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GGK Study Programme

The GGK was first founded as a formalized doctoral programme in 2001. What sets it apart from more traditional courses of study is that it belies the stereotype of a lone student scribbling away in solitude; instead, doctoral candidates in the GGK programme become part of an active community of scholars from the outset. Today, there are more than 400 doctoral researchers in Faculties 03, 04, and 05.

A doctorate at the GGK is built upon three foundational 'pillars':

  1. A research specialization that ultimately, after three to five years of study, leads to the conferring of a doctoral degree,
  2. A comprehensive, voluntary instructional programme to accompany the dissertation phase,
  3. Your participation with other young researchers in a collaborative group – these are called sections or working groups (AGs). These groups provide a space free from hierarchy where doctoral candidates have an opportunity to introduce their degree projects, arrange speaking engagements with researchers from other institutions, or organize conferences.

The doctoral programme of study complements the institute’s advanced seminars and colloquia by offering specialized instructional initiatives that are compatible with each other. These are organized by the GGK/GCSC Career Service and the GCSC Teaching Centre, among others, and take on a variety of formats meant to accompany doctoral students from the first semester through to their dissertation defence. The intention is not only to broaden students’ skills as practitioners of cultural studies while they are enrolled at the university, but also to encourage the acquisition of secondary competencies that will serve them well beyond completion of their doctorate, whether they choose to work in academia or in a different sector. These competencies include, for example, organizational and management skills and practiced self-composure in front of large groups. That, and much more, is what you will learn at the GGK.

We offer the following instructional formats:

  • Introductory course in doctoral studies
  • Advanced course in doctoral studies
  • Scientific writing instruction
  • Research colloquia
  • Methodological seminars
  • Guest speaker engagements
  • Specialized workshops
  • Disputation preparation course


Current offerings are published in the GCSC’s course catalogue.