Hans Böckler Foundation (HBS) Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarships 2026 in Germany
- Omran Aburayya
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
If you are an outstanding international doctoral candidate in economics seeking an opportunity to advance your research in Germany, applications are now open for the Hans Böckler Foundation (HBS) Dieter Schumacher International PhD-Scholarship 2026. This programme is tailored for young scholars under the age of 30 who are eager to explore issues such as labour markets, income distribution, financial markets or fiscal/monetary policy — all approached from an employee- and work-oriented perspective. Positioning you within Germany’s vibrant research environment, the scholarship offers a 12-24 month stay at a German university or research institute and supports your integration into the local research context. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Hans Böckler Scholarship Summary
Location: Germany — placement at a recognised German university or research institute.
Host institution: Any German university or research institute that provides an invitation letter from your prospective German supervisor.
Study level: PhD / Doctoral research stay (not the entire PhD programme but a substantive 12-24 month research stay) in Economics.
Target group: International doctoral candidates in economics under the age of 30.
Fields of Research: Economics, specifically research on fiscal and monetary policy, labour markets, income distribution, financial markets or other topics relevant from an employee’s/work perspective.
Value & coverage: Monthly stipend of EUR 1,550 for living expenses + annual travel allowance of EUR 1,400 for the duration of the scholarship.
Duration: 12 or 24 months.
Application deadlines: Typically 28 February and 30 July each year.
Start date: The stay begins following selection; in practice this may align with either the summer or winter semester depending on planning with the German host.
📚 Scholarship Overview
The Dieter Schumacher scholarship by HBS emphasises research in economics from the vantage point of work, labour markets and social justice. It is rooted in the foundation’s core value of “co-determination” and commitment to labour-related research (since HBS is affiliated with the German Trade Unions Confederation – DGB).
Successful applicants will spend 12–24 months in Germany working on their doctoral research within a German academic context. They must secure a host supervisor who provides an invitation letter and helps integrate them into the German research environment. Applicants must also demonstrate social, political or cultural engagement aligned with HBS’s values.
While the scholarship does not appear to include full tuition coverage (since the stay is research-oriented rather than a full doctoral funding), the stipend and travel allowance significantly reduce financial barriers.
💲 Benefits
Monthly living stipend of EUR 1,550 throughout the funded period.
Annual travel allowance of EUR 1,400.
Access to the German host institution’s research infrastructure, academic supervision, and network of scholars in your field.
Opportunity to deepen your international research experience in Germany, enhance your academic and professional profile, and build connections in European research.
Mentoring/integration support via the German host supervisor (and implicitly via HBS’s researcher network).
ℹ️ What is not explicitly covered (so verify):
The scholarship does not state direct coverage of health insurance, dependants, or full tuition (the focus is on a research stay). You should clarify these with your host institution.
Relocation costs beyond the travel allowance may need additional funding.
The scholarship is for a fixed 12 or 24-month stint, so you should plan how it fits your larger PhD timeline.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply you must meet these key criteria:
Be enrolled (or have secured enrollment) in a PhD programme in Economics.
Be under the age of 30 at the time of application.
Your proposed research should align with the foundation’s focus: labour markets, income distribution, monetary & fiscal policy, financial markets, or other employee-related topics.
Submit:
A 3-page description of your doctoral project.
A 3-page research paper outlining topic, questions, methodology and goals for Germany stay.
Invitation letter from the German host supervisor / institution.
Letter of recommendation from your home-institution PhD supervisor.
CV in table form.
Diploma (or certificate) qualifying you to pursue a doctorate.
Completed application form (downloadable from HBS website).
Applicants are expected to show social, political or cultural engagement and share values of the foundation (e.g., about work, social justice, co-determination).
📝 Application Procedure
Prepare your documents:
Project description (3 pages)
Research methodology paper (3 pages)
Invitation letter from German host supervisor
Recommendation letter from home institution supervisor
Table-form CV
Diploma or certificate
Completed and signed application form
Submit your application either by post or via signed PDF by e-mail to: bewerbung@boeckler.de (or postal address indicated). For data protection reasons, encrypted documents are recommended.
Deadlines: Ensure submission by either 28 February or 30 July for the year of your intended start.
Selection process: The HBS department for study-promotion conducts preliminary selection; final decisions made by the HBS PhD committee.
ℹ️ Additional Information & Tips
Ensure you secure a strong German host supervisor early (invitation letter is mandatory) — this is often a bottleneck.
While the scholarship is for 12–24 months, you should plan how it fits into your larger PhD timeline (which you intend to pursue). Clarify with your home institution how this research stay will integrate with the rest of your doctoral programme.
Social engagement and alignment with foundation values matter: emphasise your interest in labour/worker issues, and perhaps connect safety engineering research with workers’ rights, workplace safety, labour welfare etc.
Note that although the scholarship is open to international candidates from all countries, HBS particularly encourages applicants from the global south — this might strengthen chances if you emphasise your background and motivations.
