The ZEF Doctoral Studies Program is designed to give particular consideration to the academic needs of students from developing countries. ZEF provides intense study counseling and academic support services by tutors and mentors. Guided by ZEF, and following consultations with a potential thesis supervisor identified by ZEF, the doctoral thesis is submitted to a cooperating faculty in Germany or abroad.
Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR)
University of Bonn
| Location | The Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR) is based at the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn. The University of Bonn is one of Germany’s 11 Universities of Excellence and runs 12 International Graduate Schools, among them BIGS-DR. ZEF’s doctoral program is an excellent choice for those seeking to build a career in the field of sustainable development, including research, project development and implementation, or policy-making. Topics of special research interest at ZEF include sustainable food systems, agriculture, nutrition, health, climate change, biodiversity, migration, governance, and conflict, among others. The structured doctoral program BIGS-DR has a time frame of three to four years, comprising a tailor-made, interdisciplinary, and disciplinary study program including courses, supervision, and field research. LINK BIGS-DR |
| Course focus | BIGS-DR offers a broad, interdisciplinary approach to development research and sound training in theories and methods of selected disciplines. The doctoral students conduct practice-oriented field research in developing countries and/or development-related institutions. Combining theories, methods, and practical experience in the areas of social, economic, and ecological change enables students to explore new fields and be competitive in the international job market.
During the first year, students participate in courses offered by professors and senior researchers at ZEF, as well as professors from the University of Bonn, and vising international and German scholars. The courses provide students with interdisciplinary skills and disciplinary knowledge as well as with tools for their development-related field research. Students finalize their research plan, conduct field research, and finalize their dissertations under the supervision of a ZEF-affiliated professor and with the guidance of a scientific tutor. |
| Target group | Young scientists from all over the world with an outstanding master’s or equivalent degree in economics, political science, anthropology, agricultural and resource economics, agronomy, biology, ecology, forestry, mathematics, or earth sciences. Candidates should have work experience in national or international research institutions, governments, or the private sector. The program aims at educating highly qualified scientific staff, advisers, and managers for both the private and the public sectors. Interest in interdisciplinary research is essential for a successful application. |
| Course language | English |
| Entry requirements |
The application deadline for DAAD scholarships for enrollment in the subsequent year is August 31st. Applicants with individual funds can submit applications to BIGS-DR at any time. Entry requirements are subject to change. Please always refer to the BIGS-DR homepage. |
| Degree Awarded | All ZEF professors are members of a faculty at the University of Bonn. Doctoral students are being admitted at the same faculty as their doctoral supervisor. The degree is granted by the faculty after a successful defense and publication of the thesis. BIGS-DR doctoral students can also be under the supervision of a professor from outside the University of Bonn. In this case, they are admitted and receive a degree from the respective partner university. |
| Course Begins | Studies at BIGS-DR start with the academic year on the first working day of October annually. |
| Course Duration | The mandatory doctoral courses take place from October to April of the first year of studies. Completion of the doctoral studies vary between 3 and 4 years depending on the individual project. |
| Duration of German language course prior to beginning of programme | DAAD EPOS scholarship recipients take part in a mandatory German language course in August and September prior to the start of studies at BIGS-DR |
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Dr. Silke Tönsjost
Academic Coordinator
Bonn International Graduate School for Development Research (BIGS-DR)
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
University of Bonn
Genscherallee 3
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: ++49-228-731794
