DAAD “German Colonial Rule” Research Programme 2021 for PhD Students

The DAAD programme “German Colonial Rule”, funded by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, invites young researchers to apply for DAAD scholarships for PhD thesis projects. 

Application Deadline: 31st August 2021. 

About the Award: The aim of the scholarship programme is to promote research on German government institutions and policies and their political, economic and cultural impact on and in the former German colonies.

The scholarship will enable recipients to obtain a doctorate in Germany. They will have one supervisor from a university in Germany and one from a co-operating university in Africa or the Asia-Pacific region, and they will be able to carry out research in archives and at universities in Germany, Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Scholars from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region are particularly encouraged to apply.
By funding projects in this field, the programme aims to create a shared space for research on the history of German colonialism and racism, thus laying the foundation for long-term research partnerships.

Research projects should focus on the German colonial period as well as its aftermath and address the Colonial Department of Germany’s Foreign Office, the Reichskolonialamt (Imperial Colonial Office) and/or other organisations and individuals involved in Germany’s colonial rule. Emphasis may be laid on political, economic and/or cultural dimensions of colonial rule. Researchers may also concentrate on the cooperation between the German administration, intermediaries and political elites in the colonies as well as on specific administrative acts. Comparative studies focusing on colonial rule in colonies of different European empires are equally welcome.
Possible areas of focus include (by way of example):

• (collective) biographies of individuals who were in the service of Germany’s Foreign Office, the Imperial Colonial Office, colonial governments, district offices, etc.
• studies of cultural brokers and intermediaries
• studies of administrative practices, e.g. in the fields of law, health, labour policy, trade or the military (including the looting of objects and human remains)
• comparative research on different colonial regimes
• studies of the history of colonial theories, colonialism and racism
• studies of regions that were affected by German colonial rule

Successful candidates’ PhD studies will be overseen by two supervisors, one from Germany and one from a cooperating university in Africa or the Asia-Pacific region

Type: PhD

Eligibility: Applications are open to excellently qualified researchers aspiring to complete a doctorate on the history of German colonial rule and the role of German authorities and organisations. Scholars from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants must have an above-average university degree that entitles them to enrol in a doctoral programme. Applicants should also have some basic knowledge of German, and should have graduated no longer than 6 years ago.

Selection: Applications will be reviewed by an independent selection committee consisting of international experts in colonial and global history.

Central selection criteria are:

• a convincing and well-planned research or training project
• academic achievements

Furthermore, additional documents submitted that prove the applicant’s professional aptitude or provide information about extracurricular commitment will also be included in the evaluation.

In addition, in order to ensure equal opportunities, the selection committee may take into account special life circumstances, about which you can provide information in the application form.

To be Taken at (Country): Germany

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award:

• A monthly scholarship payment of 1,200 EUR for doctoral candidates (861 EUR before the acceptance as doctoral candidate at the higher education institution)
• Travel allowance
• Travel allowances for archive and research work; the planned trips should be specified in the research plan and schedule submitted as part of the application
• Travel and accommodation expenses for the student’s supervisors from Germany and the cooperating university, to enable them to monitor progress, participate in workshops, etc., in accordance with the German Federal Travel Expenses Act (BRKG)
• Payments towards health, accident and personal/ private liability insurance cover
• Annual research allowance

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefits:

• Monthly rent subsidy
• Monthly allowance for accompanying family members
• In the case of a disability or chronic illness: subsidy for additional costs which result from the disability or chronic illness and are not covered by other funding providers: Further information

To support scholarship holders in learning German, the DAAD offers the following service:

• Intensive 4-month online German language course from the candidate’s home country prior to the start of their research stay in Germany (if applicable)
• Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the grant period
• Reimbursement of the fees for the TestDaF or DSH examination which candidates will take either in their home country after receipt of the scholarship award letter or in Germany before the end of the funding period

Duration of Award:

• 4-month online German language course from the candidate’s home country (if applicable)
• 4 years split between Germany (2-year starting phase) and the research partners – universities, archives, etc. – in the Global South. (48-month research period for Ph.D. studies with an annual review on progress and professional ability for further funding)
• Research phases outside Germany are supported. Planned stays should not exceed a quarter of the anticipated total funding period.

The above schedule may vary depending on the individual research project. Applicants should set out their research plan and a provisional schedule in their research proposal.

How to Apply: See application details below

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details