In order to attract qualified doctoral candidates in the humanities and social sciences to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and to support young academics in the preparatory and initial phase of their doctorate, the GSHS regularly offers research proposal scholarships for doctoral studies preparation. The aim of the research proposal scholarships is to enable the prospective doctoral candidates to prepare a convincing synopsis of their doctoral project, which will form the basis for a promising application for a doctoral scholarship or a doctoral position.

In order to apply for a research proposal scholarship, candidates need the approval of a mentor who agrees to help, guide and advise them during the six-month funding phase.

The mentor must be authorised to supervise doctoral candidates at Johannes Gutenberg University in the chosen doctoral subject in accordance with the applicable doctoral regulations. For interdisciplinary projects in particular, we strongly recommend clarifying the subject in which the doctorate is to be carried out in advance of an application – the supervision by the mentor must then also be located in this subject.

Of course, this does not exclude the possibility of other persons (e.g. supervisors from other subjects/departments, from other universities, from abroad or persons not formally authorized to supervise) providing additional advice and support to the applicant during the funding phase. However, they cannot take on the formal mentoring function for the research proposal scholarship.

The mentor ensures academic support during the funding phase. The commitment to guiding the scholarship holder as a mentor during the funding phase is explicitly not yet a commitment to supervise a subsequent doctoral procedure. Rather, this time should also serve to examine whether the scholarship holder’s intended project can be carried out in the best possible way under the given conditions or whether other options should be considered.

Nevertheless, you should clarify all questions relevant for a possible later supervision of the doctoral project in advance of accepting mentoring:

• Does the applicant have the necessary formal and professional requirements for a doctorate in the chosen doctoral subject at JGU? The provisions of the applicable doctoral degree regulations must be observed.
  In order to apply for the research proposal scholarship, evidence that the degree required for acceptance as a doctoral candidate (e.g. master’s degree) has either already been obtained or can be obtained by the start of funding needs to be provided (at least the final thesis/dissertation must have been submitted by the time of application, unless a dissertation/project is not required in the said degree programme). Prospective doctoral candidates who are undergoing an aptitude assessment procedure (fast-track procedure) in accordance with the applicable doctoral regulations may also apply, but only if the procedure has already been initiated at the faculty or rectorate.
• Is the applicant’s doctoral project technically convincing and feasible within the given parameters? Does the mentor have sufficient capacity to supervise the applicant at a later stage?
• Do the applicant’s profile and qualifications, the chosen doctoral subject, the intended doctoral topic and the mentor’s subject area and research focus add up to a feasible whole? In what form can the project be meaningfully integrated into the JGU or the department/chair?
• Are there sufficient prospects for the applicant to obtain doctoral funding (position or scholarship) with the submitted doctoral project?

The mentor’s acceptance can be given in an informal, signed letter, provided to the applicant as a scan.

Each mentor can only mentor one applicant per funding phase.

If the mentor is not a (junior) professor or private lecturer at JGU, we ask for brief proof of authorisation to supervise (e.g. in the case of postdocs, evidence of junior research group leadership or similar).

To apply, applicants also need a letter of recommendation from a lecturer at Johannes Gutenberg University or from their home university (for applicants from abroad). The author of the letter of recommendation and the mentor can, but do not have to be identical. The letter of recommendation should address the applicant’s suitability for a doctorate, as well as the chosen topic and the fit with JGU’s areas of specialization.

You can also send the letter of recommendation directly (electronically) to the GSHS office.

During the funding phase, the GSHS offers an interdisciplinary qualification programme and individual advice on all non-specialist issues, as well as promoting interdisciplinary networking between the scholarship holders and members of the graduate school. The support provided by the mentor also plays an important role in achieving the funding objectives during the project phase.

At least two advisory sessions during the funding period must be documented in the scholarship holder’s final report; further advisory sessions are highly desirable.

The following topics should be discussed in regular exchanges between mentor and scholarship holder:

• Further development of the research proposal, especially from an academic point of view
• Individual strategy for obtaining funding: Which (possibly also subject-specific) funding opportunities come into question? In addition to the general scholarship databases and job portals on which the GSHS provides information, where can subject-specific calls for applications be found? Which funding opportunities (foundations, etc.) are best suited to the research project and the candidate’s background? Due to the low funding rates at many funding institutions and the often long duration of the selection process, alternatives to the priority funding sought and possible options for transitional funding should also be considered. Employment as a research assistant should only be considered to bridge funding gaps, but not as a funding option for the entire duration of the doctorate.
• Acquisition of required professional qualifications: Which methodological/language skills are still required for the realisation of the doctoral project and how can these be acquired or deepened?
• Application for acceptance as a doctoral candidate at the respective faculty/rectorate (if not already done). This application should – except in justified cases, e.g. increased need for clarification in the case of binational doctorates – be submitted at the beginning of the funding phase if possible. The additional time required for the recognition of foreign educational qualifications may also need to be taken into consideration.
• Preparation of the supervision agreement. This should be concluded within six months of acceptance as a doctoral candidate at the latest. We also recommend arranging a second supervisor. The GSHS provides checklists for the discussions at the beginning of the doctoral project as well as for further regular supervision meetings which can be used as suggestions for the organization of the discussions.
• Networking of the scholarship holder at the chair/working group/institute (e.g. involvement in doctoral colloquia) and in the academic community (e.g. young researchers’ organisations of professional societies)

In accordance with the provisions of the JGU Scholarship Guidelines the recipient must devote him/herself fully to the purpose of the scholarship. Secondary employment is only permitted if it does not exceed the scope of marginal employment according to Social Security Code IV §8 and if it is reported to both the mentor and the GSHS and there are no objections to the secondary employment. You can send the confirmation that, from your point of view, there are no objections to the secondary employment carried out by the scholarship holder informally by e-mail to the GSHS office.

If the secondary employment is carried out at JGU or University Medicine (e.g. as a research/artistic assistant (Hilfskraft in German)), it must also be clearly distinguishable from the scholarship project for tax and social security reasons. This is usually expressed through confirmation that the superior in the context of the secondary employment and the mentor are not one and the same person. In individual cases, the separation can also be proven in other ways; if in doubt, please consult the GSHS in good time.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the GSHS research proposal scholarship and the application process can be found on our FAQ page. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the GSHS office.