Welcome to the University of Bonn
Bonn is one of Germany’s growth regions and, despite the fact that the parliament and much of the government moved to new capital city Berlin in 1999, Bonn is more international than ever. The city, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, hosts top-class museums, theaters, and concert halls and is also an excellent science region with a number of high-profile research institutes and a prospering business center. Get more information on Ludwig van Beethoven´s birthplace – Bonn. 

The Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn was founded in 1818 and is one of the leading universities in Germany and a particularly attractive destination for foreign researchers and students. It is a modern research-oriented university, which offers over 150 B.A., M.A., and PhD programs. Outstanding research focus areas at the University of Bonn are Life Sciences, Physics/Astronomy, Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, Pharma Research, Philosophy/Ethics, and Geosciences. As an internationally active research university, the University of Bonn has excellent relationships to renowned universities and research institutes from around the world. International students as well as doctoral students who decide to join the University of Bonn find a great support by diverse extra offered activities. Find out which activities these are for doctoral students.

Excellent research environment
The University of Bonn makes full use of the opportunities offered by its location in the ABC region (Aachen-Bonn-Cologne). The three ABC universities cooperate in many areas. This multilayered research landscape is also home to four universities of applied science, a whole host of research institutes belonging to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Center), the Max Planck Society, the Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (caesar), the Life & Brain Research Center, and the Helmholtz Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases. In addition to all this, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (German Academic Exchange Service) are all located in Bonn.

Bonn Graduate Center
The Bonn Graduate Center (BGC) is the central point of contact for any general or organizational concerns regarding doctoral studies. If you are currently pursuing or planning to pursue a doctoral degree, please feel free to visit the BGC´s website and to contact their team. Are you interested in earning a doctoral degree in Bonn? Are you already a doctoral researcher at the University of Bonn? Or do you work for the University as a postdoc? The Graduate Center will be happy to consult with you on any question you may have about doctoral studies in Bonn and about planning your academic career afterwards. In particular, the Graduate Center, together with its cooperation partners offers training and further education measures for doctoral researchers at the University of Bonn. Furthermore, the BGC provides information on funding opportunities for doctoral candidates and postdocs, as well as an overview of scholarship announcements at the University of Bonn.

Bonn Graduate Center´s newsletter for doctoral students
A newsletter keeps up-to-date on news about doctoral studies, the skills training program Doctorate Plus, current support and funding opportunities offered by Bonn Graduate Center, and more. Interested doctoral students can subscribe for the quarterly Bonn Graduate Center´s newsletter. Past editions of the newsletter are available and can be downloaded here.

Structured doctoral programs and the Bonn International Graduate Schools
The University of Bonn offers many structured doctoral programs with a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary curriculum designed to help students realize their full potential and prepare for a successful career. Available programs can be found in different disciplines. Get more information on the current programs.

Under the umbrella of Bonn International Graduate Schools (BIGS), the University of Bonn offers excellent doctoral programs conforming to the highest international standards. These programs provide graduate students with an excellent academic environment, outstanding research conditions, access to international research partnerships and educational programs tailored to their needs. BIGS provide the best possible preparation to start a high-level career in academia and beyond.