economics rather than submitting a general statement about wanting to study in Germany.
PhD Starting Dates
The University of Freiburg provides several possible starting dates for the successful candidate.
The position can begin on:
October 1, 2026
March 1, 2027
April 1, 2027
The final starting date will be agreed upon with the relevant professor and research group.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the University of Freiburg Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Organization and Competition Economics position is August 31, 2026.
Applicants should submit their complete application before the deadline and follow the university's instructions regarding document format and reference number.
