Joint PhD with Fudan University

Already during my master studies at Universität Hamburg, I heard about the Graduate School “China in Europe, Europe in China” through the prior Ph.D. candidates. After I graduated successfully and looked for financial support for a dissertation project, it was a huge coincidence that the Graduate School “China in Europe, Europe in China. Past and Present” between Universität Hamburg and Fudan University offered a scholarship. Shortly after the supervisor of my master thesis informed me about that, I prepared my application.

My thesis aims to illuminate how national memorials mirror the Chinese Communist Party's political and historical self-perception. This topic requires intensive fieldwork on Chinese memorials over a longer period. The bilateral program made this possible. During the time I spent in Shanghai, I conducted a field study to 55 memorials in 11 provinces between April 2019 and November 2019.

With a supervisor from each university, I receive a broader range of essential revisions and suggestions. This helps me to continually improve my research skills and the way I continue my examinations. Having a dissertation project means to work on your topic independently and in a self-organized manner. The advantage of the graduate school is the assistance that the students give each other through discussions, feedback, and the exchange of perspectives. In my view, a graduate school provides the optimal environment to write a Ph.D. thesis. In the bilateral program, these advantages multiply with two, since Fudan University offers an international work environment with Ph.D. students from China and countries all over the world.

The most intensive experience has been the accomplishment of my field study, for which I traveled roughly two months in total. Each time my organization worked according to plan, and I reached a more remote destination, it gave me a feeling of great satisfaction.

Stefanie Schaller

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