DAAD PhD Scholarships 2026 — Fully Funded Ancient Languages and Texts Program in Berlin 🇩🇪
Are you fascinated by ancient civilizations, languages, religious studies, or historical manuscripts? This could be the life-changing opportunity you’ve been waiting for!
The Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP), funded by the prestigious German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is now offering two fully funded PhD scholarships for the 2026–2030 session under the Ancient Languages and Texts (ALT) program at BerGSAS (Berliner Antike-Kolleg) in Berlin, Germany.
What’s the ALT Program About?
The Ancient Languages and Texts (ALT) doctoral program takes you deep into the literary and documentary treasures of ancient cultures. You’ll explore inscriptions, papyri, manuscripts, and historical texts while blending traditional philology with modern digital humanities, cultural studies, and linguistic theory.
It’s perfect if you’re passionate about understanding how ancient knowledge shapes our modern world — and you want to do it in one of Europe’s most vibrant academic cities.
🎓 What Does the DAAD Scholarship Include?
If you’re selected, here’s what you’ll get:
✅ A 4-year fully funded DAAD PhD fellowship
✅ €1,300 monthly stipend
✅ Full health, accident, and liability insurance in Germany
✅ Travel allowance to cover your trip to Germany
✅ €1,000 per year for study materials
✅ Extra funding for rent or family support, if needed
✅ A German language course before you start your PhD
✅ Funding for short research trips abroad (up to 25% of your study time)
You’ll also be enrolled at either Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin or Freie Universität Berlin — both world-leading universities in humanities and ancient studies.
✏️ Who Can Apply?
Wondering if you qualify? Check this quick checklist:
✅ You must not be a German citizen
✅ You must hold (or be finishing) a Master’s degree (MA, MSt, MSc) in a relevant field, such as:
✅ You must not have already completed a PhD
✅ You must not have lived in Germany continuously since before December 1, 2024
✅ You must have completed your Master’s after March 1, 2020
✅ You need to show proficiency in ancient languages related to your research
✅ You need English at minimum B2 level (IELTS/TOEFL). If applying to Freie Universität Berlin, you’ll need C1 level English for admission.
🔍 What Will You Research?
Your work can span ancient inscriptions, scrolls, and texts — blending traditional methods with cutting-edge digital tools. This is an amazing chance to combine your passion for ancient cultures with new technology and fresh perspectives.
🗓️ How to Apply & Key Dates
📌 Applications Open: Now!
📌 Application Deadline: 15 October 2025, 00:00 CEWT
📌 Program Starts: 1 October 2026
📌 Interviews: You’ll hear back about interviews within 2 months of the deadline.
📌 Final Selection: After nomination by BerGSAS, final selection is done by DAAD.
👉 Apply here: BerGSAS ALT PhD Program
🚀 Ready to Dive into Ancient Worlds?
If you’ve always dreamed of uncovering lost languages, decoding ancient scripts, or studying sacred texts — this is your chance to do it tuition-free in Berlin, with all your living expenses covered!
📌 Pro Tip: Start working on your research proposal and gather your recommendation letters now — the deadline will arrive faster than you think.
Know someone who’d love this? Share this post! Amazing opportunities are meant to be passed on.
Good luck — your journey into the ancient world starts here! 🏛️✨
