The University of Regensburg is hiring a Pre-Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d, ID 26.198) for the Leibniz ScienceCampus Europe and America in the Modern World in Regensburg, Germany. The part-time post (26 hours per week, TV-L E13) starts on 1 April 2027 and lasts 12 months. Applications close on 30 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full posting and set out every task, requirement and document below.
What Is the Pre-Doctoral Researcher Post in Regensburg?
This is a fixed-term position designed for someone who has a strong doctoral idea but has not yet started a doctorate. During the 12-month contract, the successful candidate is expected to develop the conceptual framework for a funding application, which is submitted during the employment period, with the intention of securing the means to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Regensburg.
Key Employment Details at a Glance
🆔 Job ID: 26.198
🔎 Position: Pre-Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d)
🏛️ Unit: Leibniz ScienceCampus Europe and America in the Modern World
📅 Entry date: 1 April 2027
⏱️ Volume of employment: part-time, 26 hours per week
💶 Salary: TV-L E13
📝 Duration: limited to 12 months (§ 2 Abs. 1 WissZeitVG)
📍 Place of work: Regensburg, Germany
About the Leibniz ScienceCampus Europe and America in the Modern World
The Leibniz ScienceCampus Europe and America in the Modern World is a joint platform of the University of Regensburg (UR) and the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS). It forms a visible research cluster and an interdisciplinary platform for innovative exchanges in the broad research field of area studies.
The ScienceCampus explores both the macro-level of European-American relations and their impact on smaller-scale regions and sociocultural groups. It connects the global present in the Americas and various European regions to the historical development of globalization.
Which Research Themes Does the ScienceCampus Cover?
The proposed doctoral project has to be relevant to the research themes of the ScienceCampus. Its interdisciplinary focus covers:
🔄 Cultural translations
🕊️ Security, peace and conflict studies
🗳️ Political transformations
🧳 Migration studies
🤝 Trade and economic cooperations
🔍 Reflections on the theory and praxis of area studies
Which Disciplines and Regions Can the Doctoral Project Address?
The post offers conditions for developing a doctoral project in the humanities, cultural studies, social sciences, business and economics, and law. The project can relate to diverse regions of Europe and/or North and Latin America, including connections between these areas and their relationship to the global world.
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What You Will Do as a Pre-Doctoral Researcher
✍️ Prepare and submit a funding application for a doctoral degree to be pursued at the University of Regensburg, with the planned dissertation contributing to the thematic focus of the ScienceCampus
📰 Develop your visibility as an early career researcher through publications, participation in conferences, international networking and research trips
🏫 Participate in the doctoral programme of the Leibniz ScienceCampus and the Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies
📣 Take part in the outreach and transfer activities and other ongoing initiatives of the ScienceCampus and its partner institutions in Regensburg
Who Can Apply: The Required Profile
🎖️ An excellent track record, including a postgraduate degree (Magister, Master, Diploma, Staatsexamen or equivalent) in a relevant subject
📄 If you have not yet formally graduated, you should have at least submitted your master's thesis (or equivalent) by the application deadline
🚫 You have not yet started a doctoral degree, either in Germany or abroad
💡 You are proposing an original research project relevant to the research themes of the Leibniz ScienceCampus Europe and America
🧭 You are open to interdisciplinary themes and approaches, including reflections on ideas of space and entanglement
🗣️ You possess skills in the language(s) required to fulfil your proposed research project
What the University of Regensburg Offers
🌱 Ideal conditions for developing an excellent doctoral project
🔬 An excellent and dynamic research environment, including participation in the doctoral programme of the Graduate School
✈️ The opportunity to apply for further funding for research and conference trips
👥 Excellent supervision, including peer mentoring
🌐 A global network of partner institutions
🧸 Family-friendly structures and an equality and equity concept
🏰 A working space in Regensburg, whose Old Town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list
Regensburg Institutions and Partners You Can Work With
The research environment includes cooperation with relevant area studies platforms and institutions in Regensburg:
🏢 IOS
🧩 REAF
🏬 The Spanish Research Centre
🗺️ DIMAS
💭 Denkraum Ukraine
🌾 seeFField
Support for Early Career Researchers at UR
Pre-docs and doctoral researchers at the University of Regensburg are supported through:
🧠 WIN, the Center for Graduate & Postgraduate Researchers
📖 PUR, the Doctoral College of the Philosophical Faculties
💬 The funding advice department
If you are also comparing ways to finance a doctorate in Germany, our guide to DAAD scholarships in Germany explains how that funding route works.
Documents to Include in Your Application for ID 26.198
Applications are submitted online through the application button on the posting and must include:
🗂️ An outline of your proposed doctoral project (3-4 pages), including a project schedule (timeline) and details of why you consider your topic to be of relevance to the ScienceCampus and why you are suited to undertake this project
✉️ A covering letter (up to 1 page)
🪪 An indication of who could serve as your primary supervisor at UR
📇 A CV, including any publications or talks given
📜 Copies of your qualifications (degrees and secondary education, language certificates etc.)
📑 An abstract of your master's thesis
☎️ Contact details of two university lecturers or professors who could provide a reference if requested
Equal Opportunities and Application Costs
🙋 The university supports women and strongly encourages them to apply
🏡 As a certified family-friendly university, it supports employees in balancing family and career
♿ Applicants with a disability as described in SGB IX (§ 2 Abs. 2, 3) will be preferred in case of equal qualifications, and any severe disability should be indicated in the application, if applicable
🧾 Application and interview costs cannot be refunded
Find more jobs and research positions on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I have not finished my master's degree yet?
Yes, provided you have at least submitted your master's thesis (or equivalent) by the application deadline of 30 November 2026. The posting asks for a postgraduate degree in a relevant subject, such as a Magister, Master, Diploma, Staatsexamen or equivalent.
Can I apply if I have already started a PhD?
No. The profile states that you must not yet have started a doctoral degree, either in Germany or abroad. The post is intended as the stage before a doctorate.
Is the Regensburg pre-doctoral position full-time?
No. It is a part-time position of 26 hours per week, paid according to TV-L E13. The contract starts on 1 April 2027 and is limited to 12 months.
What is the main goal of the 12-month contract?
The main goal is to prepare and submit a funding application for a doctoral degree at the University of Regensburg. The successful candidate develops the conceptual framework for this application during the employment period, with the intention of securing the means to pursue the doctorate.
How long should the doctoral project outline be?
The outline should be 3-4 pages long. It must include a project schedule (timeline) and explain why your topic is relevant to the ScienceCampus and why you are suited to undertake the project.
Do I need to name a supervisor when I apply?
Yes. The application has to include an indication of who could serve as your primary supervisor at the University of Regensburg, alongside the project outline and the other listed documents.
Which languages do I need for this position?
The posting does not name one fixed language. It asks for skills in the language or languages required to fulfil your proposed research project, and language certificates can be included with your copies of qualifications.
Will the university cover my application or interview costs?
No. The posting states that application and interview costs cannot be refunded, so applicants should plan for these costs themselves.
Deadline
⏳ 30 November 2026
Links
🔗 Online application: https://karriere.uni-regensburg.de/en/jobposting/82e7f6eff5d221ff20af8e6e65ace492ae24f9890/apply
📌 Job posting: https://karriere.uni-regensburg.de/jobposting/82e7f6eff5d221ff20af8e6e65ace492ae24f9890
👪 Family service information: https://www.uni-regensburg.de/universitaet/jobs-und-karriere/familien-service
📧 Contact for more information: Dr Paul Vickers, paul.vickers@ur.de, +49 941 943-5964
