KLU's PhD Program
KLU’s PhD program is a four-year program. The course program is tailored to every doctoral student’s specific focal research area: Our doctoral students have opportunities to attend courses that teach methods and skills relevant to their research activities offered by KLU as well as our partner universities and broader networks.
Upon successful completion, a doctoral student will obtain the (German) degree of Doctor of Management Sciences/Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Dr.rer.pol.) or the (international) degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Admission and Eligibility
Admission to the program is competitive and based on the applicant’s excellence as well as the match in research interest with the university’s resident faculty. We encourage you to apply immediately, since the reviews of applicants and the selection of scholarship awardees start upon receipt of applications. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet these minimum requirements:

• Completed or about to complete a Master’s degree or equivalent (300 ECTS) from an accredited Vietnamese university with a good international reputation with the German grade 2.0 or better. Grade equivalents are required for international applicants.
• Support from at least one KLU professor. 

Full details about the application procedure can be found here. You should submit:

• Cover letter (incl. name of the member of the resident faculty who is willing to act as your supervisor). 
• Research statement.
• Video statement (max. 3 minutes).
• A full resume (CV).
• Two references (with full contact details).
• Evidence of your English proficiency according to KLU requirements (if the official language of the previous degree wasn’t English). 
• Bachelor’s degree certificate and full transcript of records. 
• Master’s degree certificate and full transcript of records. 
• Diploma Supplements (if available). 
• University grading system information (required for degrees obtained outside Germany). 
• Official translations of all degree documents and transcripts of records not issued in English or German. 
• Quality indicators for your individual excellence (e.g., prices, scholarships), excellence in your program (e.g., class rank, thesis grade/rank), and your university (e.g., university rankings) 

Scholarship and Facilities
The KLU scholarship is €1,750 per month (tax-free). All PhD students have the opportunity to teaching in the KLU’s degree programs, present in research seminars, participate in university services as part of the PhD program. 
The annual research and training budget is €3,500 in year one and two and €6,500 in year three and four. Moreover, scholarship students receive a full waiver of tuition. 
All these are for a period of four years.

Kühne Logistics University
Founded in 2010, Kühne Logistics University (KLU) is a private, internationally accredited, and highly ranked business school in Hamburg, Germany, specializing in logistics and supply chain management. Following the successful launch of our Asia campus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in fall 2025, we are now hiring our first professors that support our research and teaching activities in Vietnam. In so doing, we follow our mission to contribute to local capacity building and knowledge transfer in the field of logistics, operations, and supply chain management. Our programs are designed to prepare leaders for the supply chain challenges of a global business landscape. 
KLU Saigon represents Kühne Logistics University’s pioneering step into Asia, establishing a new campus in Vietnam’s economic hub. Since its launch, KLU Saigon has built bridges between research excellence and regional impact through initiatives such as the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition with EuroCham, the Humanitarian Logistics Hackathon, and multiple partnerships with universities and industries across Southeast Asia. Joining KLU Saigon means contributing to a new academic footprint that connects education, research, and practice while shaping the next generation of leaders in logistics, operations, and sustainability. The 2 PhD scholarships for Vietnamese graduates fall under this initiative and will be closely linked to the activities of a new Southeast Asia research center for logistics and supply chain management to be established in Vietnam. KLU is a state-recognized university with the right to grant PhDs. With its AACSB accreditation, it ranks among the top 5% of business schools and management universities worldwide, with a dedicated focus on logistics, operations, and supply chain management.
We instill KLU's signature operations mindset in all our students, drawing on the strengths and key characteristics of logistics, including resilience, data-driven and action-oriented decision-making. As a boutique university, KLU offers its students and doctoral candidates a high degree of specialization and excellent study conditions. Further education programs for specialists and managers are offered in the form of seminars and summer schools by KLU Executive Education. 

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at phd@klu.org. Kindly apply through klu-jobs@m.personio.de or via the "Apply" Button.