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Application deadline for the following winter semester is 31 March. Please refer to our website for details.
The Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (IEE) at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), Germany, offers an international and interdisciplinary three-year PhD programme in International Development Studies (IDS). The programme is taught entirely in English. The PhD IDS is embedded within the framework of the RUB Research School, a winner of the German Excellence Initiative. It is offered by the IEE in cooperation with the Faculties of Geography, Law, Social Science, and Economics and targets excellent young academics from all over the world who aspire to advance their academic career in international development studies and have a strong interest in cross-disciplinary work. Annually around six to eight candidates are admitted to the programme. Participants can choose from a variety of tailor-made courses while at the same time working on their own research projects. A supervisor is assigned to each research project. All supervisors hold professorial posts in the faculties involved. Teaching modules deal with developmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective such as development economics, political institutions, conflict and democracy, or economics and culture. These seminars are complemented by courses on research methods and statistical analysis. Individual research projects are presented and discussed on a regular basis by the PhD candidates and their supervisors in the framework of the meetings of the IEE Research Clusters. Courses on generic skills, offered by the RUB Research School for doctoral candidates from all disciplines, aim at the training of key competences and include seminars on scientific writing, scientific presentation, and professional (scientific) communication.
The programme cycle is three years, including a field research period. Courses are mainly offered as seminars. The PhD IDS is a combination of working on individual PhD research projects as well as participating in selected teaching modules. Teaching modules deal with developmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective. These seminars are complemented by courses on research methods and statistical analysis. Individual research projects are presented and discussed on a regular basis by the PhD candidates and their supervisors in the framework of the meetings of the IEE Research Clusters.
A field research phase, typically in the fourth semester, forms an integral part of the PhD programme. Courses on generic skills include seminars on scientific writing, scientific presentation and professional (scientific) communication.
Please note: Part-time studies are accepted in exceptional cases only!
We cannot currently offer any scholarship; PhD IDS applicants therefore have to apply separately for a scholarship by submitting an application to relevant funding organisations.
Joint PhD Programme with the International Institute of Social Sciences of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague, Netherlands: students of the PhD IDS may have the opportunity to accomplish a doctorate jointly supervised and jointly certified by both the IEE and ISS.
Joint PhD offer with Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute for Social Studies
Cooperation with University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Field research abroad (in home countries of participants)
Social fee of approx. 340 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Minimum of 850 EUR per month to cover personal and living expenses
Students with outstanding academic performance who are involved in special social activities can receive 300 EUR per month for a year from the Ruhr-Universität Scholarship Fund “Deutschlandstipendium”: http://www.rub.de/bildungsfonds/info-studierende/en/index_en.html. International students with good to very good academic performance who need financial support during the final phase of study can receive a graduation grant of 400 EUR per month for four months from the International Office at RUB: https://international.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/graduation-grant-international-students.
Above-average advanced degree in human geography, law, social or political science, economics, development management or related subjects:
For international degrees, the equivalence will be judged during the application process. Candidates who have to follow preparatory studies before admission to the PhD in International Development Studies can be accepted for such preparatory studies at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Applicants must submit a research proposal (five pages max.). Guidelines for writing the research proposal are available for download on the institute's website.
Official certificate confirming applicant's English language proficiency equivalent to CEFR level C1 (e.g. IELTS band 7 or TOEFL iBT 94 or above)
If English has been your language of instruction since your secondary education, a proof of your English language proficiency is not compulsory, but it is nonetheless recommended.
Application deadline for the following winter semester is 31 March. Please refer to our website for details.
Applications have to be submitted online via:
https://public.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ps/iee
In the city of Bochum, you can find a variety of affordable and pleasant accommodations. On average, students in Bochum pay approximately 350 to 400 EUR per month for a single apartment, which is below the average rent in Germany. A room in a shared apartment is available from around 250 EUR.
About 5,000 students in Bochum live in 18 student halls close to the campus, which are run by the Akademisches Förderungswerk (AKAFÖ). In the halls, students have their own single room and share a kitchen and bathroom with other students, they rent an apartment with a private bathroom and kitchen, or they share an apartment with one or several flatmates.
More information on the student halls can be found at http://www.akafoe.de and https://studium.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/de/wohnen.
In addition, eight private and church-affiliated student halls accommodate up to 1,000 students: https://www.nidostudent.de/standort/river-studios/ and http://www.wohnheime-bochum.de.
PhD coordinator, administrative staff and student assistants offer individual administrative support and counselling.
