BGHS

Application

What documents should I submit if applying online?

A full list of the documents required can be found under application process.

In what cases do you turn in the originals of your degrees?

1. Foreign degree:
   We need a certified copy of your degree and a full transcript of studies as part of application.
2. German degree:
   The original of your degree must be presented after admission to the BGHS.

When will I learn about the success of my application?

It takes a minimum of around three weeks after the respective deadline has expired before we can make any statement on your application. If you submitted an application without including the name of a supervisor it can take much longer.

What is a research proposal?

A research proposal (or exposé) is a document that summarises your research ambitions you are planning to carry out for your PhD thesis.

• It should reflect the state of the art in the chosen research project.
• It should in addition make explicit the problem or research question you would like to deal with.
• Moreover, it should show convincingly that your project is viable, e.g. by detailing the methods you are planning to use and/or by adding a schedule of the various stages of your research at the BGHS.

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Admission

What are the deadlines for admission to the BGHS?

• On beginning with winter semester
  (1^st October each year)::
  The deadline till your full application needs to be turned in is June, 15th of that year.
• On beginning with summer semester
  (1^st April each year):
  The deadline till your full application needs to be turned in is January, 15th of that year.

I missed the deadline; is the still the chance that you will consider my application?

No — We are sorry, but if your application reaches us after the published deadlines, we unfortunately cannot consider it. We advise late applicants to apply for the next possible term.

I would like to apply for a scholarship, but their deadlines do not match those of the BGHS. Can you grant 'preliminary admission' so that I can apply for the scholarship?

No — The BGHS does not grant 'preliminary admission'. Admission is only possible to the given deadline.

Do I need a good command of German as part of the BGHS?

It is not necessary to speak German for the BGHS programme. However, daily life in Germany is of course conducted in German and many of the people you meet at the BGHS will speak German most of the time. It is therefore a good idea to learn some German before you join us or at least to take courses once you are here. The BGHS makes funds available for some approved language courses.

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Supervisors

Do I need a supervisor before applying?

Yes — We usually expect applicants to find one in our two faculties well before the application deadline. If you cannot find one, it is most likely because your project does not fit in any of our research areas, or that its overall quality does not quite meet our standards, both of which will lower your chances of being admitted to the programme.

On the other hand it may also be that you are well-qualified and could not find a suitable supervisor for other reasons. In this case, please contact the BGHS office well in advance of the deadline and the BGHS will give you all the support it can.

Can I choose a supervisor from outside the faculty?

Yes — The primary supervisor needs to be a member of one of the two faculties. However, it may be useful to select as second supervisor somebody from outside the faculty or from another university.

How do I find a supervisor?

You should check the list of professors and/or the websites of the the facultys for history and sociology for a professor whose research area matches your own. You should then send her/him an email with a request for supervision, enclosing your CV as well as your research proposal.

How should I contact my potential supervisor?

You should contact her/him by email.

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Tuition Fees and Living Expenses

What fees will I have to pay?

Yes — Currently, there is an administrative fee and an obligatory fee for public transport of together € 153,-- every term. Starting in the 2008/2009 winter term, students will be allowed to make use of all public transport in North Rhine-Westphalia, which means you will have to pay an additional € 35,--. Apart from these, there are no other fees.

Do I receive a scholarship when I am BGHS member?

Membership of the BGHS is not linked to the award of a scholarship. Only members of our Research Training Groups receive a scholarship. BGHS students will, however, be supported in their efforts to receive scholarships from other sources.

What are the monthly living expenses?

Living expenses at present are about € 800,-- a month.

How much is accommodation?

This depends on the type of accommodation you are seeking. If you want to rent a one-room flat / apartment or bedsitter on the open housing market, this can cost about € 300,-- per month or more. You will usually have to pay less if you share a flat or move into one of Bielefeld University's many student halls/dormitories.

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Study Programme

How many courses do I need to take?

You need to register for four classes in Stream A (academic study programme) and Stream B (research colloquia) and at least for two classes in Stream C (general skills and professional orientation). Participation in one theory and one methodology seminar in Stream A is obligatory. Other classes can be chosen freely.

Am I required to take the courses in a specified term or in a specified order?

No, you are not. Although we expect you to do the courses on the programme in your first two years, you are free to choose the date, and the order you do them in.

What are reasons for exemptions from obligatory classes?

Doctoral candidates working as teaching assistants can be exempted from obligatory seminars.

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Contact

How can I contact the BGHS office?

You can contact us by

• E-Mail: bghs@uni-bielefeld.de
• Telephone:: +49 (0)521 106-6525
• Or at our BGHS Office in the section K4 of the University's main building.