Graduate School of East Asian Studies offers a structured 3-year PhD program with a regional focus on East Asia (China, Japan, Korea). Doctoral dissertations at GEAS are expected to analyze modern or contemporary East Asia in the field of politics, society, economy, culture, law, or history.

Successful applicants will have an above-average master’s degree in either area studies (Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies) or a discipline represented at the Graduate School with a focus on East Asia. While applicants are not expected to contact potential supervisors before their application, they are highly encouraged to review the profiles of GEAS* faculty to ensure the compatibility of their project with GEAS professors’ research profiles. The language of communication is English. Successful candidates will also have language skills in an East Asian Language (Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) at a level of B2 or higher.

The graduate school does not offer long-term institutional funding. Applicants are required to apply for institutional funding at the same time as they apply for the doctoral program. Up to two candidates with Chinese citizenship can be nominated for funding through the cooperation of Freie Universität and the Chinese Scholarship Council through the FUB-CSC PhD scholarship program. Additionally, three outstanding candidates can be nominated for a 6-month Starting Grant from the graduate school.

The application period ends 15 November 2024. Please register and apply online through the Dahlem Research School Application Portal. You can find the current 2024 Announcement here.

For admission, please see the Admission FAQs.