The German-Ukrainian Academic Society/ The UKRAINE Network organizes its PhD Thesis Presentation Contest for the 10th time.
Since 2016, we organise our PhD Thesis Presentation Contest with the aim of promoting PhD students and in doing so contribute to the raising the profile of the international academic collaboration with Ukraine. In these challenging time, when Ukraine is in flames and its people resist russian invasion and aggression, we stand with people of Ukraine and support them, also through the organisations of this PhD Contest.
Application closing date for the 2026 Contest is Monday, 30 March 2026. We expect to inform the shortlisted finalists by the end of July 2026. For more information please read the FAQs.
Eligibility: We invite applications from PhD/MD students carrying out their research in any subject, from one or more following groups:
- Ukrainian PhD students carrying out their research outside of Ukraine (incl. exchange PhD students and those who had to flee Ukraine due to russian war against Ukraine);
- PhD students, regardless of nationality, who are involved in a collaborative (e.g. bi- or multi-lateral, including Ukraine) research project;
- PhD students, regardless of nationality, whose topic of research relates to Ukraine.
Please note: only those PhD students whose PhD defence/viva is planned after the PhD Contest Final date can be considered (i.e. candidates who have already defended or are expected to defend their PhD thesis prior to the PhD Contest Final on 8 October 2026 are as a rule not eligible to apply). If you have questions or any doubts about your eligibility, please contact us at info (at) ukrainet.eu.
Successful candidates will be invited to present their research as a 5-minute talk at the Final event on stage, and get a chance to win one of the three prizes (1st place: EUR 300, 2nd place: EUR 200, 3rd place: EUR 100) as well as add an extra credential to their CVs. The travel cost (up to 200 EUR) and accommodation (up to 2 nights) will be covered by the Society.
For more information please read the FAQs carefully.
Apply by following these four steps:
- Please fill in the Application Form 2026
- And enclose your CV (preferably as a single pdf document named “Your Surname”)
- Fill in and sign the Personal Data Consent Form
- and send your application to the following e-mail: phd-contest (at) ukrainet.eu
The Final 2026 will take place on Thursday, 8 October 2026 in Wildau, Germany within the framework of the Days of Ukraine in Brandenburg and the Annual Meeting of the German-Ukrainian Academic Society (Die Deutsch-Ukrainische Akademische Gesellschaft e.V., DUAG) at the TH Wildau (8-9 October, 2026). The PhD Contest judging panel consisted of researchers involved in international cooperation with partners in Ukraine, appointed by the board of the Society.
Past events: check the PhD Contest archive page. You can watch 2021 PhD Contest Final in Berlin here
Organiser: German-Ukrainian Academic Society (DUAG)/ The UKRAINE Network
Supporters: Nomad Bioscience GmbH and the Embassy of Ukraine in Germany
If you wish to support this PhD Contest, please donate to the German-Ukrainian Academic Society:
- Bank: Berliner Sparkasse
- IBAN: DE07 1005 0000 0190 6178 29
- SWIFT-BIC BELADEBEXXX
- Deutsch-Ukrainische Akademische Gesellschaft e.V.
Contact: e-mail to info (at) ukrainet (dot) eu