How do I apply for the PhD programme at the BTS?
The application process for the PhD programme at the BTS takes place online. Each year, the form to apply for the programme - with a start date of September the following year - is available on this page from 1 December. All required documents must be handed in by the deadline 1 February and within the two-months timeframe of the call for applications. Handing in documents later is not possible. By applying, you will automatically be considered for the selection of a BTS scholarship. 

Who is eligible for the PhD programme of the BTS?                                                                                            Everyone who has completed an MA in social sciences with 120 credits is eligible. Or in other words, everyone is eligible who gained 300 credit points by completing an BA and MA programme in social sciences or adjacent fields. The term "social sciences" refers to political science, sociology, and history as well as to economics and law. The programme is open to all nationals and has no preferences towards EU citizens. Calculus or similar is not a necessary prerequisite when applying.

Do I have to send hard copies of documents?
You can upload all documents in the online application form, offered from 1 December 2009. Upload is possibile in jpeg, pdf, doc or rtf format, maximum 2 MB per file, 20 MB total. It is not necessary to send original documents prior to being accepted. If you are accepted and want to enrol in the programme in September, you will have to provide certified copies/translations of the respective documents in paper form. Enrolment at the BTS will not be possible without these documents.

In which language should I submit my application and attached documents?
We expect all submitted documents to be in English, except for MA or equivalent diplomas, which also can be submitted in German. Moreover, the letters of reference can be submitted in German.

Are there any further documents necessary for my application, apart from those listed on the webpage?
We strongly recommend that you focus on the requested documents (university degree, proof of English language skills, CV, letter of motivation, research proposal and two letters of reference). However, you may include other documents which support your application, e. g. documents underlining your practical skills such as internships certificates, etc.. These documents must be submitted in English.

What happens, if I cannot deliver any university degree for the applications yet?                                                                  That's no problem. However, some proof of grade (at best a current transcript) is fundamental for your application. Please send as a letter from your university as soon as you finished your Master's exam, confirming the completion of your studies. As long as you have no official MA degree yet, this letter moreover serves to enrol at BTS. 

What do you mean by research proposal?
The research proposal is an outline of your research project on which you will work during your PhD. It should develop the research question, clarify its relevance for academic debates, and briefly develop the theoretical and methodological account of your project as well as how you are going to conduct your research time wise. You should attach a timetable for your research project. Important is that you locate your research project within the research scope of the BTS (for a better idea please click here). Further, you should deliver a socio-scientific methodological account. Any previous revisions of your research proposal by faculty members or the coordinators are not possible.

What is the purpose of letter of motivation?
In the motivation letter you should provide strong arguments why you decided to apply for the PhD Programme of the BTS and how this step fits into your overall career plans (age may be issue). You may further mention which supervisor of the BTS core faculty would fit your resreach project. Also, you should indicate whether you are applying for a BTS scholarship and why or how you plan to finance your time at BTS otherwise (by a scholarship of another source). Therefore you should indicate, if you have applied for further scholarships apart from BTS.

What happens if I cannot yet provide a university degree for the application?                                                                           That's no problem. However, some proof of grade (at best, a current transcript) is fundamental for your application. Please send us a letter from your university as soon as you have finished your master's exam, confirming the completion of your studies. As long as you have no official MA degree yet, this letter will allow you to provisionally enrol at the BTS.

Do I have to present a certain grade in my MA exams to be able to apply?
Principally your final grade should not be lower than 2,4 (German grade system), still "Good". Referring to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) this corresponds to a "B" starting from 79 %. The grading system, however, varies from country to country. Your selection for the PhD programme of the BTS at last depends on all factors, required in your application.

Do I have to decide on a supervisor prior to my application?
No, the selection committee will propose a team of supervisors for your research project. The decision will be based on your research focus and availability of faculty members. After admission, the decision will be discussed with you. However, you are free to make suggestions within your application.

Shall I contact potential supervisors prior to my application?
No, you do not need to contact faculty members prior to your application. The decision of who will act as your supervisor will be taken by the selection committee together with those faculty members who potentially could act as supervisors.

Should I send my research proposal to a faculty member in order to get comments?
No, the BTS has very strict application requirements which do not allow for detailed comments on research proposals by faculty members. Faculty member will not peer review your proposals.

Who will be my second supervisor?                                             Every PhD candidate can freely choose his/her second supervisor. The second supervisor does not have to be member of the BTS core faculty like the first supervisor, nor does he/she have to come from one of the three institutions involved in the BTS (FUB, HSoG, WZB). The idea behind this is to find a person that fits your particular research focus and - ideally - complements the first supervisor, i.e. bringing in further qualifications, etc.

What about a third supervisor?                                              The BTS supervision teams are meant to be formed of three people for every PhD candidate. The third supervisor is not a must, but constitutes a great opportunity for you to acquire skilled advice and perform in an even more inspiring and motivating surrounding.

Who is eligible to write a letter of reference?
We strongly recommend that the letters of reference be written by a faculty member of your home university who is able to comment on your academic performance. If you are no longer affiliated with a university and do not have contact to faculty members, you may also ask someone in a senior position at your workplace to write a letter of reference for you.

In which language should reference letters be written?
We ask that reference letters be written in English or in German. This will enable all of the members of the selection committee to read the letters.

How should the letters of reference be delivered to the BTS?   There are four different ways to deliver the letter of reference to the BTS: First, you may upload the letter of reference directly into your online application form. Second, your referee may send the letter in a sealed envelope by post to the BTS. Third, send it by email or by fax. The contact details can be found on this page.

What should a letter of reference contain?                                Your letters of reference should contain a short description of your academic performance, as well as list your adaptability to the PhD programme at the BTS: research interest, personal aspects, etc. A professor's report on your Master’s Thesis cannot serve as letter of reference.

What about last year’s letters of recommendation?                   In the case that you have already applied to the BTS the previous year, we will gladly consider the letters of reference from your first application, as far as they still match your current application.

Do I need to take an English test?
If you are not a native English speaker or if the language of instruction at your previous university was not English, we ask you to provide evidence of strong English language skills. Please include the English language test results in your application. English language tests should not be older than two years at the time of your application to the BTS. The BTS will take your application into consideration in the absence of English language test results, but any admissions offer will be conditional on submitting positive results prior to enrolment.

How does the English language skill of C1 translate into other tests?
The C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) translates to other tests as follows: IELTS= 6.5 or higher, TOEFL paper = 603/677 or higher, TOEFL CBT = 263/300 or higher, TOEFL IBT = 100/120 or higher, TOEIC = 785 or higher.

How should the English language certificate be sent to the BTS?                                                                                             Ideally, your English language certificate will be uploaded in your online application form as a .pdf or .jpg document. If it is not available until the application deadline, the certificate can be sent to the BTS by post, fax or email. (The contact details can be found on this page). At the latest, English certificates must be submitted with enrolment at BTS. Copied versions must then be checked with the original.

Do I have to pay tuition fees?
There will be no tuition fees for the programme itself. However, the programme is only open to three types of candidates: first, those who receive a scholarship from the BTS; second, those who bring with them their own scholarship; and third, research associates from research projects affiliated with the BTS.

What does a scholarship from the BTS include?
The scholarship enables enrolment in the PhD Programme Transnational Studies and subsidises living expenses equivalent to the DFG measures for graduate schools, as well as additional maintenance grants.

Does the BTS deliver different types of scholarships?                                                                     Everybody applying for the PhD programme of the BTS will be automatically considered for a “full” long term BTS scholarship. If you moreover apply for external funding, please advice us in your letter of motivation. We regret that deadlines for applications and selection may contradict with other funding institutions. However, we are not able to make any exceptions or support in these cases, but try to arrange best. Principally, the BTS makes the best effort, to enable as much applicants as possible to engage in its PhD programme. In some cases the BTS therefore delivers so-called start-up stipends of 6 months that we help to extend afterwards, without any guarantee.

Am I able to work apart from the PhD programme?                 In principle, you are not supposed to work apart from the PhD programme. The PhD programme is an on-site study financed by a full stipend that should cover all necessary costs. For extra expends (such as child care, travel costs, etc.) you are to make a motion at the Dahlem Research School (DRS) or at the Center for International Cooperation (CIC) at the FUB.

Is there any financial support for the arrival?                          In principle, there is not. However, in pressing cases, we are able to apply for extra funding at the Center for International Cooperation (CIC) at the FUB.

When will you decide on applications?
The selection committee will consider all applications during March. You should get your letter of admission on April 16, 2010. If considered as necessary, there will be previously annouced telephone interviews for specific requests during this time.

Can I enrol without being able to present my MA diploma?
If you are not able to provide the MA diploma by the starting date of the programme, we expect you to bring a letter from your home university stating that you have successfully passed all final exams and completed the MA thesis. The letter should also list your final marks.

Can I enrol with my final MA exams pending?
An enrolment with the MA exams pending cannot be accepted. All MA exams should be taken by the start of the programme. It is obligatory to take part in all programme courses, which start in September.

Am I eligible to apply by holding a BA?
You are not eligible for the programme by holding a BA exclusively. Admission to the programme is open to postgraduates from Master programmes in the social sciences and adjacent fields.

Does the BTS offer students accommodations?
The BTS itself does not offer accommodations but the Berliner Studentenwerk offers students accommodations in a variety of areas in Berlin. For further details you should visit http://www.studentenwerk-berlin.de/en/wohnen/wohnheimseite/index.html. Students living there will most likely be from an undergrad level. However, the accommodation market in Berlin is relaxed. Sharing flats (shortly called ‘WG’ in German) is common in Berlin. There are webpages specialised on connecting people who want to share flats.

Is it possible to work out my dissertation in less than three years?                                                                                          In principle, that's possible. The PhD programme at the BTS is developed for a time period of three years. Notwithstanding, in individual cases arrangements can be made with respective supervisors and adjusted to work plans and the BTS academic schedule.

What about German language skills?                                       The PhD programme at the BTS does not require German language skills. Notwithstanding, we recommend that you study German during your enrolment period. This will help with daily life in Berlin and communication in the university surroundings. Free language courses especially for international doctorate candidates are offered by the Dahlem Research School (DRS) at FUB.