Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - Institute of Asian and African Studies

PhD Programmes

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PhD Programmes

General Information on PhD Thesis Supervision

This page provides general information about the PhD admission process at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Please read it carefully before contacting me individually about supervision.

Research Areas / Topic Clusters for Doctoral Theses

I supervise doctoral theses in the following fields:

  • Sociology
  • Global and Area Studies
  • Southeast Asian Studies

Language Requirements

You must provide certified proof of language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

  • The dissertation must be written in German or English.
  • The required level is C1 (proficient user) in the language of the dissertation.

Admission Requirements (General Information)

The PhD admission process at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin consists of several steps. Please consult the website of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for detailed information on admission criteria, procedures for the equivalence certificate for international degrees, and the full application and admission process.

The process differs slightly depending on your previous degree:

  • Four-tiered process for applicants without an MA/MPhil degree from a German university
  • Three-tiered process for applicants with an MA/MPhil degree from a German university

Additional Requirement for Applicants Without a German MA/MPhil

If you do not hold an MA/MPhil degree from a German university, you must first obtain a Certified Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications, issued by the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education). This document is required before you can be recognized as a potential PhD candidate.

The Admission Process: Three Steps

Once the ZAB certificate (if required) is available, the admission process consists of three main steps:

  1. Finding a Supervisor — You first need to clarify whether your intended supervisor is willing and able to supervise your project. This is where you contact me individually (see below).
  2. Faculty Admission — If an agreement on supervision is reached, you must formally apply for admission to the doctoral program at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
  3. Enrollment at Humboldt-Universität — After receiving the faculty's admission letter, you must enroll as a doctoral student within one month of notification.

How to Apply for Supervision by Me

If you are interested in being supervised by me specifically, please send the following documents by email to daniel.bultmann@hu-berlin.de:

One combined PDF containing:

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Transcript of records
  • Graduate degree certificates
  • ZAB certificate (if applicable)

A research proposal:

  • Maximum five pages
  • In German or English
  • Concise and carefully proofread

I will review your documents. If your project seems suitable, I will invite you to a meeting — in person if you are based in Germany, or via video call (e.g. Skype) if you are abroad.

Please note: Contacting me and submitting documents is not the same as formally applying to the doctoral program. The formal faculty admission procedure is a separate step that only follows if we agree on supervision.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted at very short notice cannot be considered.

Admission to the Doctoral Program (Faculty Procedure)

If we confirm our intent to supervise your project, the next step is the formal admission procedure with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. You will need to:

  • Read the faculty's FAQ section carefully.
  • Prepare the required application documents, which largely correspond to those already submitted to me. Please note that for the faculty application, the research proposal must not exceed two pages.
  • Arrange an appointment in good time — by email, phone or in person — with the Desk for Doctoral Studies:
    • for Sociology: Kertin Ludwigs
    • for Global and Area Studies / Southeast Asian Studies: Sarah Affenzeller

Current PhD Students

Baliña, Joaquín: "Social policy in times of global crisis. An analysis of cash transfers measures deployed in MERCOSUR and EU countries during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022)"

Braun Carrasco, Fabio: "The Global Far Right, Inequality and the Contradictions of Liberal Democracy"

Eren, Devrim: "Intersectional inequalities in India's informal economy"

Garcia, Felipe: "Public Management and Inequality"

Hager, Sarah: "Epistemology and Aesthetics from the global South"

Khun, Ratanak: "Patterns of Anti-Vietnamese Radicalism among Cambodian Elites in the Fields of Power, from 1993 – Present"

Paolinelli, Edoardo: "Sociological Aspects of Financial Institutions. Functional Elites in Germany, Italy and Argentina"

Past PhD Students

Ardila, Javier: "The Marginalized in Colombia and Germany"

Bateman, Andrés: "Poverty, Colonialism and Eurocentric Theory"

Neumann, Johanna: "Zatpwe and Society in Myanmar"

Voigt, Katrin: "Nationalismus der Mitte in Deutschland: Eine Analyse von Praktiken der alltäglichen (Re-)Produktion von Nation und sozialer Ungleichheit"

Wimmer, Christopher: "Mangel und Notwendigkeit. Theorie, Alltagsleben und Bewusstsein der marginalisierten Klasse in der Bundesrepublik" — defended with magna cum laude in June 2023. Published as: Christopher Wimmer. 2023. Die Marginalisierten. (Über-)Leben zwischen Mangel und Notwendigkeit. Beltz Juventa: Weinheim.