APPLY NOW! Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies Scholarship 2025
Application
On one view: Is BIGSAS the right programme for me?
BIGSAS is a graduate school which offers a well organised framework, close mentorship and wide expertise to successfully pursue a doctorate in the field of African studies. BIGSAS does not comprise any kind of regular funding; it is not a scholarship. Whether BIGSAS fits your research plans, depends on the research project you would like to pursue. Please take a look at the academic disciplines and research interests covered by our Members. If your research interests overlap with (one of) theirs, BIGSAS may just be the perfect fit for you.
Step-by-Step Guide to Application
Step 1 – Check if you fulfill the basic application requirements
You may apply to BIGSAS if you…
- hold a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree, and
- plan a doctoral research project in an area consistent with the research interests/academic disciplines covered by the Members of BIGSAS.
Step 2 – Find a supervisor for your doctoral research project at BIGSAS
If you fullfill the basic application requirements, the very first thing you should do is to get in touch with one or several of our Members and discuss your planned research project with them. Due to our Member’s high workload, please allow them some time to answer your request. You do not have to be afraid of application deadlines, as application and admission at BIGSAS are possible throughout the whole year.
Once you agree on a research project with one of our Members, you will need to set up a supervision agreement. You can download the English form HERE or the German form HERE (both DOCX). Make sure all boxes are filled in. Otherwise, the supervision agreement is considered incomplete.
Step 3 – Complete your application
The actual application is performed through the BayDOC portal: LINK
In addition to filling in the online form, you will be asked to attach supportive documents (in English, French or German; please provide certificates etc. as certified copies). Required supportive documents are:
1) The supervision agreement mentioned under Step 2
2) A project proposal of maximum 10 pages which lines out the aims of your dissertation project as well as a detailed work and time schedule. Please include your name, the page number and the title of the proposal on each page. The proposal should also include a one-page summary of the proposal in English.
3) A one-page letter of motivation in which you explain why you apply to BIGSAS
4) A soft copy of your written and graded Master’s or equivalent thesis
5) Two letters of recommendation personally signed by the authors (the authors need to be from the your academic background and mentioned with title and university/institute)
6) A Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing your academic progress and your qualifications in detail
7) A self-declaration that you have not been accepted for a doctorate at another university or are enrolled at another university or university of applied sciences
8) A Secondary School Graduation Certificate / Higher Education Entrance Certificate
9) A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent degree certificate including complete pages of the transcript of records (e.g. Licence ou Maîtrise, a certified copy is requested)
10) A Master’s Degree or equivalent degree certificate, including complete pages of the transcript of records (e.g. DEA or DESS, a certified copy is requested)
11) A list of academic publications (if available)
Application Deadline: December 15, 2024
