Admissions

Unlike Ph.D. programs in the United States, this program does not include a preliminary phase ending with a preliminary or comprehensive exam. This means that no automatic master’s degree will be awarded and that students will not have time to develop their dissertation topics while enrolled in the program. Instead, admission to the Heidelberg Ph.D. program in American Studies requires a well developed and advanced concept of a research project.

To apply successfully, a candidate needs to fulfill not only the general entrance requirements but she or he also needs to write a meaningful proposal. The proposal should outline the guiding questions of the dissertation project while embedding them in current academic debates. It should also show that the dissertation will make an original and important contribution to a particular field of research. The proposal should also list the source materials that will be used and provide a realistic timetable for the completion of the project.

Applicants need a letter of intent from a professor at Heidelberg University stating his/her willingness to supervise the research project, and two letters of recommendation that not only assess the applicant’s academic qualifications but also evaluate the proposed dissertation project.

Enrollment in the Ph.D. program in American Studies takes place annually. The next deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2013.

Downloads:

• Overview of all requirements for your application
• Application Form
• Form for Letters of Recommendation
• Letter of Intent