€1,400 Monthly CEREB PhD Scholarship

The University of Erfurt in Germany is inviting doctoral candidates to apply for a PhD scholarship through its Center for Empirical Research in Economics and Behavioral Sciences (CEREB), a research group that studies how people make decisions. The scholarship is a monthly stipend from the Thuringian State Graduate Support programme, paid for three years and extendable to four, and it starts on 1 April 2027.

What you get:

• A stipend of €1,400 a month for three years, extendable by one more year on request
• A family allowance of €300 a month for a first dependent child and €150 for each further child
• Up to €600 a year towards research materials and travel, on request and subject to available funds
• Membership of CEREB and a place in the University's structured doctoral programme (EPPP), with research, networking and academic skills training
• No tuition fees: Thuringia charges no general tuition fees

What you'll do:

• Carry out your own doctoral research project within CEREB, in fields such as behavioural economics, social, health or organisational psychology, organisation and management, business ethics, corporate governance, and individual, group, child or medical decision making
• Take part regularly in the CEREB programme and attend at least six Academic Skills Training courses
• Submit a progress report after 18 months of funding

Key dates:

• Applications close 24 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET
• Applicants hear the outcome by the end of February 2027
• Funding starts 1 April 2027, and no later than 1 July 2027, on the first of a month you choose

More information:

• Full call for applications (PDF): https://www.uni-erfurt.de/fileadmin/Hauptseiten/Forschung/Graduiertenfoerderung/Ausschreibungen/Ausschreibung_Promotionsstipendien_Landesgraduiertenfoerderung_2026_EN.pdf
• Application FAQ (PDF): https://www.uni-erfurt.de/fileadmin/Hauptseiten/Forschung/Graduiertenfoerderung/Ausschreibungen/FAQ_Bewerbung_ENG_2026.pdf
• Document checklist (PDF): https://www.uni-erfurt.de/fileadmin/Hauptseiten/Forschung/Graduiertenfoerderung/Ausschreibungen/Checkliste_Bewerbungsunterlagen_ENG_2026.pdf
• Questions about CEREB go to its director, Prof. Dr. Manfred Königstein (manfred.koenigstein@uni-erfurt.de); questions about the application go to Research and Graduate Services (graduiertenfoerderung@uni-erfurt.de)

• Above-average academic results showing a particular aptitude for research
• Degree certificates (Diploma or Magister, or Bachelor's and Master's) and a full copy of your final thesis, with certified translations or a summary if not in German or English
• A signed form confirming you have contacted CEREB (or its admission form if you are already a member); you may apply to only one Graduate Centre
• By the start of funding you must be accepted as a doctoral candidate by a University of Erfurt faculty, matriculated at the University of Erfurt, a full member of CEREB, and hold health insurance
• No other public funding for the same period and purpose
• Paid work limited to 12 hours a week in research and teaching, or 5 hours a week in other jobs
• Apply by email with one PDF of at most 5 MB: cover letter, CV and CV form, a 6 to 8 page research exposé with a three year schedule, contact form, degree certificates, thesis and data consent form
• A letter of recommendation from a university teacher, sent by the referee directly to graduiertenfoerderung@uni-erfurt.de