PhD Scholarship at the University of Lausanne - Switzerland

From: External Academic Relations.

To: Birzeit University Community.

The External Academic Relations office is pleased to announce a funded PhD position at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) in Switzerland. This position is part of a program aimed at strengthening academic capacities in regions affected by war in the Near East.

Type of the scholarship: A fully funded PhD. Position (Duration: 1 year, renewable twice for a maximum of 5 years).

Available fields of study:

  • History of Medieval or Early Modern Palestine
  • Islamic History
  • Shi‘ite Studies or Islamic Law (preferred)

Application Deadline:  June 15, 2025

Funding:

The position is funded through a doctoral scholarship awarded by the University of Lausanne. Details on financial support are available upon inquiry.

Conditions:

  • Applicants must hold (or be in the process of obtaining) a Master's degree in History or an equivalent field, with a specialization in Islamic history or the history of the Middle East.
  • Excellent command of Classical Arabic for reading and analyzing historical sources.
  • Strong proficiency in the Palestinian dialect.
  • In-depth knowledge of Palestinian territory and its institutions.
  • Academic proficiency in French and/or English.
  • Interest in Islamic law and/or Shi‘ism in the Palestinian context is a plus.
  • Competence in using digital research tools.

Selection criteria:

  • Academic results and recommendations.
  • Quality and relevance of the PhD research proposal (maximum 10 pages, including bibliography).
  • Language proficiency in Classical Arabic and academic French/English.
  • Demonstrated commitment to research in Palestinian history.

Birzeit University is committed to promoting gender equality. Girls/Women are highly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

  1. Go to the applying website at this link to get more information and apply.
  2. Application must be submitted as a single PDF file and include:
  • A detailed CV.
  • A list of publications (if applicable).
  • A cover letter outlining research interests and motivation.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • A PhD project proposal (maximum 10 pages).
  • A copy of the Master’s thesis (if completed) or a detailed description of the ongoing thesis project.
  • Copies of diplomas and academic transcripts.
  1. Forward the email of confirmation of receipt of your application to the External Academic Relations Office ([email protected])

For inquiries, contact External Academic Relations office at:  [email protected]

External Academic Relations

March, 2025