Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences

Funded by the Excellence Initiative of the

German Federal and State Governments

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Bremen International Graduate School

of Social Sciences (BIGSSS)
Universitt Bremen
Wiener Strae / Ecke Celsiusstrae
D - 28359 Bremen

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Jacobs University
Campus Ring 1
D - 28759 Bremen
E-Mail: cpeters@bigsss.uni-bremen.de
Internet: www.bigsss-bremen.de
Published by BIGSSS
Edited by Judith Lucas and Dr. Christian Peters
Layout and Production by Wolfgang Zimmermann
Pictures provided by:
Universitt Bremen; Jacobs University; BTZ; Deutsche Telekom; Christian
Kairies-Kosak; Europaparlament; Harald Rehling; photocase.com_Pryce,
_zettberlin, _ Jo.Sephine_, _tomogul, _senior, _Psypion, _badmike,
_eris23, _brianh, _luxuz::,; Pia Pollmans; Wozi
Mai 2013

About BIGSSS
Ph.D. Program
Thematic Fields
Research Support at BIGSSS
Doctoral Supervision
Financial Support
The BIGSSS Network
Application and Admission
Principal Investigators*
Bremen and its two universities
Contact

*For a full list of faculty members, please refer to

Imprint

Content

people on our website: www.bigsss-bremen.de

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of its efforts and resources on supporting the outstanding

international body of Ph.D. and in addition predoctoral and
postdoctoral Fellows, their research, and their professional
development. The cooperation facilitates the early integration
of doctoral students into a strong research environment and
ensures a cutting-edge research orientation within BIGSSS.

The Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS)

is an inter-university Graduate School of Universitt Bremen (UB) and
Jacobs University (Jacobs), financed by the Excellence Initiative of the
German Federal and State Governments from 2007 until 2012 as well
as from 2012 until 2017.
BIGSSS integrates excellent areas of graduate education and research
at both universities into a synergetic inter-university institution designed to become an internationally competitive model of graduate
education. The Graduate School builds on the experience and institutional structure of both UBs Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS)
on the one hand and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
(SHSS) and the Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional
Development (JCLL) on the other. Founded upon the core disciplines
of political science, sociology and psychology, it also integrates
bordering disciplines and is supported by a solid foundation in social sciences methodology. BIGSSS offers advanced interdisciplinary
training, preparing fellows for leading positions inside and outside
of academia, both nationally and internationally. BIGSSS focuses all

Every September BIGSSS welcomes a new cohort of Ph.D.

Fellows to start the program. Highly motivated graduates
from all around the world are invited to apply. Successful
applicants will receive a stipend of 1300 a month for three
years; there are no tuition fees.
For further information, e.g. stipends for pre- and postdoctoral fellows, please read on and also please refer to the
BIGSSS website:
www.bigsss-bremen.de

1. About BIGSSS

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The integration of most major social-science disciplines into one school is

a key asset of BIGSSS. Our umbrella theme is Changing Patterns of Social
and Political Integration, which is subdivided into three thematic fields:
Global Governance and Regional Integration
Welfare State, Inequality, and Quality of Life
Changing Lives in Changing Socio-Cultural Contexts
While a specialized curriculum is dedicated to each of these research
fields, BIGSSS encourages its doctoral students to engage in the research
carried out in all thematic fields and to let their own work be challenged
by an interdisciplinary community of scholars. Teaching and research
within BIGSSS thematic fields is complemented by an emphasis on social
science methods through the BIGSSS Methods Center.

Global Governance
and Regional
Integration

In combination, these perspectives yield a panoramic view of the changing patterns of social and political integration in contemporary societies.

2. Ph.D. Program

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2.1 Thematic Fields

Thematic Field A: Global Governance and Regional Integration
The field on global governance and regional integration addresses the relationships between political, social, legal, historical, and economic developments in
the post-national constellation, that is, after the demise of the nation state as
container. It considers supranationalization (European integration) and globalization as part of a continuum of internationalization and studies the phenomenon of political integration, comparing processes and outcomes at different
levels and in different regions. Traditional forms of intergovernmental politics
are being complemented or superseded by international and supranational
regulatory regimes. Private actors, such as NGOs and multinational enterprises,
have also become more involved in the international sphere, generating what
has become known as transnational governance. The result is the emergence
of hybrid forms of governance that mix public, private, hard (legally binding)
and soft (based on persuasion and advice) governance.
Research questions in Thematic Field A fall into three groups:
1. The emergence of global or regional governance and the dynamics of
decision-making
2. The effectiveness of global and regional governance
3. Conflict, contestation, and legitimacy in global and regional governance

Welfare State,
Inequality,
and Quality of Life

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Thematic Field B: Welfare State, Inequality, and Quality of Life

This field integrates macro, meso and micro level research, and focuses on
the connection between social policies, patterns of inequality, and collective
and individual well-being. Welfare state regimes are being transformed and
the welfare states central role in government has been called into question.
Traditional social policies were designed to deal with social risks in an industrial society but as economies shift from manufacturing to knowledge-based,
manual labor ceases to be the dominant form of employment, education
moves center stage, and traditional industrial society class structures are
altered. The result has been a resurgence of economic and social inequality
and the emergence of new forms of insecurity in advanced industrial societies, with massive implications for collective and individual well-being.
Research questions in Thematic Field B fall into three groups:
1. How are European welfare states being affected by globalization, Europeanization, and new socio-economic and demographic patterns and what
new welfare state paradigms can we identify?
2. How have inequalities in income, health, living conditions, education and
other spheres of life changed over time and is the welfare state still able to
perform its central role of alleviating inequality, poverty and deprivation?
3. How are changing social structures and welfare state reform affecting the
quality of life?

Changing Lives
in Changing
Socio-Cultural
Contexts

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Thematic Field C: Changing Lives in Changing Socio-Cultural Contexts

To understand changing patterns of societal integration, we have to analyze the
complex interplay of social structures, culture, and individuals attitudes and behaviors across time. This means to examine the changing dynamics of individual
lives against a backdrop of political and social integration. Within Field C, this is
done by looking at the interplay of individual attitudes, capabilities, and behavior
and changing demographics, social structures, cultures, and institutions. This
study of macro-micro interrelations requires dynamic individual-level analyses,
embedded in multi-level models of social processes. Advanced sociological lifecourse and psychological lifespan research are powerful approaches to achieve
this goal.
Research questions in Thematic Field C fall into three groups:
Besides its provision of one-to-one supervision and
a foundational curriculum, BIGSSS fosters a vibrant
atmosphere of exchange between all fellows and
faculty by offering centralized offices and facilities
on each of our two campuses. BIGSSS endorses an
open-door policy and invites fellows to make use
of all available national and international contacts
within the BIGSSS network.

1. Global societal changes and individuals changing self-concepts, attitudes,

behaviors, and values all of which shape interactions between individuals
and individuals life courses.
2. Current demographic trends, changing labor markets, and changing social
welfare regimes as well as individuals educational and work biographies
3. The demands and opportunities in changing modern societies and the (re-)organization as well as stability of living arrangements and family relationships,
accompanied by changing gender-related attitudes, values, life priorities, and
life plans.

For further, more detailed, information on the program and the thematic fields,

please refer to http://www.bigsss-bremen.de/academic-program/overview/

3. Research Support at BIGSSS

BIGSSS has its own administrative staff and provides

office space, access to library resources at both
universities and all necessary computing resources.
In short, BIGSSS offers financial, technical and organizational support to enable fellows and faculty to
conduct their research as freely as possible.

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Doctoral Supervision
Financial Support
BIGSSS aims at focusing all its efforts and resources
on supporting the outstanding international body
of Ph.D. and predocotoral and postdoctoral Fellows,
their research, and their professional development.
The Ph.D. program offers close supervision of dissertation work while fostering early scientific independence. This is accomplished through demand-tailored
education within a vibrant research landscape. Our
Ph.D. Fellows receive relevant theoretical and methods training, acquire critical teaching experience,
and complete high-quality dissertations in a timely
manner.
Within the first two semesters Ph.D. Fellows choose
their Ph.D. Committee from among the BIGSSS faculty and from external institutions. The committee,
together with the respective Thematic Field Coordinator and the Director of Studies, closely supports the
Fellows progress.

BIGSSS offers Ph.D. stipends of 1300 F per month. The

stipends are granted for 36 months, contingent on the
successful completion of each year. There are no tuition
fees charged. Each semester Ph.D. Fellows pay a service
fee of approx.150 F which includes access to facilities at
both universities as well as a semester ticket for public
transportation for within and outside Bremen.
BIGSSS also accepts a number of postdoctoral Fellows
each year, providing them support and time to produce
initial publications out of their dissertations. Postdoctoral Fellows can be employed for a period of up to two
years. BIGSSS also accepts some predoctoral fellows as to
allow outstanding Bachelor Graduates an early entry into
research with a stipend of 850 F per month.
To support its Ph.D. and postdoctoral Fellows in achieving scientific independence, BIGSSS also provides funds
for conducting, presenting, and publishing research.
There is no separate funding application needed.

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The BIGSSS Network

BIGSSS is supported by research institutes from both

universities with long-standing traditions of international and national cooperation and itself cooperates
with numerous partner-institutions around the globe.
Founded upon the experience of institutions at both
universities BIGSSS can rely upon a long list of associated alumni.
For a full list of all institutions and job placements of
alumni, please refer to Network and Alumni and Job
Placements under
www.bigsss-bremen.de

4. Application and Admissions

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BIGSSS invites applications to its Ph.D., predoctoral and postdoctoral program. Successful applicants for the fellowships will pursue a
topic in one of BIGSSS three thematic fields. The ads are published
in November of every year.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is

February 15th of each year in
order to start the program in
the following September.

Ph.D. Fellowship

Admission to graduate studies requires:

1. an excellent higher education degree in a discipline
pertinent to one of BIGSSS Thematic Fields (Masters
Degree, its German equivalents, Diplom or Magister,
Staatsexamen (German state examination)),
2. a complete transcript of each college or university
the applicant attended,
3. certification of English language proficiency
5. a preliminary dissertation proposal,
6. a statement of purpose and an outline of career
perspectives which describe how the applicants
research intended at BIGSSS fit with his/her personal
and professional career,
7 two recent letters of recommendation
8. a curriculum vitae, as well as
9. a statement of skills and experiences with methods
of empirical social research.

Postdoctoral Positions

The Bremen International Graduate

School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS)
invites applications to its Postdoctoral
program.
The competition is open to candidates
who have received a doctorate in
political science, sociology, psychology, law, economics or mass communication within the last 5 years or
who can be expected to finish prior to
commencing their stay as postdoctoral
Fellows.

Affiliated Fellowship

BIGSSS offers Predocotoral

Fellowships for particularly
talented BA graduates. After
fulfilling some course requirements and having their
proposals accepted within
the first year, candidates can
switch into the regular three
year PhD program.

Visiting Fellowships

BIGSSS continuously invites

applications by doctoral candidates from other institutions
to conduct a research stay at
BIGSSS. Such Visiting Fellows
should be working on a thesis
which falls into one of BIGSSS
three thematic fields. The stay
is unfunded, but office space
and access to the universities
libraries are provided.

Further Information
Please find out more about requirements and the application process under:
www.bigsss-bremen.de Please refer to Admissions and the respective fellowship.
Email inquiries about the application process should be sent to
admissions@bigsss.uni-bremen.de

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The following professors are key figures in the development

and ongoing academic success of BIGSSS:

Bremen, the Hanseatic city

along the river

Steffen Mau (Dean) Sociology

Klaus Boehnke (Vice Dean) Psychology
Klaus Schlichte (Vice-Dean)
Political Science
Jan Delhey
Adele Diederich
Uwe Engel
Philipp Genschel
Karin Gottschall
Johannes Huinink
Christian Joerges
Ulrich Khnen
Ulrike Liebert
Sarianna M. Lundan

Philipp Manow
Kerstin Martens
Frank Nullmeier
Herbert Obinger

Sociology
Psychology
Sociology
Political Science
Sociology
Sociology
Law
Psychology
Political Science
Business Studies and
Economics
Political Science
Political Science
Political Science
Politcial Science

For a full list of faculty members, please refer to

people on our website: www.bigsss-bremen.de

Heinz Rothgang
Uwe Schimank
Susanne K. Schmidt
Klaus Schmann
Margrit Schreier
Ursula M. Staudinger
Marco Verweij
Michael Windzio

Economics
Sociology
Political Science
Sociology
Psychology
Psychology
Political Science
Sociology

Director of Studies
Mandy Boehnke

Sociology

5. Principal Investigators

Founded 1200 years ago, Bremen is

an international seaport and trading
center with two universities, high-tech
industry, picturesque and vibrant city
quarters steeped in history and city
outskirts conveying rustic country
charm.

6. Bremen and its two universities

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Universitt Bremen
Universitt Bremen was founded in 1971 and is considered
to be a reform university in its pursuit of new approaches to
teaching and research. These reform ideas evolved into an
attractive educational concept, characterized by interdisciplinary and practice-oriented project studies which enjoy a
high reputation in the academic world as well as in business
and industry. For many years now, the University of Bremen
has been among the top league of German universities in the
area of research. Since June 2012, the University of Bremen is
entitled University of Excellence having been awarded funding by the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and
State Governments.
Universitt Bremen is
a place of study for some 20000 students,
a place of research for 1900 full time scientists and scholars,
a place of work for more than 1300 full-time employees.
For further information, please refer to www.uni-bremen.de

Jacobs University Bremen

Jacobs University Bremen, a private English-language
residential university, is distinguished by its international orientation and highly selective admission,
exclusively based on the candidates academic and
personal potential. Opened in 2001, the university
is dedicated to excellence and innovation, intercultural education and transdisciplinary research, and
sees its mission in preparing tomorrows leaders to
responsibly meet the global challenges of the 21st
century.
Jacobs University is
a place of study for 1200 students from over 90
nations,
a place of optimum teaching conditions with
student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1,
a place of research and teaching in a broad range
of fields in engineering, the natural, life, and social
sciences
For further information, please refer to
www.jacobs-university.de

Dr. Christian Peters

Executive Secretary
Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS)
Postfach 33 04 40
D 28334 Bremen
Germany
e-mail: cpeters@bigsss.uni-bremen.de
Phone: +49 (0)421 218 66 402 / -66 389
Fax: +49 (0)421 218 66 353
Judith Lucas
Senior Coordinator of the Deans office
Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS)
Postfach 33 04 40
D 28334 Bremen
Germany
e-mail: jlucas@bigsss.uni-bremen.de
Phone: +49 (0)421 218 66460; +49 (0)421 200 3950

Regarding the BIGSSS admissions process, please contact:

admissions@bigsss.uni-bremen.de

www.bigsss-bremen.de

7. Contact