Ph.D. program

We are thrilled that you are considering pursuing your Ph.D. with us. Our program offers an exciting opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research and scholarship in a vibrant and supportive academic community. We believe that our Ph.D. program will provide you with the skills, knowledge, experiences, and networks necessary to succeed as a scholar and researcher in the field of intercultural communication, education, and business.

We highly recommend that you prepare for the application process well in advance. Make sure that your application materials are carefully crafted and well-written. The complete application documents include the following:

Your CV, transcripts of records, BA and MA certificate, if available, recommendations, certificates of employment, etc.
A motivation letter (2 pages) addressing why you will pursue a Ph.D. and be a good fit for our team, your career goals, strengths, expertise, etc.
A research statement (2 pages) outlining your research interests, the most relevant theories underlying the topics you are interested in, and the methodologies you are skilled in. You can also showcase your previous research projects or papers in this statement, if there are any.
A research proposal (4-5 pages) for your envisioned Ph.D. study. The proposal consists of a literature review on a chosen research topic, the research questions you aim to examine, the research design, including methodologies you would employ to address the research questions, the aim of the study, and a reference list.
A statement of funding (1 page) answering how you will fund your Ph.D. study and which support you would expect from the supervisor in funding acquisition (e.g., application for a scholarship). If you intend to finance your study by doing a part-time job, please state how long you plan to study and how much time you will devote weekly to your research.

Finally, we encourage you to use our program’s resources or support for prospective Ph.D. applicants. This may include attending our research colloquiums, speaking with current Ph.D. students and faculty members, or participating in research seminars and conferences.

We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about your potential as a scholar and researcher. Please submit the application documents via email to icb@anglistik.uni-giessen.de. After reviewing them all, we will get back to you and discuss further application procedures.

Prof. Dr. Xun Luo
Chair of Intercultural Communication and Business (ICB)