Welcome to the Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences (GSBS) at the University of Konstanz. Our graduate school brings together researchers from eight disciplines: Biology, Economics, Linguistics, Political Science and Public Administration, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, 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:

  • Collective Behaviour
  • Decision Sciences
  • Inequality.

Two of these specialisations are linked to the two Clusters “Collective Behaviour” and “The Politics of Inequality”, which have been established in the framework of the third round of the Excellence Initiative. The specialisation “Decision Sciences” 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 provided a basis for the development of the Clusters and the Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences. 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 involvement of eight disciplines, the incorporation of three interdisciplinary specialisations and the links to both the Excellence Clusters, as well as the research priorities of the University of Konstanz, provide an ideal setting for completing an interdisciplinary doctorate in the field of the social and behavioural sciences. It is also possible for doctoral candidates to complete a doctoral degree mainly in their own discipline in the field of social and behavioural sciences.

Our doctoral candidates benefit from our connections to a wide variety of national and international network partners. They also receive targeted career preparation to facilitate their entry into assistant professorships and postdoctoral positions at leading international research institutions or into top positions in the private sector or the public service. The GSBS also encourages research on gender and diversity related topics.

Funding for our doctoral candidates is provided in the form of positions as research or teaching assistants, offered by the participating departments, Clusters and research projects. Doctoral candidates are also funded by scholarships or have their own funding.

Applications are welcome from highly motivated Master’s graduates and pending graduates with an outstanding Master’s degree relevant to one of the disciplines or interdisciplinary specialisations of the GSBS.

The University of Konstanz is one of the Universities of Excellence in Germany. The University is a role model for the integration of research into teaching. It is strong in research funding and is a truly international university, maintaining relations with 200 universities worldwide. All University Departments contributing to the Graduate School belong to the premier departments of their kind in Germany and enjoy an outstanding reputation in teaching and research. The University’s first-rate infrastructure includes its award-winning, 24-hour open library, state-of-the-art computer facilities and the provision of German and other foreign language courses.

Constance is one of Germany’s choice destinations. Its unique setting on the shores of Lake Constance and the River Rhine, as well as its proximity to the Alps, Switzerland, Austria and France, make it the ideal location for study and leisure. If you believe that our Graduate School of the Social and Behavioural Sciences meets your academic aspirations, then please do not hesitate to apply. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.

Prof. Dr. Gerald Schneider

Coordinator of the Graduate School