Frequently Asked Questions
Starter Scholarships

Eligibility
01| Who is eligible for a Starter Scholarship at BAGSS?
02| I have not yet completed my degree. Can I still apply?

Application Formalities
03| How can I apply?
04| When can I apply?
05| What can I do if I missed the deadline?
06| What are the accepted types of documents?
07| Why do my application documents need to be saved as pdf in the following order?
08| Do I need recommendation letters?
09| Do I need a proof of my English skills?
10| What is the required minimum English test score to be admitted to BAGSS?
11| Do I have to translate all my documents?
12| Do I have to choose one pillar?
13| Do I have to contact a potential supervisor before I apply?

Living and Studying in Bamberg
14| Is there any financial support?
15| Are there any tuition fees at BAGSS?
16| Do I need health insurance?
17| How can I find accommodation in Bamberg?
18| Is there any opportunity to gather experience in academic teaching?
19| Is it possible to complete the doctoral degree entirely in English?

01| Who is eligible for BAGSS?

Applicants should hold a master’s degree or an equivalent in one of the following fields: sociology, psychology, educational sciences, political science, economics, demographics, or statistics. Qualified graduates of related subjects with a strong social science background and with a research proposal fitting into BAGSS’s research profile are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants must have an excellent command of English. If English is not your native language, you will need to provide an English language proficiency proof when being shortlisted and invited for an interview.

02|  I have not yet completed my degree. Can I still apply?

Applicants should be very close to completion of their degree. The degree must be completed by the time of admission to BAGSS. Applicants should submit preliminary transcripts of records.

03| How can I apply?

If you wish to apply for a Starter Scholarship, then apply online, using our electronic form. During the application periods, there is a form available on our homepage, in the section application.

04|  When can I apply?

Applications for the Starter Scholarships (period October 2025 - September 2026) are accepted from 15 December 2024 until 15 March 2025.

05| What can I do if I missed the deadline?

Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications for Starter Scholarships after the deadline for the respective semester. Please wait until we publish the next call for applications.

06|  What are the accepted types of documents?

We can only accept applications submitted as a SINGLE PDF document. You can find a free pdf creator on the internet, e.g. the pdfcreator.

07| Why do my application documents need to be saved as pdf in the following order?

1.    Cover Letter
2.    Curriculum Vitae
3.    Abstract
4.    Research Proposal
5.    Work Schedule
6.    Academic degree certificates and university grade transcripts
7.    Short self-written statement about your knowledge of German
8.    Statement of knowledge of research methods
9.  Privacy Policy Agreement

Please stick to the requested ordering so that we can process your application.

Applications not in this order or uncomplete applications will not be accepted.
 

08| Do I need recommendation letters?

Recommendation letters are not necessary for the inital application at BAGSS.

However, when applying for the Starter Scholarships, you will be asked to name two referees, whom BAGSS could contact for a reference regarding your academic performance.

You are required to ask the potential referees for their permission before naming them in the application form and submitting their contact details (mail address and phone number).

Please note that we do not necessarily contact the referees. This will only be done if further information about the applicant is required.
 

09| Do I need a proof of my English skills?

After the application deadline, shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Shortlisted candidates need to provide proof of English language proficiency. BAGSS accepts TOEFL, IELTS or CAE scores or certificates.

Exceptions are made for nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States of America and New Zealand.

Applicants who have completed an academic degree entirely in English, i.e. with a final thesis written in English, do not need to provide any alternative proof. If your degree certificate and transcripts are not clear in that regard, please provide a confirmation letter of English proficiency from the degree-granting institution.

However, if you have a test result or certificate at hand when submitting your application, feel free to add it to your documents.

10| What is the required minimum English test score to be admitted to BAGSS?

For the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and the UNIcert III a pass is sufficient, the TOEFL ibt score should be at least 95, and the IELTS band score should be at least 7.

11| Do I have to translate all my documents?

We accept documents issued in German or English. All other languages should be translated. You can choose to have your documents translated to either German or English. The translation needs to be done by a certified translator.
 

12| Do I have to choose one pillar?

Yes. Applicants are expected to evaluate their research proposal and determine the pillar which fits their topic. More than one pillar can be chosen if your topic fits into several pillars.

If your topic does not fit into any of our four pillars, then you should review whether BAGSS is the right graduate school for you.

13|  Do I have to contact a potential supervisor before I apply?

Applicants are NOT expected to contact potential supervisors directly. Rather it will suffice  for the applicants to identify a potential supervisor and include the supervisor's name in the application form.

All necessary information to identify a supervisor can found here.
 

14| Is there any financial support?

BAGSS is currently only awarding Starter Scholarships for a one year period. Up to four scholarships are awarded per year. The scholarship amounts to 1,565.00 EUR per month plus a grant for book allowance, adding up to a total of 1,668.00 EUR.
 

Moreover, the Graduate School awards one-year Completion Scholarships to doctoral members of the Graduate School close to finishing their doctoral studies. Within this year, recipients are expected to complete and submit their doctoral thesis. Completion Scholarships amount a monthly stipend of 1,568.00 EUR.
 

15| Are there any tuition fees at BAGSS?

No. A small administrative fee has to be paid every semester when being enrolled; it currently amounts to 118,60 EUR and includes free public transport in Bamberg, reduced prices in campus cafeterias, and other student discounts.
 

16| Do I need health insurance?

Admitted candidates who are awarded a scholarship will need to arrange their own health insurance. Our Welcome Center will support these candidates in finding a suitable and affordable insurance company.
 

17| How can I find accommodation in Bamberg?

International students arriving in Germany for the first time will be supported by the Welcome Center of the University in Bamberg. The Welcome Center will assist with finding suitable accommodation.

German candidates are recommended to browse the website of the local newspaper “Fränkischer Tag” and the usual German websites that advertise accommodation. We recommend starting the search for accommodation as soon as possible, since the demand on the rental market might be quite high at the start of  the winter term.

18| Is there any opportunity to gather experience in academic teaching?

For scholarship holders who are interested in gaining teaching experience, the BAGSS Office can arrange - not necessarily paid - teaching oppurtunities.

19| Is it possible to complete the doctoral degree entirely in English?

Yes. At BAGSS, all courses, workshops, guest lectures etc. are offered in the English language. Furthermore, you will have the possibility to write, submit and defend your thesis in English.