Graduate Center for Doctoral Researchers

The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts aims to support doctoral projects by highly qualified doctoral candidates that have a significant focus on digital transformation.

Eligible projects can include both research with a technical focus embedded in an economic and social context, as well as research with an economic and social focus that has clear connections to digital technologies.

All doctoral researchers who are pursuing a doctorate at a university publicly administered by the Free State of Bavaria or at a state-recognised university significantly funded by the Free State can apply for the funding. Female doctoral candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Also, we require an excellent knowledge of English, as this is the language of communication at the Graduate Center. We expect a basic understanding of German and an interest in expanding this knowledge.

Interdisciplinary interests and experience at the intersection of other disciplines are also welcome. In case of admission to the Graduate Center, we expect active participation in the course programme.

Doctoral researchers who are already promoted or funded by bidt are not eligible for a scholarship. Other scholarships may also be an exclusion criterion for financial support. However, this does not affect non-financial support.

In 2026, we will again admit up to 25 doctoral researchers to the bidt Graduate Center. In addition to access to events and further training, this includes a scholarship of €3,000 per year until the end of the doctoral project, for a maximum of four years.

An application must include the following documents:

• Completed application form including a description of the doctoral project, which should have a technical, economic or social focus relevant to digital transformation and be planned to run for up to four years.
• Professional CV
• Proof of a very good university degree or comparable state-recognised degree qualifying for a doctorate at a higher education institution (including detailed transcripts of records for both the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs)
• Informal declaration by the supervising university teacher on the supervision and support of this application

The complete application documents (application form with a description of the doctoral project, curriculum vitae and references, university certificates, including transcripts of records, and declaration of support) must be submitted in a single PDF document via this link in EasyChair.org. A free EasyChair account needs to be created before submission is possible. Please also check our data protection guidelines.
The deadline for applications is 10 February 2026.

Funding decisions are based on the recommendations of an interdisciplinary selection committee. The basis for the evaluation is always the written application.

Selection criteria include the applicant’s professional qualifications, the scientific quality of the research project and its relevance to societal aspects of digital transformation.

All employees at a university sponsored by the Free State of Bavaria or at a higher education institution mainly refinanced and approved by the Free State of Bavaria, and the institutions themselves, can apply for funding. In principle, the following non-public universities are eligible for funding: Hochschule für katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik Regensburg, Hochschule für evangelische Kirchenmusik Bayreuth, Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Katholische Stiftungshochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften München, Evangelische Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften and Hochschule für Philosophie München.

The range of courses encompasses various topics and methods in digitalisation research, with a focus on interdisciplinary work, methods, and networking. The different formats range from talks and workshops to further networking activities.

Doctoral researchers in the Graduate Center are expected to attend the kick-off event and at least one additional event each year. Furthermore, members are expected to become involved in one of the working groups at the Graduate Center. Working groups are set up jointly by doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at the Graduate Center, with a topic (on the digital transformation) of their choice. Goals and methods as well as scope of commitment therefore largely depend on the participants.

Doctoral students, who are employed by the bidt, or employed by a project funded by the bidt, or who receive a fellowship by the bidt are not eligible for the scholarship. Nevertheless, they are encouraged to apply for membership at the Graduate Center. If successful, they can participate in all of the offered activities and events.

Selection criteria include the applicant’s professional qualifications, the scientific quality of the research project and its relevance to societal aspects of digital transformation.

No, the application documents must be complete by the deadline.

No. An informal statement (declaration of support) by your supervisor is sufficient. Ideally, your supervisor is aware of and endorses your application.

The declaration of support can be an informal statement by your supervisor simply documenting that you are actually working on your dissertation with him/her at the specified higher education institution. Ideally, your supervisor is aware of and endorses your application.

No, the declaration of support is only required from the primary supervisor at the university where the doctoral application will be submitted.

Yes. Both languages are accepted.

Yes, dissertation projects at Bavarian HAWs are supported even if the partner university is not in Bavaria.

You can also apply, if your dissertation project is at an advanced stage.

The dissertation has to be hosted by a university sponsored by the Free State of Bavaria or at a higher education institution mainly refinanced and approved by the Free State of Bavaria (see above for cooperative dissertation projects at HAWs and universities).

In principle this is possible, though double funding must be avoided, i.e. it is not allowed to receive the scholarship while receiving other funding from the bidt. If other funding/scholarships are received, please provide precise information about the funding institution upon application. Changes regarding funding and scholarships during Graduate Center membership must be reported to bidt coordination. While this may affect eligibility for the stipend, membership in general (e.g. access to courses and events) remains unaffected.