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Two Germany PhD scholarships close within five weeks of each other. The University of Erfurt accepts applications until 23:59 CET on 24 November 2026, according to its official call. A nine-month research stay run by the ABCD-Centre closes on 31 October 2026, according to a report on the programme. Both reward early preparation, and neither suits every applicant.
This guide
- Erfurt doctoral scholarships
- ABCD research stay
- Other German deadlines
- Which one fits you
- How to prepare
- German PhD funding FAQ
Erfurt: three years of funding from April 2027
The University of Erfurt says its scholarships run from 1 April 2027. Funding is €1,400 a month for three years, extendable by one further year. A family allowance of €300 applies for one child and €150 for each additional child. The scholarships support doctoral projects within the Erfurt Doctoral and Postdoctoral Programme, which is run by certified research training groups or the Max-Weber-Kolleg.
The call page does not list selection criteria or application documents. It points to the university’s announcements page and names a doctorate counselling contact. It also does not say whether international applicants are eligible, so ask the counselling office before you invest time.
The ABCD research stay: nine months, two places
The ABCD-Centre, which works on water and climate adaptation, plans to support two doctoral students, the report says. Funding is €1,200 a month for accommodation and living costs, up to €105 a month for insurance, a travel grant of up to €1,000 and up to €1,000 for research materials. Hosts are RWTH Aachen University, Technische Universität Dresden or UNU Resource Nexus.
Eligibility is narrower. Applicants must be full-time doctoral students at a university in a developing country and must have started their PhD within the last three years. The research topic must match the centre’s priorities, such as water infrastructure and urban water extremes. The article gives no official ABCD website, only a link to a document on LinkedIn’s media domain. Treat the details as unconfirmed until you find the centre’s own call.
Other German deadlines on the October calendar
A list compiled by Global South Opportunities on 8 October shows more German options. It lists IMPRS-IS PhD positions with a 15 November deadline and a University of Bremen DAAD marine biology master’s scholarship closing on 15 October. It is an aggregator, so verify each date with the provider. For UK alternatives, see our guide to the Gates Cambridge deadlines.
Which Germany PhD scholarships fit you
Consider a hypothetical doctoral student, Hamza, a Pakistani civil engineering researcher in year two of a PhD on urban flooding. If his university qualifies under the programme’s definition, the ABCD stay could suit him, because his topic matches the water priorities. A researcher in the humanities with a proposal tied to a research training group would look at Erfurt instead. Hamza is an illustration, not a real applicant.
How to prepare for Germany PhD scholarships
Start with the ABCD file, because it closes first. It asks for a single PDF with a two- to three-page motivation statement, a sample scientific paper and a CV. It also needs a support letter from your home institution, an enrolment certificate, a transcript dated within six months and a passport copy. Agree the research plan with your supervisor before you apply. For Erfurt, email the counselling office this week and request the full call. Remember that German study also involves health insurance, which the DAAD says international students must hold.
Planning the move itself? Our visa eligibility checker can help you test your options, and our note on the delayed ETIAS launch explains short-stay travel to the Schengen area.
Research priorities and the Erfurt call page
The ABCD report lists five priority areas: water infrastructure and digitalisation, ecosystem resilience, urban water extremes, unconventional water resources, and sustainable materials and buildings. Applicants should also describe how they would contribute to the centre’s outreach work. One caution on Erfurt: its page is dated September 2026 in the news item but shows a last update of 19 August 2026. The page does not explain the gap, so check the full call before you rely on the deadline.
German PhD funding FAQ
What is the Erfurt deadline?
The University of Erfurt states 24 November 2026 at 23:59 CET, with scholarships taking effect from 1 April 2027.
How much does Erfurt pay?
€1,400 a month for three years, extendable by one year, plus €300 for one child and €150 for each additional child.
Who can apply for the ABCD stay?
Per the report, full-time doctoral students at a university in a developing country who started their PhD within the last three years.
When does the ABCD call close?
31 October 2026, according to the report. Confirm it with the centre, because no official ABCD site was linked.
Is the information on this page official?
The Erfurt details come from the university’s own call. The ABCD and aggregator details are secondary, so confirm them with the providers.
Sources
- University of Erfurt — Call for applications for PhD scholarships. https://www.uni-erfurt.de/en/research/news/research-news/news-detail/call-for-applications-for-phd-scholarships
- Arts Lounge NYC — ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships 2027 (8 September 2026). https://artsloungenyc.com/2026/09/08/abcd-future-environmental-leaders-scholarships-2027-9-month-phd-research-stay-in-germany/
- Global South Opportunities — 55 Master’s and PhD scholarships you can apply for now (8 October 2026). https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2026/10/01/october/
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