Beyond Borders

Borders are an integral part of our everyday life. Political, social, virtual, intellectual and cultural borders are hotly contested, both in international contexts around issues of migration, security, trade, or global education and within nations trying to deal with increased diversity and changing notions of national culture and history. Geographical borders separate states, regions and cities. They mark the breadth and depth of territorial organization while informal symbolic and social boundaries define values and norms for social, cultural, and religious life. All types of borders can be conceived as social constructs: They may refer to cultural and historical backgrounds, result from international treaties or political negotiations or reflect public debates on controversial topics. In our increasingly globalized world in which human mobility and the constant circulation of goods, objects, ideas and practices are also an integral part of everyday life, the importance of border making and crossing is growing. Borders and cross-border regions function therefore as manifestations of social, political, economic and cultural change.

Start Up Scholarships

for advanced master’s students and Ph.D. students in an early stage of project formulation Duration: 10 months Monthly living stipend of € 1,200 Dissertation Proposal Development Workshop

Ph.D. Scholarships for Ph.D. students enrolled in Ph.D. programs or admitted to an individual Ph.D. scheme Duration: one to three years Monthly living stipend of € 1,400 Yearly Students’ Conference

Dissertation Completion Scholarships for advanced Ph.D. students Duration: one year Monthly living stipend of € 1,400 Yearly Students’ Conference