The MITIME (Migration, Temporality and Governance) doctoral programme is currently inviting applications for 15 fully funded PhD positions across leading European universities.
Funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) framework, MITIME offers an exceptional opportunity for early-career researchers interested in migration, mobility, borders, labour, urban life, and social inclusion.
These positions will begin in October 2026 and are hosted by universities across Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Türkiye.
About the MITIME Programme
MITIME is an interdisciplinary doctoral training network that examines migration through the lens of time-how waiting, uncertainty, mobility, policy delays, labour rhythms, and future imaginaries shape migrant lives and urban governance.
Doctoral researchers will receive:
- Full salaried PhD funding (up to 4 years, depending on host institution)
- Advanced research training and supervision
- International mobility through secondments with partner universities, NGOs, city administrations, and cultural institutions
- Opportunities for policy engagement, public scholarship, and interdisciplinary collaboration
Fields and Disciplines Covered
Applicants from a wide range of social science and humanities backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including:
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Cultural Anthropology
- Human Geography
- Public Administration
- Migration and Diaspora Studies
- Social and Political Sciences
- Human Rights and Ethics
Overview of Available PhD Positions
MITIME is recruiting 15 doctoral researchers, each attached to a specific host university and research theme. Topics include:
- Migrant labour markets and temporal precarity
- Urban placemaking, belonging, and home-making
- Diasporas, memory, and future imaginaries
- Remote work, digital mobility, and inequality
- Borders, citizenship, and access to rights
- Governance of migration temporalities
- Narratives of displacement and urban storytelling
- Conviviality and social bonds in post-industrial cities
Host institutions include:
- University of Oulu (Finland)
- Ruhr University Bochum (Germany)
- University College Cork (Ireland)
- University of Deusto (Spain)
- University of Liège (Belgium)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands)
- Koç University (Türkiye)
Each position includes international secondments, allowing candidates to conduct research and receive training outside their main host institution.
Funding and Employment Conditions
Successful candidates will receive:
- A fully funded PhD position (salary or stipend depending on national regulations)
- Social security coverage according to host country rules
- Research and training budgets
- Travel funding for secondments and conferences
All positions are full-time, and applicants must comply with MSCA mobility rules (i.e. not having lived or worked in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment).
Who Should Apply?
You are encouraged to apply if you:
- Hold (or will soon complete) a Master's degree in a relevant discipline
- Have a strong interest in migration, cities, labour, borders, or governance
- Possess good academic writing and research skills
- Meet the language and admission requirements of the host university
- Are willing to relocate and participate in international research mobility
Knowledge of relevant local or migrant community languages is often an advantage but not always mandatory.
How to Apply
Before applying, all candidates are strongly advised to:
- Read the Recruitment Overview and Selection Criteria
- Familiarise themselves with the MITIME programme's research themes and training structure
- Carefully review the requirements of the specific PhD position
Applications must be submitted directly through the MITIME website, and applicants should contact the listed supervisors for position-specific questions before applying.
👉 Full details and application links are available at:
https://migrationtime.eu/recruiting
Application Timeline
- Application deadline: As specified on the MITIME website
- Start date: October 2026
- Programme duration: Up to 4 years (depending on host institution)
Final Note
MITIME offers a rare opportunity to pursue a fully funded PhD in Europe while working at the intersection of migration research, policy, and urban futures. With strong academic supervision, international exposure, and real-world engagement, this programme is ideal for scholars seeking both academic and societal impact.
