Doctoral Program

The Center for Development Research (ZEF) in Bonn, Germany, offers a structured PhD program in English language, the  Bonn Interdisciplinary Graduate School for Development Research (BiGS-DR).

The program has become internationally renowned since its inception in 1999. In its size (around 140 PhD students a year), internationality (students from around 67 different countries) and interdisciplinarity, the program is unique in Germany and Europe.

By pooling the expertise of the three departments, this three year doctoral program enables the students to take advantage of ZEF´s strength in interdisciplinary development research and cooperation with national and international institutions.

The program aims at educating future decision makers from developing countries and Europe for international careers. It is an initiative to provide a high-qualification to up-coming young scientists, academic staff, advisers, and managers for both the private and public sectors. BiGS offers an interdisciplinary approach to research on development issues. The educational approach of BiGS safeguards excellence in the student’s discipline and at the same time teaches an understanding of and an ability to work in other development related disciplines. Combining theories, methods, and practical experience in the areas of social, economic, and ecological change enables students to explore new fields and be competitive on an international job market.

The targeted group of participants are students around the world with outstanding master (first or upper second class honours) or equivalent degrees acquired in their home countries or from elsewhere; young scientists from universities or already employed in national or international research institutions, government, or the private sector with a keen interest in interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving.

Educational concept
The BiGS combines components of the German and the Anglo-Saxon graduate systems. It offers an intensive course program of about 700 teaching hours per year. BiGS involves an intensive structured program of courses conducted by ZEF’s senior researchers and professors from other faculties at the University of Bonn, and guest professors. 

The courses include the classical fields of environmental disciplines within natural sciences, and the economic, political, and social-cultural dimensions of development. They are offered in three modules, divided into periods of one to three months. The entire program is conducted in English. Students are required to finalize two course modules and pass their exams prior to undertaking their field research. Details are described in the Study Rules of BiGS-DR.

ZEF attaches great importance to practical research to be carried out in a developing country or a development-related institution. Leading researchers from all over the world conduct top-class research at ZEF and also teach at BiGS.

The structure of the doctoral program is tailored to the individual academic needs of the students, in particular for those coming from developing countries. ZEF provides intense study counselling and academic support services by tutors and mentors. It offers an all-round service to ensure that you can quickly settle into your studies and everyday life in Bonn. The services range from helping to find a place to live over support for visa application to preparations for the field research.

The participants may obtain a doctoral degree in sociology, political science, social anthropology, economics, agricultural economics, agriculture, forestry, mathematics or natural science, which is granted by the respective university faculty, which is usuall the faculty of the first supervisor. Students may pursue their doctoral study under direct supervision of ZEF professors but can also be associated with ZEF while being supervised elsewhere. Arrangements within the selected German university are made to ensure that a student is accepted by a distinguished advisor and is acceptable to his/her faculty. The majority of doctoral students are supervised and examined by professors of the the University of Bonn. But the doctoral degree may also be obtained within sandwich programs at other qualified universities in Europe or overseas.