Scholarships and Grants

The VDTR offers its doctoral candidates a variety of funding programmes. For example, VDTR doctoral students have the opportunity to apply for financial support for conference visits and the editing of English-language texts.

In order to strengthen the interdisciplinary exchange of doctoral students, the VDTR also supports and finances the organisation of self-organised peer activities, such as workshops or brown bag seminars.

In cooperation with other doctoral schools, the VDTR also organises academic skills courses tailored to the needs of doctoral candidates in theology and religious studies (onboarding, support with finalising your thesis, media work, presentation skills, information sessions on mobility, publication strategies, academic communication, etc.).

You must be a member of the VDTR to take advantage of our programmes. Membership and regular participation in the Open Research Day, which take place once a semester, is mandatory for all funding programmes.

Travel grants

Members of the Doctoral School have the opportunity to apply for travel grants to support necessary research trips (archival research or data collection) and active conference participation.

General conditions

  • The doctoral candidate is an active VDTR member, has already completed the FÖP and regularly participates in the VDTR Open Research Day. 
  • The doctoral candidate makes his/her own contribution as part of the conference participation or research trip:
    • He/she gives a talk.
    • He/she presents a poster.
    • He/she collects data (in the case of trips to archives or libraries or research trips).
  • The doctoral candidate has the support of his/her supervisor for the trip.
  • A maximum of 3 trips during the course of the doctoral programme will be funded.

Events that take place after the current submission deadline can be submitted, as well as events that took place before the current deadline if the event took place no further back than the date of the last submission deadline. For example: For the 30 June 2025 deadline, applications will be accepted for travel taking place between 1 March and 31 October 2025.

Funding Options

The VDTR grants a travel allowance (for transport, accommodation, conference fees, etc.) in the amount of

  • max. 400 euros for destinations up to 750 km away (e.g. Austria and neighbouring countries);
  • max. 650 euros for destinations further away than 750 km. The kilometres refer to the distance as the crow flies.

If your destination is very far away or expensive, please also inquire out about additional funding options, e.g. via the ÖFG's International Communication programme. For longer research trips, please also apply for a Short-Term International Scholarship from the University's International Office, a GO.INVESTIGATIVO from the Austrian Academy of Sciences or a Marietta Blau Scholarship from the OEAD.

The VDTR does not cover any costs for meals, upgrades and taxi journeys.

Application

Deadlines for funding applications are 28 February 2025, 30 June 2025 and 31 October 2025.

The application must contain the following documents and be sent as a PDF to contact.vdtr@univie.ac.at:

Reimbursement

Reimbursement will only be made after the end of the trip on presentation of original receipts/invoices. Important: Keep all documents until reimbursement!

If you are employed at the University of Vienna, submit your application for reimbursement yourself in Q-Flow at hrfi.univie.ac.at and send a short note to contac.vdtr@univie.ac.at. You will need all invoices, payment receipts, tickets and boarding passes for which you would like to apply for a refund in the approved amount. Please enter the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Catholic Theology 300 as the institution and DocTheology 832001 as the cost centre. Enter Katharina Limacher as the contact person.

If you are not employed at the University of Vienna, please send all invoices, payment receipts, tickets and boarding passes as one PDF per cost type (accommodation, conference fees, transport etc.) together with details of your home address and bank account details to contact.vdtr@univie.ac.at after your trip.

If you have any questions about the travel grant, please contact contact.vdtr@univie.ac.at

Grant for editing costs

In order to support PhD students in their publication activities, the VDTR offers support towards editing costs.

Criteria:

  • Editing costs must not exceed 300€.
  • Editing cost grants are available for articles intended for peer-reviewed publications. Preference will be given to publications in English and in indexed journals.
  • The PhD student must be a VDTR member.
  • The PhD student has obtained the support of his/her supervisor.
  • Mandatory participation in the Open Research Day. All information about participation can be found on the VDTR Moodle platform.

How to apply:

Editing costs may be applied for on an ongoing basis. An abstract of the proposed article must be attached to the completed application form. Send the abstract, along with the completed form signed by you and your supervisor, to contact.vdtr@univie.ac.at. Once the grant has been approved, you can commission the editing. Please note that only services provided by editors with an Austrian tax ID number are supported. Please send confirmation of the initial submission of the publication to contact.vdtr@univie.ac.at.

Peer activities

VDTR doctoral students are encouraged to develop and realize workshop formats for themselves and their peers.

Criteria:

  • It must be a self-organized event by and for PhD students. Both large and small formats can be supported.
  • Large formats include workshops, retreats or conferences. Maximum support is 300€ per actively involved VDTR member.
  • Small formats include writing groups, brown bag seminars/journal lunch clubs, etc.. Room or catering costs will be covered if possible.
  • Funding is provided for events with an interdisciplinary orientation and participation as well as for inter-university networking.
  • Depending on the scope of the event, organizers may receive ECTS points.
  • Mandatory participation in the Open Research Day. All information about participation can be found on the VDTR Moodle platform.

How to apply:

  • The next deadline for funding applications are 28 february 2025 and 31 octobre 2025.
  • Send the completed application form (plus evidence of support by a supervisor and details of the participating VDTR PhD students), together with an abstract/proposal of the project to contact.vdtr@univie.ac.at.
  • Only original receipts can be refunded.