Admission

The formal requirement for an application is an MA degree (e.g. German Diplom or Magister) in one of the disciplines represented at the Cluster “Languages of Emotion”. Since instruction is either in German or in English, enrollment in the graduate program requires German and English language proficiency at an advanced level.

The Graduate School is highly interested in international representation and encourages international students to apply. In order to ensure an equal balance between male and female students, applications by women are particularly encouraged.

Please send your application together with the requested documents until January 15th of the respective year to

Freie Universität Berlin
Graduate School ”Languages of Emotion”
Dr. Markus Edler, Program Manager
Habelschwerdter Allee 45
14195 Berlin, Germany

Please do not use staples, folders, portfolios, and sheet protectors. Rather, simply use a large paper clip or flexi-fastener. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. We will confirm receipt of your application by e-mail.

The selection of candidates will be determined by the academic qualification and motivation of the candidates as well by the general match of the dissertation project with the research program of the Graduate School. Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview, which will most presumably be scheduled for end of May/mid-June.

After having been selected by the committee of the Graduate School, chosen candidates will be informed on short notice about the next steps to take (admission procedure, selection of supervisors, etc.).

Following documents must be submitted:

1. Completed application form. (Please download your application form here [pdf, 317 KB].)

2. Statement of Purpose: The Statement of Purpose should be in English or in German, not longer than three pages and provide a clear picture of the applicant’s academic and professional background and interests. It should also describe how the interests and future research plans match with the doctoral program of the Cluster and the offerings and expertise of the cooperating partners.

3. Outline of Dissertation Project: Applicants are not expected to have a final dissertation proposal upon application but are asked to send a preliminary outline of a dissertation project. The outline encompasses 10 pages at the maximum (Times New Roman, 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing, not more than 2.800 characters incl. blanks per page) and should be written in German or in English. The outline should include a short summary of the subject in question (referring to the state of research and highlighting theoretical and empirical debates on the topic and deficits in the literature that the dissertation would address), objectives and methods of the project as well as a short bibliography of recent research within the given field. The outline must include a time schedule and working plan.

4. A curriculum vitae in German or in English.

5. Two Recent Letters of Reference: Letters of reference should be sent in a sealed envelope along with the application materials. If referees prefer to send letters directly to the program, they should do so before the application deadline. Letters of reference will be accepted in either German or English.

6. Certified Copies of Earned Degrees: Copies of higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, High School Diploma), copies of original university degree (MA, Diplom, Magister or equivalent). If the required university degree has not been completed at the time of the application deadline, provisional material, documenting academic performance and achievement (transcripts outlining grades, test certificates or other credentials) will be accepted. Documentation of the final degree has to be submitted by the end of July. Foreign degree certificates have to be translated into German or English and officially certified.

7. Proof of Language Skills: All applicants who are neither native speakers of German or English nor have studied for a considerable period of time at a university with German or English as languages of instruction are required to submit certification of their German and /or English proficiency (English minimum level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or equal; German minimum of TestDaF 4x4 or DSH2).

8. A Writing Sample (e.g. extract of M.A. / Diplom Thesis of 10 pages maximum, an article or seminar paper). Writing samples will be accepted in German and English.