FAQs to the SSH Call

You can apply if you are a highly qualified graduate who:

• will have completed a Diploma or Master’s degree by 30 June 2026 in a field covered by one of the participating doctoral schools or a closely related discipline;
• demonstrates a strong interest in academic research and in pursuing a PhD at the University of Vienna;
• can clearly assign their proposed dissertation project to the research focus of one of the participating doctoral schools;
• is able to take up the doctoral position between 1 July and 1 October 2026; and
• meets the doctoral admission requirements of the University of Vienna by the start of employment. (Please note that no supervisor agreement is required at the application stage.)

Yes, if your first enrolment for a doctoral programme at the University of Vienna was in winter semester 2025/26 or later.

If you already hold external funding for your doctoral project or an existing praedoc-level employment contract for at least two years (e.g., university employment, ÖAW DOC fellowship), you cannot receive funding through this call.

Yes, if both your academic background and proposed doctoral project fit one of the participating doctoral schools and you are eligible for admission.

Yes. You may apply before finishing your degree, but you must complete it by 30 June 2026. 

At the application stage, if your official degree diploma is not yet available, you are required to upload an official confirmation from your university stating that all degree requirements are expected to be completed by June 2026. This confirmation must be uploaded in the application form in place of the diploma.

By the end of June 2026, if the official diploma has still not been issued, the University of Vienna can also accept an official written confirmation from your university explicitly stating that all required coursework, examinations, and other degree requirements have been fully completed.

Please note, however, that if essential components of the degree — such as the grading and/or defence of the Master’s thesis — are still outstanding at the end of June 2026, the application cannot be considered eligible for the SSH Call 2026.

Yes. International applicants with degrees from foreign universities are welcome. Please ensure that you fulfil all admission criteria of the University of Vienna and submit the required documentation during the application process.

The application period runs from 7 January to 2 March 2026 at 14:00 CET. Applications must be submitted through the University of Vienna PhD Selection Tool. Unless you already have a u:account, please register for a u:account first.

We advise you not to wait with your submission until the last day of the application period in case of technical issues.

A complete application consists of the fully complete application form and the correctly uploaded PDF files. The form can be saved and edited using the save function until it is finally submitted. Once submitted, you can still edit your application until the application deadline.

Please upload the following documents as PDF files in the form where indicated:

• Motivational letter
• Research Proposal (max. 5 pages including bibliography)
• Master, Bachelor and/or Diploma degree certificates and transcript of records or diploma supplements
• Official identification document (passport or ID card) for enrolment
• If applicable and available: Residence permit, language certificate(s)
• A writing sample (e.g. a chapter of your Master’s thesis or a published article) if you selected one of the following doctoral schools:
  • Advanced Research School in Law and Jurisprudence
  • Vienna Doctoral School in Education
  • Vienna Doctoral School of Historical and Cultural Studies
  • Vienna Doctoral School of Theology and Research on Religion
  • Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy
  • Vienna International School of Earth and Space Sciences

You do not need a confirmation of supervision for applying to the SSH Call 2026. Please do not contact supervisors prior to your application in this regard. Matching and confirmation of supervision takes place exclusively during the selection process.

Your research proposal should generally include (1) a project summary with clearly defined research questions, (2) an overview of the state of the art, (3) the theoretical and/or methodological approaches you intend to use, and (4) relevant literature. You may also include additional elements, such as your preferred doctoral school or supervisor(s), a preliminary project timeline, and, if applicable, information on required resources or funding considerations.

All doctoral schools accept applications in English. The following doctoral schools also accept applications in German:

• Advanced Research School in Law and Jurisprudence
• Vienna Doctoral School of Philological and Cultural Studies
• Vienna Doctoral School of Historical and Cultural Studies
• Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy
• Vienna Doctoral School of Theology and Research on Religion

Yes. You may indicate in the application form that you would benefit from co-supervision. However, you may submit only one application to the call.

You will receive an automatic confirmation email after you have submitted the form successfully.

Yes. You may edit your application until the deadline on 2 March 2026, 14:00 CET. After this time, no further changes are possible.

No. Only one application can be submitted. If necessary, you can edit your already submitted application until the end of the application period. If, by mistake, more than one application was submitted, only the last application submitted will be considered.

Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last day to submit. In case of technical problems, please contact the programme coordination team before the deadline at sshcall2026(at)univie.ac.at. Technical issues reported after the deadline cannot be considered.

Depending on the field of doctoral research and the intended doctoral project, a prerequisite for admission to the doctoral programme is usually language proficiency in German and/or English corresponding to level C1.

For “programmes being held entirely in German” (see Language proof), language proof for the required level of German in a specific form is mandatory. Please refer to the website for information about which certificates or type of language proof will be accepted.

For all other subjects, while language certificates are not mandatory, please provide any language certificate available.

Candidates successfully going through the pre-selection process will further prove their actual language competences in the interview phase.

The application form for the SSH Call 2026 requires applicants to provide the contact details of two referees.

No letters of recommendation need to be submitted at the application stage, and referees are not contacted automatically upon submission.

If referees are contacted, this would occur only at a later stage of the selection process and directly by the University of Vienna.

A separate CV is not required for applications to the SSH Call 2026, as all relevant information is captured through the structured fields of the online application form. This ensures that all applicants provide comparable information in a standardised format and allows for a fair and transparent evaluation process.

Candidates are assessed based on their academic achievements, previous research experience, the quality and feasibility of their research proposal, and the fit between their project and the participating doctoral schools.

Interviews are scheduled between late March and mid-May 2026. If you are invited, you will be contacted in advance.

The interview explores your motivation for pursuing a doctorate, your research potential, and the alignment between your project and the doctoral school and supervisor(s).

Applications are reviewed by researchers from the University of Vienna, including potential supervisors from the relevant doctoral schools.

Yes. All interviews take place online.

In exceptional and well-justified cases, you may name individuals who should not serve as reviewers. You must provide your reasoning in the “Further Information” section of the application form.

Formal eligibility checks take place in March, interviews occur between late March and mid-May, and final decisions are expected by June 2026. Employment may begin between July and 1 October 2026.

Yes. A ranked waiting list is created in case selected candidates decline their offers.

Candidates will be asked to confirm acceptance of the position within 2 weeks after receiving the offer. If an offer is declined, the position may be offered to a candidate from the waiting list.

Selection is based on the academic excellence of the applicant, the quality, originality and feasibility of the research proposal, and its fit with the doctoral school environment and the selected supervisor.

Yes. If you are not selected for a position in the SSH Call 2026, you are welcome to apply for other predoctoral positions announced at the University of Vienna in the future, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.

You may start your employment at any point between 1 July and 1 October 2026. All start dates must fall within this period.

Non-EU/EEA applicants must obtain the required visa or work permit. The University of Vienna will support you by providing the necessary documentation, but the application process itself is your responsibility.

Yes, a workspace will be provided to you.

Praedoc positions at the University of Vienna are paid in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Staff (Uni-KV). The monthly gross salary in salary group B1 currently amounts to € 2,786.10 for a workload of 30 hours per week, paid 14 times per year.

The gross salary is subject to deductions for income tax (which is progressive) and social security contributions. Social security coverage is comprehensive and includes health insurance (also covering family members and unemployed partners), pension contributions, and unemployment insurance.

To estimate your net salary, you may use the Arbeiterkammer gross-to-net calculator: https://bruttonetto.arbeiterkammer.at/

No, employees of the University of Vienna are exempt from tuition fees. Please note: You have to pay the Students Union fee (currently € 25,20) each semester. Otherwise, your admission expires automatically. 

Yes. As an employee of the University of Vienna, you are entitled to parental leave in accordance with Austrian employment law.

The collective bargaining agreement also includes the possibility of teaching. 

No. Funding through the SSH Call 2026 cannot be extended beyond four years, but you may apply for external funding if needed.

This should be discussed with your institute and supervisor(s) at the start of your employment.