Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR)

Structured interdisciplinary doctoral programme in development research at ZEF, covering issues such as agriculture, climate, water, biodiversity, nutrition, health, migration, governance, and innovation policy.

Academic requirements

An excellent Master's or equivalent degree; An excellent and innovative research concept; The last MA degree should have been obtained less than six years ago.

Minimum GPA

Higher than 3.0 in the American system, higher than 2.0 in the German system, or equivalent.

English requirements

IELTS 6.0, TOEFL PBT 550, CBT 213, iBT 80, or university confirmation of English as the language of instruction.

Accepted bachelor fields

Relevant master's degree in agricultural sciences, economics, sociology, political science, geography, environmental sciences, or a related interdisciplinary field.

APS Certificate

Yes

Tuition fee

None

Semester contribution

345.07 EUR per semester in Summer Semester 2026 if enrolled as a doctoral student.

Funding info

Tuition: None Semester contribution: 345.07 EUR per semester in Summer Semester 2026 if enrolled as a doctoral student.

The University of Bonn has a central Career Service (www.uni-bonn.de/careerservice) that provides a range of advice and support about choosing a career and applying for jobs. Moreover, international students can join the iStart career programme (www.uni-bonn.de/istart), which teaches participants tangible knowledge and valuable skills that will enable them to write successful applications for jobs in Germany. The programme is geared toward giving students a successful career path both during and after their studies and thus making it easier for them to enter the job market.

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