Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS)

The Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS) offers doctoral researchers an innovative research environment that fosters creativity through interdisciplinary exchange. The main characteristic is the integration of research from sociology, history, political science, anthropology, and gender studies into a joint organisational framework and curriculum. It promotes small working groups with individualised guidance and supports a diverse community. The school explicitly aims to prepare doctoral researchers for the academic or non-academic labour market in Germany and abroad.

Academic requirements

Deadline: 15 June for the winter semester 15 January for the summer semester

Minimum GPA

above-average degree

English requirements

The BGHS doctoral programme consists of courses in both German and English. Applicants to the graduate school must therefore have a good command of either German or English. Doctoral researchers with no knowledge of German are encouraged to learn the language as it is the primary means of communication at Bielefeld University, and fluency in German makes daily life easier.

German requirements

good command of either German or English; doctoral researchers with no knowledge of German are encouraged to learn the language as it is the primary means of communication at Bielefeld University

Accepted bachelor fields

social sciences or the humanities, preferably in history, sociology, anthropology, or political science; graduates of other related fields are welcome

APS Certificate

Yes

Tuition fee

None

Semester contribution

Since Bielefeld University does not charge tuition fees, every student only has to pay a social fee. The social fee includes the contribution to the social ticket for free public transport in the city and area of Bielefeld and on regional trains and buses in North-Rhine Westphalia for the whole semester. The current semester contribution is approximately 300 EUR.

Funding info

Tuition: None Semester contribution: Since Bielefeld University does not charge tuition fees, every student only has to pay a social fee. The social fee includes the contribution to the social ticket for free public transport in the city and area of Bielefeld and on regional trains and buses in North-Rhine Westphalia for the whole semester. The current semester contribution is approximately 300 EUR.

One of the explicit aims at the BGHS is to prepare our doctoral researchers for the academic or non-academic labour market in Germany and abroad. The graduate school collaborates with foreign researchers, promotes participation in international conferences, and helps build key skills for positioning in the international scientific community. For non-academic contexts, it provides career service and programmes to enhance key qualifications.

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