English

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) academic: 7.0
• CAE (Certificate in Advanced English): C
• CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) : C
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language) paper version: 627, internet based: 95 (Tallinn University Code number is: 0449).
• PTE academic: 67. Test result has to be sent to Tallinn university through the secure PTE portal. Test results are valid for two years.

Tallinn University only accepts English language test scores which have been taken no more than 2 years before the beginning of studies.

More information about language proficiency requirements is available at
www.tlu.ee/en/english-language-requirement-phd-programmes-history-linguistics-and-studies-cultures

One full-time fully funded Ph.D. position in the interdisciplinary field of border studies. The student is expected to engage in research on a topic related to territorial, institutional, social, cultural or virtual (digital) bordering, boundaries, territorial borderlands, or borderscapes in the wider sense. Empirical research focus on mainland Asian borderlands, various bordering practices in or by China, or digital bordering, are preferred but all qualified candidates will be considered.

The PhD position is attached to a project “Advancing Trans-Regional Border Studies” that seeks to combine the mainstream, Anglo-American dominated understandings in border studies and the thriving borderland research in Asia, to create trans-regional synergies and advance a multi-layered approach to understanding borders and bordering, and significantly, communicate this to the public, practitioners and policy-makers. The project provides funds and opportunities for doctoral students’ self-development such as workshops, summer school in Bishkek, research stays and collaboration at the two partner universities, the University of Eastern Finland and University of Amsterdam.

Candidates are required to have an excellent command of the English language.

The admitted candidate will be enrolled to the PhD programme in Studies of Cultures.

Before the final submission on the application database the candidates are recommended to submit the following documents for preview. The documents are to be sent to maris.peters@tlu.ee:

1) A research proposal accepted by the prospective supervisor (length approx. 3 pages / 1500 words without the list of sources), which contains at least the following components:
• The topic of the research project;
• The objectives of the research and main research question(s);
• Overview of methods to be used and/or of main terminology;
• The overview of the state of the art of the topic;
• Overview what topic related research the candidate has done prior to the application;
• Overview of the contents of the intended research;
• Prognosis on the possible primary results of the research;
• Primary list of the sources and literature to be used in the research;
• The project candidates must also clarify how their topic is related to the project and what activities they will carry out as part of it.

The project candidates should contact the project supervisor with their research proposal.

2) A one page description of candidate’s teaching experience so far and a vision of the possible teaching assignments to be conducted during the PhD studies at Tallinn University. It is highly recommended to find, in collaboration with the prospective supervisor, some links with the present courses and study programmes taught at Tallinn University.

3) CV (including a list of candidate’s publications and information on IT skills)

During the application period the candidates should upload into DreamApply:

1) The research proposal that has been expanded and enhanced in cooperation with the prospective supervisor (length approx. 5 pages / 2500 words without the list of sources), which contains at least the following components:
• The topic of the research project;
• The objectives of the research and main research question(s);
• Overview of methods to be used and/or of main terminology;
• The overview of the state of the art of the topic;
• Overview what topic related research the candidate has done prior to application;
• Overview of the contents of the intended research;
• Prognosis on the possible primary results of the research;
• Primary list of the sources and literature to be used in the research;
• The timeline-schedule of the research (incl. information on research to be conducted abroad, like Erasmus visits to other universities, visiting libraries and archives abroad etc.).

If the research contains fieldwork: the description of the scope, length, and financing (both the projected budget and sources of financing).
The project candidates must also clarify how their topic is related to the project and what activities they will carry out as part of it. For non-project related topics clarification why this research should specifically be carried out at Tallinn University School of Humanities.
2) Expanded vision of the teaching assignments to be carried out during the PhD studies (max. 2 pages). It should give information on courses or course components to be taught, the role of the PhD candidate, and should be accepted by the prospective supervisor. (During the four years of PhD studies the students are expected to assist at least in three courses or seminars and to teach or co-teach at least one course / seminar).
3) CV (including a list of candidate’s publications and information on IT skills)
Please note that your application will not be processed before your thesis plan (research proposal) confirmed by your prospective supervisor has been uploaded.
More information: www.tlu.ee/en/ht/studies-cultures#admission-requirements