Understanding social and political institutions

The Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences at the Humboldt University Berlin aims to become an internationally recognised centre for training young social scientists in and around Berlin. The School follows in the tradition of integrated and interdisciplinary social sciences. Studies focus on the question of how modern societies overcome problems, such as the participation and exclusion of certain population groups, diversity and discrimination, as well as heterogenisation and individualisation. Two interdisciplinary and mutually-related lines of research determine the research activities and the measures to promote young researchers at the BGSS: * Laboratory Europe: Democracy and society beyond the national state. * Protection, precaution and safety. The transformation of modern countries and the changing significance of civil society. The model involves a one-year preparatory phase plus a three-year doctoral programme, but also offers particularly qualified graduates holding a Master’s degree the opportunity to take the fast track into the doctoral programme. The participating institutions include * Humboldt University Berlin (host institution) * Freie Universität Berlin * Centre Marc Bloch, Berlin * Social Science Research Center Berlin * Hertie School of Governance, Berlin