1. Requirements

In order to be admitted to the Graduate School Empirical and Applied Linguistics, you must hold  the university degree of Magister or Master (as defined in the PhD. regulations of the Philosophical Faculty or an equivalent degree (Diploma, Staatsexamen, Maîtrise). As part of this degree, you must have written a comprehensive paper (Magisterarbeit, Master's Thesis, Honour's Thesis) on a linguistics topic for which you received at least the equivalent of the German grade 2.0.

Further requirements are as follows:

• the necessary language skills according to your chosen doctoral subject; missing language skills can be acquired during the PhD program,

• a CV and an outline of your planned dissertation topic, demonstrating your special suitability for studying at the Graduate School (selection interviews can be scheduled in unclear cases)

The applicants will be selected by the faculty board of the Graduate School  Empirical and Applied Linguistics. The board will convene shortly after the admission deadline.

All students should at least understand written and spoken German and English well enough to be able to follow lectures and to read scientific papers. Should these language skills be missing, intensive language courses should be taken in order to meet these minimum requirements as quickly as possible.

Being able to actively speak German and English is not mandatory because you can meet all course and study requirements, including writing the dissertation, with just one language. However, without some basic communicative skills in spoken German, life in Münster will not really be fun.

2.    Admission

 

2.1 Application Procedure for German Applicants

In order to apply, the following documents in electronic form need to be handed in (preferably as PDFs; please scan official documents):

1. proof of your previously earned degree (Magister, Master, etc.),
2. proof of the necessary language skills,
3. CV,
4. an outline of the planned dissertation with a length of approximately 2000 words (when writing in English),
5. specification of the subject area/discipline where you wish to be awarded the PhD (General Linguistics, Greek Philology, etc.) as well as a suggestion for the members of your superversion panel.

 
It is recommended that applications include one or two letters of reference from professors showing that you are capable of independently pursuing academic work.

We strongly suggest that all applicants contact possible supervisors before applying. Your admission to the Graduate School depends on whether there are two qualified faculty members willing and able to supervise your planned dissertation.

 

2.2 Application Procedure for Foreign Applicants

The application procedure consists of two steps. Please therefore take note of the following application instructions.

Step 1: Please contact the coordinator of the Graduate School Empirical and Applied Linguistics by email at least three months before the application deadline (summer term: 30 August, winter term: 30 February). Please attach an outline of your planned Ph.D. project as well as a short CV (length: one page each) to the email and suggest a panel of supervisors for your project. Your proposal will then be forwarded to the faculty members you have named. Please do not hand in your full application papers (Step 2) until two Ph.D. supervisors have been found for your project in this way! Your admission to the Graduate School depends on whether there are two qualified faculty members willing and able to supervise your planned dissertation. Applications by candidates who have not contacted potential supervisors in this way can, unfortunately, not be considered.

Step 2: Once two faculty members of the Graduate School Empirical and Applied Linguistics have declared themselves willing to be your supervisor, then you can email your complete application papers to linguistics.phd@uni-muenster.de (preferably as PDFs; please scan official documents).

1. proof of your previously earned degree (Magister, Master, etc.),
2. proof of the necessary language skills,
3. CV,
4. an outline of the planned dissertation with a length of approximately 2000 words (when writing in English),
5. specification of the subject area/discipline where you wish to be awarded the PhD (General Linguistics, Greek Philology, etc.) as well as a suggestion for the members of your superversion panel.

It is recommended that applications include one or two letters of reference from professors showing that you are capable of independently pursuing academic work.

3. Application Deadline

Application deadline is on May 30 for winter semester and November 30 for summer semester.

4. Address for Applying

Please send your application to: Linguistics.phd@ (comlete with: uni-muenster.de)

5. Registration

Successful applicants must register for the PhD. program at the Registrar's Office (Studierendensekretariat)

Studierendensekretariat der Universität Münster
Schlossplatz 2
48149 Münster

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 10.00am - 12.30pm
Monday to Thursday: 1.30pm - 3.00pm

You can also call the Service Hotline 0251/83-20001 during the following hours:
Monday to Thursday: 1.30pm – 3:30pm
Friday: 8.30am – 10.30am

Email: Studierendensekretariat@   (complete with uni-muenster.de)

The website of the Registrar's Office contains important information for both domestic and foreign students.

http://www.uni-muenster.de/studium/einschreibung/index.html