You must have completed a master’s degree in one of the following disciplines represented by the Institute for Latin American Studies (LAI): Cultural and Social Anthropology, Gender Studies, History, Literatures and Cultures of Latin America, Economics, Political Science or Sociology. Moreover, your research project should be thematically related to the IRTG “Temporalities of Future - Dynamics of Aspiration and Anticipation”, and specifically to one of the following research lines: protagonists of the future, projections into the future or processes that affect the future.

The next call for applications is expected to be published in summer 2021. The selected PhD candidates will start their doctorate in May 2022.

PhD candidates of the IRTG have an employment contract with Freie Universität Berlin. There are no scholarships.

You will receive a non-extendable, three-year employment contract. You must complete your doctoral thesis during this time.

Finding a supervisor is your responsibility. As with your master’s degree, the supervisor of your doctoral project has to be from one of our disciplines. On our website, you can find all our disciplines as well as the contact information of our professors and lecturers. Please contact them directly.

No, people from all over the world are welcome to apply for the IRTG. We encourage anyone who is interested and meets the criteria.

Very good English and Spanish writing and speaking skills are mandatory. However, you can write your thesis in German, English, Spanish or Portuguese. You have to discuss this in advance with your supervisor.

Freie Universität Berlin is a public university. It charges some fees and contributions, which are around €313 per semester. This amount includes a semester ticket for public transportation in Berlin. The legal justification for these fees and contributions may be viewed here (in German and English).

Due to the COVID-19 regulations in place, the IRTG ‘Temporalities of Future’ has moved all of its calendar of events online. At the moment all form of contact, as well as all events, are taking place through an online meeting platform or through e-mail. Although there are currently some initial and cautious steps towards a new opening of the university, we cannot yet say when face-to-face events will actually be possible again.

Please bear in mind that we have to follow orders of the university and that the corresponding regulations are continuously being updated. For more information on this, please follow this link.