Courses and seminars are held in English.
The doctoral thesis is written in English.
Upon application, the doctoral thesis may be written in German, and the colloquium about the doctoral thesis may be conducted in German.
15 April for admission in October (winter semester)
The Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences (GSBS) at the University of Konstanz brings together researchers from eight disciplines – biology, economics, linguistics, political science and public administration, physics, psychology, sociology and statistics – to perform high-end frontier research in the social and behavioural sciences. Our doctoral candidates benefit from a structured training programme of courses and research seminars/colloquia, which provide them with the tools to complete their doctorate in line with the highest international standards. The GSBS also offers three optional interdisciplinary specialisations:
Two of these specialisations are linked to the clusters “Collective Behaviour” and “The Politics of Inequality”, which have been established in the framework of the third round of the Excellence Initiative. The “Decision Sciences” specialisation emanates from our very successful “Graduate School of Decision Sciences”, which was established in the framework of the second round of the Excellence Initiative in 2012 and has provided a basis for the development of the clusters and the GSBS. The GSBS is also anchored to two research priorities of the University of Konstanz: “Social and Cognitive Sciences with a Special Focus on Inequality Research” and “Collective Behaviour and Ecology”.
The research of the GSBS investigates behaviour from both the micro and macro perspective. At the micro level, research questions address determinants and processes, which guide individual behaviour. At the macro level, questions on decision-making in collectives are explored, for instance, in groups, markets, societies or political organisations. Since biology is also included in the GSBS, research concerns not only human behaviour but also the behaviour of non-human animals.
The combination of eight disciplines and three interdisciplinary specialisations in the GSBS provides the basis for fascinating synergies, as similar research questions are addressed from different perspectives. For instance, framing is particularly investigated in psychology and linguistics, but it also finds applications in economics and political science. The topic of culture attracts the interest of diverse fields including biology, sociology and economics. Likewise, the emergence of institutions is relevant to such fields as political science, sociology and economics. Synergies also emerge from sharing methods, such as statistical methods and methods for data collection. The GSBS provides coursework in the respective fields. Interdisciplinary courses are taught by lecturers from different fields, and courses are offered concerning the necessary methods.
For the successful completion of the GSBS doctoral programme, a total of 180 ECTS credits must be obtained. The courses, research seminars/colloquia and the defence of the doctoral thesis account for a total of 60 ECTS credits. The remaining 120 ECTS credits are allotted to the preparation of the doctoral thesis.
At the beginning of the GSBS, doctoral candidates select either a discipline-focused programme of study in one of the participating disciplines (biology, economics, linguistics, political science and public administration, physics, psychology, sociology or statistics), or they select an interdisciplinary programme of study in one of the interdisciplinary specialisations (Collective Behaviour, Decision Sciences or Inequality).
Within the framework of the GSBS doctoral programme, a total of 52 ECTS credits must be obtained in the following courses and research seminars/colloquia:
If an interdisciplinary specialisation is selected, three courses according to #2 above must be completed in the selected specialisation. One course must be completed outside of the doctoral candidate’s own discipline. If no specialisation is chosen, three courses according to #2 above must be completed in the doctoral candidate’s own discipline.
The courses and research seminars/colloquia, according to #1, #2 and #3 above are graded with a pass or fail.
The GSBS doctoral programme is structured into milestones.
The first milestone is reached with the successful completion of #1 above. It is also recommended to complete courses in this phase. This milestone has to be reached by the end of the third semester (one and a half years).
The second milestone is reached with the successful completion of #2 and #3 above and by the submission of a progress report by the end of each academic year, which documents further work on doctoral thesis. This milestone has to be reached by the end of the sixth semester (three years).
The third milestone is reached with successful completion of the following requirements:
This milestone has to be reached by the end of the twelfth semester (six years).
Upon application, the active participation in a workshop or conference, involving a presentation and paper, may be recognised as a research seminar/colloquium according to #3 above.
Upon application, a maximum of two courses or research seminars/colloquia, according to #2 and #3 above, may be replaced by means of longer-term work on a third-party funded project or through independently taught courses.
Key skills courses can be taken in addition, but they cannot replace the formal course requirements.
Doctoral candidates have the opportunity to undertake study and research periods at selected partner universities and research institutes.
Doctoral candidates have the opportunity to work as research or teaching assistants in the university departments and for research projects involved with the GSBS.
There are no tuition fees for doctoral candidates.
Doctoral candidates enrolled in the GSBS pay the following fees each semester:
Total fees per semester: 179 EUR
Average monthly living costs for a doctoral candidate in Konstanz:
Total: 789 EUR
Doctoral candidates are generally financed by employment as research or teaching assistants by the participating departments and research projects. The "Collective Behaviour" and "The Politics of Inequality" Clusters of Excellence also offer doctoral positions for GSBS applicants. In addition, doctoral candidates are funded by scholarships.
Applications are welcome from highly motivated graduates or pending graduates with an outstanding Master’s degree or equivalent, which is relevant to one or more of the following disciplines or specialisations of the Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences (GSBS):
Disciplines
A1. Biology
A2. Physics
A3. Psychology
A4. Statistics
B1. Linguistics
B2. Sociology
C1. Economics
C2. Politics and Public Administration
Specialisations
D. Collective Behaviour
E. Decision Sciences
F. Inequality
Proof of English proficiency via one of the following English language tests is required for applicants whose native language is not English or who have not previously studied at a higher education institution, which has English as its official language of instruction:
Alternatively, your Master’s transcript may provide proof that you have obtained at least half of the credits required for your Master’s studies in modules taught in English.
15 April for admission in October (winter semester)
The online application form and a full list of the application requirements are available here: https://www.gsbs.uni-konstanz.de/application/how-to-apply/.
Doctoral candidates can develop their teaching skills by working as tutors for tutorials of the undergraduate degree courses in the participating departments of the GSBS.
The university administration and departments offer student assistant jobs. Job advertisements for work, both on and off campus, can be found on the following online platforms (in German):
Jobs are also posted on the university’s noticeboards in the foyer and canteen areas as well as in the departments.
Various types of accommodation are available for doctoral candidates: apartments, flat shares or residence halls run by the university. Check out our websites, where we provide an overview of the different options as well as general tips. You can also contact the team of our Welcome Centre for advice on housing.
Please note that it is important to begin your search for accommodation as early as possible, since our city and surroundings are very popular not only with students but also with families and outdoor enthusiasts. Since both Switzerland and Lake Constance border Konstanz, the available living space is limited and is not always inexpensive.
The GSBS offers various measures for the development of transferable skills. In cooperation with the Academic Staff Development (ASD) service, a programme of workshops and seminars for young researchers at the doctoral phase and beyond is offered. This programme is aimed at competence development and career planning. Among the courses offered are academic writing, time management, negotiation, leadership and team development skills, social networking in a scientific environment, job application training and project management.
Placement officers of the GSBS assist with career preparation. In addition, the GSBS offers training for the international academic job market.
The Welcome Centre supports international doctoral students, visiting researchers, post-docs and new professors. As a family-friendly university, the Centre also supports each student's family in planning, preparing and realising their stay in Konstanz. Information and specific assistance in all non-academic areas will be provided. The International Office and the Language Institute offer orientation on living in Konstanz and intensive language courses to assist newcomers in settling into their new surroundings. The "Kon'Start" orientation programme offers study preparation for German and international degree-seeking students. The Check-In Office is the service point for new arrivals (six weeks prior to the lecture period).
Would you like to study at one of the best research universities in Germany? Then the University of Konstanz is the right place for you. We offer you excellent study conditions in a beautiful location between Lake Constance and the Alps. For us, excellence in studies and teaching also means cultivating close cooperation. We encourage our students to take part in discussions and get involved in research from the start.
Our university is currently home to some 11,000 students enrolled in around 120 different degree programmes in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences, humanities, politics, law, and economics. With students from more than 90 countries around the world, we are proud to call our university an international community.
The University of Konstanz is a campus-based university: you will get to know other students quickly, come into contact with other departments and feel at home right away. Our university has an open-door policy: professors are very accessible and happy to help you with any questions or issues you might have.
We will give you a very warm welcome and support you in every stage of your stay. We have an excellent supervision ratio and top advisory services. You will learn in small groups and work across disciplines. We promote innovative teaching methods and strategies such as transfer formats or virtual classrooms and support lecturers in further developing their teaching. Our Advanced Data and Information Literacy Track (ADILT) complements all study programmes with fundamentals of computer science, data processing methods and their legal foundations as well as reflection on their relevance for society.
In Konstanz, you will find optimal conditions for research, studying, and teaching.
The University of Konstanz has set the following five research priorities:
We want to give you the best possible opportunities to develop personally and professionally. You will get lots of chances to put your own ideas into action – whether you conduct research or start a spin-off. The idea behind our "creative.together" concept as a University of Excellence is that close communication and a strong sense of community enhance the creative potential of our university members at all levels. We bring together our different backgrounds and disciplines to create something truly extraordinary. All the while, you can enjoy an attractive environment with a lake, mountains and great sports facilities.
Find out more about our university and student life in Konstanz on our website.
Konstanz is situated in south-west Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, and it shares its border with the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. It is beautifully located on the shores of the Rhine River and Lake Constance, central Europe's second-largest lake, where the borders of Austria, Germany and Switzerland converge. The lively university city, with about 86,000 inhabitants, among them more than 15,000 students, is the economic and cultural centre of the Lake Constance region. Take a stroll through the shopping mall and the historical centre, with its department stores and small specialist shops. Take a break in one of the many cafés, restaurants, ice cream parlours, pubs and wine bars. Konstanz is not only a popular tourist destination but also an attractive business location (light industry, commerce, high technology). It is a very safe place to live, and it offers a high quality of life, with its excellent infrastructure and its diverse range of cultural and recreational facilities. Konstanz has a long and rich historical tradition. The first settlements were erected in Konstanz Bay in 2000 BC, and the city was given its name "Constantia" by the Romans in the fourth century AD. Konstanz has a well-preserved medieval town and numerous historical buildings from the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods.
Konstanz has the perfect location for all kinds of outdoor leisure activities. The region has an excellent network of routes for walking, cycling and in-line skating tours. The beaches are a major attraction for relaxing in the sun and swimming in the lake or the Rhine. The lake offers various water sports, such as sailing, canoeing and diving, and the nearby Alps provide year-round enjoyment for skiers, snowboarders, hikers and climbers. Konstanz is the home of the oldest running theatre in Germany and of the famous Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra. There are several museums, art galleries and art centres offering a broad spectrum of events: art and documentary exhibitions and concerts in all genres of music. Konstanz is also an ideal starting point for excursions to many attractions in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. On the city's doorstep are the famous gardens of Mainau Island and the Island of Reichenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take boat trips to beautiful towns around the lake, such as Meersburg, Überlingen and Lindau. The lakeside town of Friedrichshafen is the home of the Zeppelin, and the Austrian city of Bregenz is renowned for its summer festivals, with spectacular opera and musical performances on a floating stage in the lake. A boat trip along one of the most beautiful parts of the Rhine takes you to the magnificent Rhine Falls at the Swiss town of Schaffhausen. From Konstanz, you can easily reach major cities, such as Zurich, Basel, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Munich and Milan.
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