The Cluster of Excellence "Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)" is an interdisciplinary research consortium that investigates the global deepening of contestations surrounding liberal models of society and their resilience. Since, SCRIPTS has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy (Exzellenzstrategie) initiated by the federal and state governments. Headquartered at Freie Universität Berlin, the Cluster unites excellent research from six research institutions. It collaborates with partners across all world regions.
The “Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS)” is the full-time PhD programme of the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)”. The BGTS offers a rigorous and dynamic English-language PhD programme for exceptionally talented and motivated graduate students in the field of global and transregional studies, bringing together a broad spectrum of disciplines and methodological approaches.
The selection is done according to the SCRIPTS Diversity Rules & Guidelines: - Knowledge of various theoretical and methodological approaches in the relevant disciplines
- A research project relevant to SCRIPTS, presented in a project proposal to be included with the application
- Openness to interdisciplinary collaboration
Required Documents (in German or English):
• CV including the most relevant academic experiences and certifications of at least Bachelor’s and Master’s degree qualifying for PhD studies in the relevant disciplines;
• proof of C1-level English language skills or the equivalent (please refer to the BGTS website for the accepted proofs of language proficiency:
Applications must be uploaded via the BGTS application portal at: