The BGHS doctoral programme is both taught and tailored to the needs of the individual doctoral researcher. The programme consists of:
- a curriculum that covers a variety of research areas
- a programme duration of between three to four years
- integration of stays in archives or abroad and for research purposes
- flexible, individual supervision arrangements
- preparation for a career after graduation
- room for student initiative and individual interests
Among the distinctive features of the School's doctoral programme are specific class formats such as its Research Classes, the Research Retreat, the Interdisciplinary Seminar, the Interdisciplinary Colloquium and the Study Groups.
On behalf of the Department of History and the Faculty of Sociology, the BGHS invites applications via its online portal either for a place on the international taught Doctoral Programmes in History or Sociology, or for doctoral studies independent of the taught doctoral programme at the Faculty of Sociology.
Please note that doctoral studies independent of the Taught Programmes in History or Sociology are not performed under the roof of the BGHS. This means that such programme-independent doctoral students cannot become members of the BGHS and are excluded from the School's various funding programmes.
Students can start their doctoral studies in a winter (1 October to 31 March, deadline 15 June) or a summer semester (1 April to 30 September, deadline 15 January). The decision - normally taken within six to eight weeks - about admission to the international Taught Doctoral Programmes in History or Sociology, or to doctoral studies independent of a doctoral degree programme, is made, respectively, by the Doctoral Studies Board of the Faculty of Sociology or the Doctoral Studies Board of the Department of History, Philosophy and Theology.
Applicants should have an above-average degree in a social science or humanities subject, preferably such as history, sociology, social anthropology, political science, gender studies, inter-American studies or the history, philosophy and sociology of science. An indispensable requirement is the written consent of a professor at the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology or the Faculty of Sociology to act as the applicant's first supervisor. For information on how to find a supervisor click here.
For further information on study for a doctoral degree and the entry requirements of the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology and the Faculty of Sociology please go to Rahmenpromotionsordnung (General Doctoral Regulations) of the University of Bielefeld as well as the relevant regulations of the other Faculties.
The Doctoral Programme of the BGHS consists of German- as well as English-language classes. Applicants should therefore have a good command of at least one of these languages. The BGHS encourages doctoral students without any German to learn German as it is the University's main medium of communication and makes everyday life much easier. The School will pay the cost of two German language courses with PunktUm, the service provider for international PhD students at Bielefeld University, so that they can earn the Certificate 'Deutsch' at the end of their first academic year.
The doctoral programme at the BGHS is formally completed after the successful submission of a scholarly study (dissertation) and the oral defence of the same ('disputation') at the Faculty of Sociology or the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology. After the successful completion of the programme, the students are awarded the grade of 'Dr. phil.'. For more information on how to formally start the actual graduation process click here.