PhD students in Leipzig and in Beirut now have the opportunity to spend one term abroad at the respective partner institution to conduct research, gain international experience, and connect with fellow specialists in their field. The exchange is based based on a new bilateral agreement between the Institute for Oriental Studies at Leipzig University and the Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the Lebanese University in Beirut. The stay abroad will be tuition-free and selected candidates will have the status of an exchange doctoral student. As such all PhD-student services and facilities will be available to them. Academic credits earned during their stay may be transferred to their PhD studies at their home university in accordance with the regulations determined by the latter. The partner institutions will advise interested students and candidates in the acquisition of scholarships to cover travel costs, accommodation, and living costs for the period of their stay abroad.
Candidates' PhD-projects must topically revolve around the linguistic, socio-historical, political or cultural history or present of the Middle East and its diasporas. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the languages required by their project and at the partner institution, and they should be able to clearly state academic reasons for participation in the exchange.
The procedure and timeline for applications will be laid out in more detail soon. For further information and counsel in the meantime, please refer to the advisor at your respective home institution:
- Lebanese University (Beirut): markus.schmitz@ul.edu.lb
- Leipzig University (Leipzig): bjoern.bentlage@uni-leipzig.de