Are you looking for a paid PhD position in Germany that combines doctoral research with interdisciplinary academic training? The University of Marburg PhD Scholarship 2027 offers an excellent opportunity for highly qualified graduates to pursue doctoral research in the field of gender and international criminal law.
Philipps-Universität Marburg is recruiting 10 doctoral researcher candidates for the DFG Research Training Group (RTG) 3159, titled Gender and Gendering in Contexts of International Criminal Law. The positions are hosted by the International Centre for War Crimes Trials (ICWC) and are designed for researchers who want to investigate how gender influences international criminal justice, legal institutions, and societies.
Unlike a conventional scholarship that provides only a fixed stipend, these opportunities are paid doctoral researcher positions. Successful candidates will be employed by the University of Marburg at TV-H pay grade E13, 75% of regular working hours. The contracts are planned to run for up to four years, from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2031.
For international students and researchers interested in law, political science, gender studies, peace and conflict studies, history, sociology, and related disciplines, this programme provides an opportunity to develop an independent PhD project while becoming part of an internationally engaged research community.
The University of Marburg PhD positions are part of a structured research programme that brings together researchers from different academic backgrounds. Rather than working on a doctoral project in isolation, successful applicants will join a cohort of doctoral researchers examining interconnected questions surrounding gender and international criminal law.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Philipps-Universität Marburg |
| Location | Marburg, Germany |
| Research Group | DFG Research Training Group 3159 |
| Research Theme | Gender and Gendering in Contexts of International Criminal Law |
| Positions Available | 10 |
| Position Type | Paid Doctoral Researcher |
| Salary | TV-H E13, 75% |
| Contract Period | 1 February 2027 – 31 January 2031 |
| Duration | Up to 4 years |
| Language | English |
| English Requirement | C1 CEFR |
| Application Deadline | 4 October 2026 |
| Host Institution | International Centre for War Crimes Trials |
The programme is particularly suitable for candidates who want to connect their disciplinary background with broader questions about international criminal justice and gender.
Founded in 1527, Philipps-Universität Marburg is one of Germany's historic universities and has approximately 22,000 students. Its long academic tradition is combined with research across numerous disciplines.
The University of Marburg provides an international environment for teaching and research. Its academic structure allows researchers to collaborate across traditional disciplinary boundaries, making it an appropriate setting for a research training group examining complex questions involving law, society, history, politics, and gender.
The doctoral positions are connected to the International Centre for War Crimes Trials, which provides an important academic setting for research into international criminal justice and related issues.
For doctoral candidates, this means the opportunity is not simply about obtaining a PhD. It is also about participating in a research environment where legal and social questions can be examined from multiple perspectives.
The DFG Research Training Group 3159 focuses on Gender and Gendering in Contexts of International Criminal Law. Its research agenda examines the ways gender operates within international criminal justice, institutions, legal processes, and societies.
Gender can influence how crimes are understood, documented, prosecuted, and remembered. It can also affect institutions and the experiences of individuals involved in international criminal proceedings.
The interdisciplinary nature of the research group allows doctoral researchers to investigate these questions using different academic approaches. A project may draw on le
gal analysis, political science, history, sociology, gender studies, peace and conflict research, or another related discipline.This makes the programme particularly attractive to applicants who are interested in research questions that cannot be adequately addressed from one disciplinary perspective alone.
The University of Marburg PhD Scholarship 2027 provides several benefits that make the positions attractive to prospective doctoral researchers.
One of the most important advantages is that the positions are paid employment opportunities rather than conventional unpaid doctoral placements.
Successful candidates will be employed by Philipps-Universität Marburg at TV-H E13, 75% of regular working hours. The position therefore follows the public-sector salary framework applicable in the German state of Hesse.
The exact monthly amount received can depend on factors such as the applicable salary table and individual employment circumstances. Applicants should therefore consult the official vacancy and relevant salary information rather than assuming a fixed monthly stipend.
The contracts are planned to run from 1 February 2027 until 31 January 2031, offering up to four years of doctoral employment.
This timeframe can provide candidates with the opportunity to develop their research question, conduct detailed investigation, participate in academic activities, publish research where appropriate, and complete their doctoral thesis.
Doctoral researchers will receive structured supervision through an individually composed Thesis Advisory Committee.
This arrangement can provide a broader perspective on the research project and support candidates as their dissertation develops. Instead of relying exclusively on a single supervisor, the advisory structure can provide feedback from researchers with complementary expertise.
Each doctoral researcher will have access to an individual qualification and supervision programme tailored to their doctoral project.
This is particularly valuable for early-career researchers because doctoral training involves more than writing a dissertation. Researchers also need opportunities to strengthen academic writing, presentation, research methodology, collaboration, and professional skills.
The research training group brings together researchers from different disciplines. This creates opportunities to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and develop research approaches that cross traditional academic boundaries.
Candidates will also benefit from international academic engagement and professional development activities associated with the research programme.
Applicants should carefully review the requirements before preparing their application. The programme is intended for academically strong candidates who are prepared to undertake independent doctoral research.
Applicants must have completed an above-average university degree equivalent to a Master's degree, state examination, or comparable qualification.
The degree should normally be relevant to the proposed research project. Suitable backgrounds may include:
Applicants from other fields may also be considered when their academic background and proposed research connect meaningfully with the research themes of RTG 3159.
Candidates must demonstrate English proficiency at C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Proof of English proficiency should be included with the application. Strong English skills are important because English is central to academic reading, writing, research communication, seminars, and interdisciplinary collaboration within the programme.
German proficiency is not an absolute prerequisite for applicants. However, willingness to learn German is considered an advantage.
This makes the programme accessible to international candidates who have strong English skills but have not yet achieved advanced German proficiency.
Prior knowledge of international law, international criminal law, transitional justice, or gender studies can strengthen an application.
However, applicants should not assume that they need to have studied every one of these areas. The key consideration is whether the proposed doctoral project fits the research focus of the training group and demonstrates strong academic potential.
Academic qualifications are important, but successful doctoral research also requires particular personal and professional qualities.
Applicants should demonstrate:
A strong application should therefore communicate not only what the applicant has studied but also why their proposed PhD research belongs within RTG 3159.
Applicants should begin preparing their documents well before the deadline. A competitive application should clearly connect the candidate's previous academic experience, proposed dissertation, and the research objectives of the training group.
Confirm that you have an eligible Master's-level or equivalent qualification and that your academic background relates to the research themes of the programme.
Prepare a focused dissertation proposal addressing a research question relevant to gender and international criminal law.
The proposal should demonstrate that you understand the research problem and can develop an independent academic project.
Applicants must provide evidence of C1-level English proficiency according to the CEFR.
Make sure the required proof is included in the application package.
Ensure that all required documents are complete and that your academic records and research proposal clearly demonstrate your suitability for doctoral research.
The application deadline is 4 October 2026. Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day because incomplete applications or missing documents can affect consideration.
The positions are expected to begin on 1 February 2027, so applicants should also ensure that they are available to start around this date.
Applications should be submitted through the official University of Marburg vacancy portal.
Apply on the official University of Marburg website
Germany is an attractive destination for doctoral researchers because many PhD opportunities are structured as employment rather than traditional scholarship arrangements.
The University of Marburg opportunity illustrates this model. Candidates are recruited as doctoral researchers and receive employment under the relevant public-sector framework.
For international applicants, a paid PhD position can provide a more structured route into doctoral research while offering access to university resources, academic supervision, research networks, and professional development.
The Marburg programme adds another important advantage: an interdisciplinary research environment focused on a globally significant subject.
There are 10 paid doctoral researcher positions within DFG Research Training Group 3159. The cohort structure allows doctoral researchers to work independently while participating in a shared academic environment.
The positions are scheduled to begin on 1 February 2027. Contracts are planned to continue until 31 January 2031, providing up to four years of doctoral employment.
Successful applicants will be employed at TV-H pay grade E13 at 75% of regular working hours. This is a salaried doctoral researcher position rather than a conventional fixed-stipend scholarship.
The opportunity is best described as a paid doctoral researcher position. Candidates are employed by the University of Marburg under the stated TV-H E13, 75% employment arrangement.
Applicants need an above-average completed university qualification equivalent to a Master's degree, state examination, or comparable qualification.
No. German is not an absolute prerequisite. However, willingness to learn German is considered an advantage.
Applicants need C1-level English proficiency according to the CEFR and must provide proof of English proficiency with their application.
Yes. The research group is explicitly interdisciplinary. Relevant backgrounds include law, political science, sociology, gender studies, peace and conflict studies, history, theology, economics, modern German literature, and related fields.
No. On-site participation in the RTG core programme is mandatory. Researchers will be based in Marburg and are expected to participate physically in central programme activities.