The International Doctorate Programme “European Urban Studies” at the Bauhaus University in Weimar is focusing research on the transformation of European cities with a focus on (multidimensional) housing policy, in the context of current societal challenges – such as climate change, social fragmentation, spatial disparity, cultural differentiation, immigration and the transformation of the real estate economy – and what these challenges imply for the cities of Europe.
Cities in Europe are being confronted with new challenges in the face of increasing social inequalities, demographic and lifestyle changes and expectations for ecological development. These processes require new, innovative approaches to urban development which build upon existing urban structures. Housing in urban areas represents a central cross-disciplinary issue, within which societal problems – which have decisive effects on individuals and their quality of life – can be seen more acutely. The topic of urban housing is thus an area of research which comprises both abstract considerations about societal forms of cohabitation, and how politics and urban planning implement these ideas, as well as concrete, spatial-morphological, architectural and economic dimensions of urban planning. Understanding the complexity of this area of research, a comprehensive analysis must go hand in hand with recognizing the need for alternative concepts for housing policy in the fragmented city.
Research Areas:
With this call, the International Doctorate Programme “European Urban Studies” is concentrating on research projects which address one of the following research areas specifically, but which can also be linked to at least one of the other research areas.
Housing Policy and Urban Development:
At the focus of this research area is social housing provision and how it is developing in the context of a transformation to the welfare state and urban development. Research projects will be considered which look at the functional, institutional and urban-spatial transformation of social housing planning.
Housing Forms and Social Diversity
In this context, research should focus both on particular social groups’ specific needs with respect to housing forms, as well as on inquiries into innovative housing concepts.
Urban Landscape Living:
Urban landscapes are explored as complex, socioeconomic and ecological patterns of relations. This research focus aims to find future-oriented and landscape-related housing and forms of living in the context of current urban landscapes, as well as sustainable forms of urban development and city-regional development based in use of open space and landscapes.
Housing, urban renewal and heritage:
This research area focuses on contemporary urban redevelopment projects with a focus on housing. On the one hand this might comprise an analysis of the socio-spatial and urbanistic, the political and housing policy contexts and effects; on the other hand, questions on how to deal with existing urban structures and on the discursive (re-)negotiation of urban heritage shall be explored.
Participating Chairs
Prof. Dr. Frank Eckardt (Coordinating Chair), Urban Studies and Social Research
Prof. Dr. Barbara Schönig, Urban Planning
Prof. Dr. Sigrun Langner, Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning
Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniela Zupan, European Cities and Urban Heritage
Admission Requirements:
At least a good Master`s degree (M.A.) or equivalent from a recognised university in a subject related to spatial research as well as a very good previous academic performance are required for admission to the doctorate programme. Candidates must be proficient in English, and German is strongly recommended.
Submitting the Application:
Applications for admission should be submitted via the online tool of Bauhaus University. Applications or documents of application submitted by fax or e-mail cannot be accepted.
Scholarship:
We would like to point out that the Institute of European Urban Studies does not supply scholarships. Here you can find more information on scholarships.
In the context of the DAAD „Graduate School Scholarship Programme“, two applicants will be nominated for DAAD scholarships for foreign doctorate students. The scholarships will begin in the Winter Semester 2020/21 and fund research for 3-4 years. Please refer to the information at the bottom of this call and the information on the DAAD application process
Application Documents:
The following documents are required for application (unstapled and no data media such as CDs or disks, no folders):
1. Application Form: Fill in our online application form first. After submitting it online, print it out and submit a signed copy together with the other application documents in paper form.
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Letter of Motivation (one page)
4. Research Proposal (Exposé): A detailed description (ca. 5 pages) of your intended research should outline the topic of your doctoral dissertation and your research methods. It should reflect on the state of the art research in the field you are interested in. Be sure to specifically point out possible field research abroad that will be required for your research. Finally, a bibliography of books and research articles, which are most relevant for your topic, should be attached to the exposé. You can download a form for the research proposal here.
5. Certificates and Transcripts: The application must include a copy of the student’s university entrance qualification. Complete and official certificates and transcripts of all previous college or university study must be submitted. The original or certified copies of transcripts have to be provided during the enrollment process the latest. Documents in languages other than English or German must be accompanied by officially certified translations into English (or German).
Official certifications can be carried out by a notary public, the German Embassy or Consulate in your home country, and the institutions that originally issued the document. The certificates and transcripts should include the grade point average, the grades received in each subject each year, the number of weeks and the number of hours per week that each subject was studied.
6. Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation from academic mentors of your home university. You can download a form of the letter of recommendation under this link.
7. Language Skills: Applicants who are not native speakers must prove/document their proficiency in the English language. Exceptions are possible in the case of a successful completion of an English-speaking degree programme in the past.
Applicants who are not German native speakers are strongly advised to improve their proficiency in German (TestDAF Stufe 4, „Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung“ offered by the Goethe-Institute or comparable certificate) to take full advantage of the programme.
Intensive language workshops and semester courses are offered in Weimar for those applicants whose English or German has not quite reached the required level of proficiency.
If you are nominated for the DAAD scholarship, there is a two-step procedure: 1. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will officially nominate you and 2. You will be requested to fill out an online application and send in application documents to the DAAD. We will inform you in more detail about this procedure if you are nominated. Potential scholarship nominees will be informed at the end of March 2020.
Scholarship:
The scholarship is generally provided for three years. In exceptional cases (decided upon by the DAAD regional programme director), the scholarship can be extended to four years. Following each year, continued funding is dependent on positive reports by the scholarship holder and the supporting doctorate programme representatives.
The scholarship provided by the DAAD includes the following financial support:
– a monthly scholarship, currently 1.200 Euro
– a travel stipend (amount depends on country of residence)
– insurance
– research and study assistance (for materials, books)
– in special cases, family assistance
– language course
More detailed information regarding financial provisions of the scholarship can be found on the website www.daad.de under “Country Information”.
Contact:
Brigitte Zamzow, M.A.
Academic Coordinator
International Doctorate Programme European Urban Studies (IPP-EU)
Research Group Urban Heritage (UH)
German-Argentinian Doctorate Training Group „Urban and Regional Research“
Address:
Belvederer Allee 4
D-99423 Weimar
Germany
Tel. 03643-58 2645
Fax. 03643-58 2642
E-Mail: brigitte.zamzow@uni-weimar.de
