PhD / Doctorate •

Degree

PhD

Course location

Münster

Teaching language

• German
• English

Languages

Courses are held in German (40%) and English (60%). PhD students can choose to write the dissertation in either language.

Programme duration

6 semesters

Beginning

Winter and summer semester

Application periods

The following is valid for applicants from: all countries
For the summer semester:
until 30 November
The following is valid for applicants from: all countries
For the winter semester:
until 31 May

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme

No

Joint degree / double degree programme

No

Description/content

The Graduate School Empirical and Applied Linguistics offers promising young researchers an interdisciplinary PhD programme with a focus on linguistics. Professors are drawn from the following broad range of subjects, thus ensuring multidisciplinary collaboration:

• General Linguistics (Typology, Language Documentation and Description, Theoretical Linguistics)
• Second Language Acquisition / Applied Linguistics
• German Linguistics
• English Philology
• Romance Linguistics (French)
• Romance Linguistics (Italian)
• Romance Linguistics (Spanish)
• Dutch Philology
• Scandinavian Studies
• Slavic Studies
• Psychology (Psycholinguistics)

Doctoral students in the PhD programme Empirical and Applied Linguistics can write their dissertation on any linguistic subject area, including applied linguistics, second language acquisition, and a linguistic topic within the framework of a specific philology. Students can choose whether to focus on a more theoretical or a more practical topic, provided that the dissertation has a solid empirical basis. The goal of the PhD programme is to ensure that the doctoral student is proficient in various methods of linguistic data collection and analysis and can therefore use these methods in a critical and reflective way.

All doctoral students will receive individual supervision from two faculty members. In order to enable a well-supervised and efficiently completed PhD programme, a written supervision agreement detailing the student's goals and time frame will be drawn up before the doctoral students take up their studies.

Studying at the Graduate School thus involves a constant exchange of ideas with the other doctoral students and exposure to the everyday workings of scientific inquiry. Because of its flexibility, the programme can accommodate each student's individual interests and plans for the future.

Course organisation

All doctoral students will meet on a regular basis in an informal type of colloquium or workshop in order to discuss methodological and theoretical issues. On three different occasions, they also have to attend the more formal Colloquium of the Doctoral Students, where they have to report on the progress of their dissertation research and preparation:

• Proposal defence, usually at the end of the first semester
• Mid-term review, usually towards the end of the third semester
• Thesis defence at the end of the fifth semester

In addition to these mandatory courses, the programme comprises elements that can be tailored to meet each student's individual preferences and needs:

• An individually planned compulsory study programme covering 10 ECTS points
• An elective course from the element Teaching, Lecturing, Publishing that comprises at least 8 ECTS points
• An elective course from the element Organisation of Scientific Activities and Supplementary Studies equalling at least 12 ECTS points

International elements

• International guest lecturers

Description of other international elements

As part of the Research Forum, the Graduate School regularly invites national and international guest lecturers whose research is closely connected to the doctoral projects of participating students. This ensures that students receive valuable external input on their work while also establishing international contacts within their field.

In addition, students are encouraged to present their research at conferences both in Germany and abroad. They are also expected to undertake a research stay abroad of three to six months, if they have not already completed a comparable stay during their previous studies. These activities can be credited as part of the Graduate School’s programme requirements.

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester

None

Semester contribution

We do not charge tuition fees. However, students must pay a semester contribution fee of approx. 355 EUR per semester. This includes various services for students as well as a "semester ticket" covering public transportation in Münster and all of Germany.

You can find more information here .

Costs of living

We recommend that students budget at least 1,000 EUR per month to meet personal expenses (accommodation, living, health insurance).

You can find more information here:
https://www.uni-muenster.de/international/en/studierende/general-information/cost-and-funding.html .

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

The Graduate School Empirical and Applied Linguistics does not offer scholarships for the entire duration of the doctoral studies. However, there is the possibility of receiving financial support for international conferences and stays abroad.

Academic admission requirements

In order to be admitted to the Graduate School Empirical and Applied Linguistics, you must have completed a Master's degree (or an equivalent degree, e.g. Maîtrise) in a linguistic related subject. The Master's degree should have been graded at least good. We might also be able to accept your application if you have obtained your Master's degree in a discipline related to linguistics, such as speech or language therapy.

Further requirements:

• You are required to have the necessary language skills for your chosen doctoral subject. 
• Being able to actively speak both German and English is highly recommended. Should these language skills be missing, intensive language courses should be taken in order to meet these requirements as quickly as possible.

German language skills

No minimum language level required

English language skills

No minimum language level required

Application periods

The following is valid for applicants from: all countries
For the summer semester:
until 30 November
The following is valid for applicants from: all countries
For the winter semester:
until 31 May

Submit application via

Please apply via e-mail .

Accommodation

As in all popular university cities in Germany, accommodation is in high demand and not easy to find in Münster – but it's not impossible either! Like most German universities, we do not have our own student halls of residence. However, the "Studierendenwerk", a governmental organisation, offers student halls in Münster . You can find additional information on housing options here and here (only in German).

When contacting about private offers, be careful! Please make sure that you never transfer money before you sign the rental contract. Ideally, you should be able to talk personally to the potential landlord, even if you are still abroad (via phone, video call, etc.) If you are not sure whether an offer is real or possibly a fraud, please feel free to contact the team of our International Office and send us the offer.

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Career advisory services and programmes for future professionals

The university offers a range of career advisory and professional development opportunities through its Career Service and the Münster Centre for Emerging Researchers. These include individual career counselling, workshops, and training programmes designed to support doctoral researchers in preparing for both academic and non-academic career paths.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates

• Specialist counselling

General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

Students can get help from the International Office of the university and from the Münster Centre for Emerging Researchers (CERes). They help with all administrative issues concerning life in Germany and organise networking events for the students.

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