Graduate School of Arts & Social Sciences

We train talented, young people in order to become independent researchers and teachers. Our research is interdisciplinary, encompassing questions of Europeanisation, globalisation, scientific and technological development, political change and cultural innovation. We are interested in how today’s societies cope with and reflect these challenges in various ways, from artistic expressions and practices of remembrance to specific forms of governance and political integration to strategies for managing knowledge, technologies and risks.

Fast facts

Interdisciplinary research
Unique organisational structure
50 PhD candidates

The Graduate School focuses on the acquisition of research skills, intensive supervision, and collaboration with other PhD candidates and senior staff inside and outside the Faculty. As such, PhD candidates have the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills. Most PhD candidates carry out teaching within the context of bachelor’s and master’s programmes.

FASoS has a unique organisational structure. Its backbone are four distinct research programmes, each of which is composed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers. While the research programmes form the core of the research activities at FASoS, the faculty also has five centres as specific research hubs and to facilitate interaction with external academic partners and societal stakeholders.

Read more about the organisational structure at FASoS
As PhD candidate at FASoS, you will conduct original research that prepares you for a future in academia.

Read more about FASoS PhD programmes
One of the best preparations for starting as PhD candidate, is to receive a degree from one of our Resarch Master's programmes. FASoS Research Master's programmes are primarily research-oriented. They combine training in analytical and research skills with gaining knowledge in a discipline of interest.

Read more about the master's programmes FASoS offers

Manling Yang, PhD candidate

"Actors in international politics are often too complex and diverse to be understood comprehensively within a single discipline. Fortunately, the interdisciplinary environment at FASoS inspires me to an insightful investigation of how and why various actors in China and the EU formulate their development policies toward Africa."

Onallia Osei, PhD candidate

"The FASoS Graduate school presents international students with a conducive environment in terms of faculty and facilities for rigorous PhD research. My supervisors are thorough in their work and supportive of my personal development. Studying here has been a fulfilling experience, and I recommend it to people of diverse backgrounds."

Maha Naami, PhD candidate

"My PhD experience started 5 days before many countries in the world went in lockdown. While working from home has been a new experience for most of us, the FASoS graduate school provided me with the necessary support and guidance. My supervision team has paid extra attention to me and has helped me settle in this new country - both on a personal and on a professional level - under unprecedented conditions. My supervisors have been my reference point, and a constant of whom I can always expect thorough and meticulous feedback on my work."

Marie Rickert, PhD candidate

"The FASoS Graduate School supports me in navigating the academic world and finding my own place in it as a researcher. My supervisors accompany me on that journey in a very constructive yet encouraging way and I also learn a lot from the constant exchange with other PhD candidates and colleagues."