Deadline: February 15, 2026
Applications are open for the IMPRS-SPCE Doctoral Program 2026. The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG) offers graduate students an attractive research environment at the International Max Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy (IMPRS-SPCE). The IMPRS-SPCE is a joint PhD program with the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne and the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
As Germany’s first graduate program in economic sociology and political economy, the IMPRS-SPCE welcomes outstanding doctoral students of political science and sociology from Germany and abroad. Research at the School explores the social and political foundations of modern economies and examines the interrelation between economic and social action. It combines approaches from economic sociology as well as comparative and international political economy.
Benefits
- IMPRS-SPCE students benefit from the opportunity to contribute actively to the intellectual life of the MPIfG and its two partner universities in Germany and to spend time at the School’s partner institutions abroad.
- Students may also earn a French doctorate by entering the joint doctoral program (cotutelle de thèse) with Sciences Po in Paris. With these opportunities and its unique curriculum of seminars, colloquia, and summer schools, the IMPRS-SPCE is an environment in which students can build essential professional skills and make the best possible start to a research career.
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) with at least 120 ECTS in a discipline related to the School’s program (sociology, political science, economics, or a related field).
- As the doctoral degrees are awarded by the University of Cologne or the University of Duisburg-Essen, applicants must meet the requirements for admission to doctoral study at the degree-awarding university.
Application
The application deadline is February 15, 2026 (23:59h UTC+01:00).
For more information, visit IMPRS-SPCE Doctoral Program.
