If you see yourself influencing how employment systems and social policies are designed across Europe, the IAB Doctoral Scholarships 2026 in Germany offer a rare, high-impact academic path. This fully funded PhD opportunity places you at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), one of Germany’s most influential policy research institutions, while you complete your doctorate through leading German universities. Instead of limiting your work to theory, you actively contribute to real labour market research that informs policymakers. For you as a master’s graduate aiming for an international research career, this programme combines academic depth, policy relevance, and long-term professional credibility in one of Europe’s strongest research environments.

What This Opportunity Really Offers You

This doctoral scholarship is structured to let you focus fully on research while building strong academic and professional foundations. You receive a monthly scholarship of €1,650, along with a €130 research allowance to support academic work. Additional funding is available for international research visits and conferences, ensuring your work reaches a global audience. Beyond financial support, you gain direct access to Germany’s most comprehensive employment and social security datasets. Selected candidates may also work as paid junior researchers at IAB, allowing you to combine doctoral research with hands-on policy analysis experience.

The GradAB doctoral programme is designed for interdisciplinary labour market research that combines theory with real policy applications. You’ll develop expertise in:

• Labour economics
  
• Sociology and social policy
  
• Survey statistics
  
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
  
• Employment and social security data analysis

Who Can Apply for IAB Doctoral Scholarships 2026 in Germany?

You can apply for IAB GradAB Scholarship 2026 if you already hold a master’s degree and have a strong interest in labour market and social policy research. The programme is best suited for graduates in economics, sociology, statistics, or related social sciences with a research-oriented academic background. You should be motivated to develop an independent doctoral project and work in an international research environment. Applications are open to candidates from all countries, and female applicants are given preference when qualifications are equal, in line with IAB’s commitment to academic diversity.

How to Apply for IAB GradAB Scholarship 2026

The IAB doctoral programme 2026 follows a research-focused application process, designed for serious PhD candidates. Instead of a short online form, you submit a complete academic application directly to the online portal of IAB. This includes an academic CV, degree certificates and transcripts, a professor’s recommendation letter, and a detailed PhD research proposal of 10,000–20,000 characters. You must submit all documents as PDFs according to the official application guidelines. The strength and clarity of your research proposal play a central role in the selection process.

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Program Name	IAB Doctoral Scholarships (GradAB)
Host Institutions	IAB, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, TU Dortmund
Country	Germany
Duration	Up to 4 years
Funding Type	Fully funded monthly scholarship
Fields of Study	Labour economics, sociology, social sciences
Eligibility Level	Master’s degree holders
Start Date	October 2026
Application Deadline	15 March 2026
Study Location	Germany

If labour market research is your passion and you’re ready to pursue a fully funded PhD in Germany with real policy influence, don’t miss the IAB Doctoral Scholarships 2026. Only 7 doctoral scholarships are available, making this one of the most competitive funded PhD programmes in Europe. Begin preparing your research proposal now and submit your complete application through the official programme page before 15 March 2026.

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