DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027

DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027 in Germany

The DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027 is a doctoral research opportunity offered by the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS) in Germany. The graduate school is a joint initiative involving the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) and TU Dresden.

For the 2027 intake, the scholarship focuses on “Levers for Sustainable Urban Mobility Transformations.” The research theme explores how urban mobility systems can be transformed through better policies, business models, data-driven tools and integrated approaches.

Selected candidates will receive a monthly scholarship of €1,515 for three years, together with additional support for travel and research activities. The programme is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, while applications must be submitted by September 1, 2026.

DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027 Overview

Category	Details
Scholarship Name	DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027
Host Country	Germany
Location	Dresden
University	TU Dresden
Research Institute	Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development
Programme	Dresden Leibniz Graduate School
Degree Level	PhD
Research Duration	3 Years
Monthly Stipend	€1,515
Additional Support	Travel and research activities
Research Theme	Sustainable Urban Mobility Transformations
Programme Start	March 1, 2027
Application Deadline	September 1, 2026
Application Method	Online

The official DLGS call confirms that the scholarship runs for three years and provides €1,515 per month, with additional support for research and travel.

What Does the DLGS PhD Scholarship Cover?

Successful candidates receive financial support throughout the three-year doctoral programme.

The scholarship provides:

• €1,515 monthly stipend
• Funding for three years
• Additional support for research activities
• Additional support for travel
• Doctoral supervision through TU Dresden and IOER
• Opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research in Germany
• No conventional tuition fee for the German doctorate, although students are responsible for the applicable semester contribution.

Applicants should note that this is a scholarship rather than an employment contract, so it should not be confused with a salaried PhD position that includes an employment-based social insurance package.

2027 Research Topic

The main research theme for the 2027 DLGS scholarship is:

Levers for Sustainable Urban Mobility Transformations

The programme is interested in understanding how transport and spatial planning can work together to create more sustainable urban mobility systems.

Applicants can develop research proposals around at least one of the following four areas:

• Public policy: Governance structures, institutional design and planning instruments
• Business models: Models for private, civil-society and third-sector mobility providers
• Integrative tools: Data-driven methods, models, tools and interfaces
• Integrated perspectives: Research connecting policy, business and civil-society approaches

The call welcomes qualitative, quantitative, modelling, conceptual and methodological approaches. Interdisciplinary research is expected, while transdisciplinary approaches are encouraged where appropriate.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship is intended for qualified applicants who want to conduct doctoral research related to spatial and mobility transformations.

Applicants must generally:

• Hold a first Master's degree obtained within the last three years
• Have above-average academic performance, equivalent to at least “good” on the German grading scale
• Have an academic background relevant to the research theme
• Develop a research proposal aligned with the IOER research profile
• Identify potential supervisors at TU Dresden or IOER
• Submit a complete application through the online application system
• Meet all application requirements before the deadline.

Eligible Academic Backgrounds

The scholarship is open to applicants from a range of relevant disciplines.

The DLGS call specifically mentions fields such as:

• Transport studies
• Urban and regional planning
• Geography
• Data science
• Urban informatics
• Economics
• Business
• Sociology
• Political science
• Transition and innovation studies

The list is not exhaustive. What matters most is that the applicant's academic background and proposed research are relevant to spatial and mobility transformations.

Master's Degree Requirement

One of the most important eligibility conditions is the three-year Master's degree rule.

Applicants must have obtained their first Master's degree within the three years before applying. The date of the degree award is therefore important and should be clearly shown in the submitted academic documents.

Applicants whose first Master's degree was completed more than three years ago may not meet this particular scholarship requirement.

Academic Requirements

Applicants are expected to have an above-average academic record.

The scholarship call specifies performance equivalent to the German grade “gut” or better.

International applicants should therefore understand how their own grading system compares with the German grading scale and provide appropriate documentation or explanations where necessary.

Research Proposal Requirement

The research proposal is one of the most important parts of the application.

Applicants must develop an original and well-founded research proposal that:

• Addresses at least one of the four research areas
• Connects with their academic background
• Fits the DLGS research theme
• Aligns with the IOER research profile
• Presents a realistic research question
• Explains an appropriate methodology
• Demonstrates potential academic and practical relevance

The proposal can use qualitative, quantitative, modelling, conceptual or methodological approaches.

Applicants should avoid submitting a broad proposal that is unrelated to the research interests of IOER and the 2027 DLGS call.

Supervisor Requirement

Applicants must identify potential supervisors from TU Dresden or IOER whose research interests match their proposed doctoral project.

An important advantage is that prior contact with a supervisor is not required before applying. Candidates can identify suitable researchers by reviewing their publications and research projects and then explain why their work is relevant to the proposed PhD project.

German Language Requirement

The DLGS doctoral programme is conducted in English.

German-language proficiency is required only in a specific situation: applicants proposing a transdisciplinary project connected to ongoing IOER activities in Dresden and Saxony must have German language proficiency at C1 level.

Applicants proposing a standard interdisciplinary academic project do not have this additional German-language requirement.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the documents required by the DLGS application system.

Important documents include:

• Master's degree certificate
• Master's academic transcript
• Curriculum Vitae
• Original research proposal
• Names of potential supervisors
• Proof of language ability where applicable
• Other information or documents requested through the online application system

The Master's certificate and transcript are particularly important because DLGS needs to verify both academic performance and the date on which the degree was awarded.

How to Apply for DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027

Applicants should first check whether their Master's degree falls within the required three-year period and whether their academic background is relevant to the 2027 research theme.

Next, applicants should study the IOER research profile and identify a research problem connected with sustainable urban mobility transformations. They should then select one or more of the four research areas and develop a strong research proposal.

After preparing the proposal, applicants should identify suitable potential supervisors at TU Dresden or IOER. Previous contact with the supervisors is not mandatory.

Finally, applicants must complete and submit the application through the DLGS online application system before September 1, 2026. The official call states that complete and timely submission is itself an important application criterion.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027 is:

September 1, 2026

The selected doctoral programme is scheduled to start on:

March 1, 2027

Applications must be submitted through the DLGS online system by the deadline.

Programme Duration

The DLGS scholarship provides funding for three years.

The programme begins on March 1, 2027, with the funded doctoral research continuing for three years. The scholarship provides €1,515 per month together with additional support for travel and research activities.

Is the DLGS PhD Scholarship Fully Funded?

The DLGS opportunity is presented as a fully funded PhD scholarship, but applicants should understand exactly what the funding includes.

The scholarship provides:

€1,515 per month for three years + additional travel and research support.

German doctoral programmes generally do not charge conventional tuition fees, although students may have to pay a semester contribution.

Because this is a scholarship rather than an employment position, recipients should also consider their personal living costs and the absence of an employment-based social insurance package.

Why Study at TU Dresden and IOER?

The DLGS offers a research environment combining an academic university with an applied research institute.

Through TU Dresden and IOER, doctoral researchers can work on issues related to sustainable urban and regional development, mobility, planning and transformation.

The interdisciplinary environment can be particularly valuable for researchers interested in connecting:

• Urban planning
• Transport
• Data science
• Public policy
• Business
• Social sciences
• Sustainability
• Innovation and transformation

This combination allows doctoral research to address both theoretical questions and practical urban challenges.

Selection Process

Applications are assessed against the requirements of the annual DLGS research call.

The selection process considers factors such as:

• Academic performance
• Relevance of the applicant's academic background
• Quality of the research proposal
• Alignment with the IOER research profile
• Fit with the 2027 research theme
• Suitability of potential supervisors
• Completeness and timely submission of the application

The DLGS states that applications go through a centralized selection process that typically takes up to three months.

Final Thoughts

The DLGS PhD Scholarship 2027 in Germany is a strong opportunity for Master's graduates interested in doctoral research related to sustainable urban mobility, spatial planning, transport, data-driven systems, public policy and urban transformation.

Selected candidates receive a €1,515 monthly stipend for three years, along with additional support for travel and research activities. The programme is jointly connected with TU Dresden and the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, providing an interdisciplinary research environment.

The most important eligibility condition to check is the requirement that the applicant's first Master's degree must have been obtained within the last three years. Applicants also need above-average academic results, a relevant academic background, and a strong research proposal aligned with the IOER research profile.

The application deadline is September 1, 2026, and the doctoral programme is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027. Interested applicants should begin preparing their research proposal and identifying potential supervisors as early as possible. Apply Now