Overview

About the programme

The fundamental premise of this Dimensions of Constructional Space research group at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is that the totality of speakers’ linguistic knowledge is represented in a network of form-meaning pairings called constructions.

Constructions differ in size (ranging from morphemes through phrasal and clausal templates to discourse conventions), abstractness (fully elaborated, partially schematic, fully schematic) and entrenchment, as well as in the way they interconnect with other constructions in the network. These properties define a multidimensional space we call ‘constructional space’.

Programme Structure

Research projects include:

Corpus evidence for delineating constructions
Multimodal constructional space
Form and meaning as factors in the identification and learning of constructional slots – English phrasal verbs and verb-preposition combinations
Representation and processing of constructions in the brain
Representation and acquisition of agreement relations in a usage-based framework
Representation and acquisition of idiomatic constructions in L1 and L2 learners
Artificial language learning as a window to the early entrenchment of constructions
German verbs with particles or prefixes in language change: Form, meaning, and syntax

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-10-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-04 00:00:00
Starting 2026-11-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-01 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

80

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IELTS

5.5

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Erlangen, Germany

Disciplines

Linguistics View 7 other PhDs in Linguistics in Germany

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

80

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

5.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

To be admitted to a doctorate, you must usually prove that you have successfully completed a Master’s degree programme in the relevant subject area that is equivalent to a Master’s degree programme from a German university.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

Free
EU/EEA Applies to you

Applies to you

EU/EEA Nationals

Free

Additional Details

At FAU tuition is free. However, students have to pay a semester contribution fee of 72 Euros for student services.

Living costs

Erlangen

Germany

730 - 1100 EUR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Dimensions of Constructional Space.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

About the programme

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

EU/EEA Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Erlangen

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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