The Idea: Academic Excellence and Practical Relevance

What is the idea behind studying at a Graduate School? In the United States this question does not arise since all master’s and doctoral programs are traditionally united under the roof of either a Graduate School or a Professional School, depending on the subject. The curricula of the disciplines are rooted in the departments, which are equivalent to the German faculties and/or institutes. This model has numerous advantages. For example, prospective students do not need to gather information about master’s programs or doctoral regulations from every single academic department. For all students enrolled, the Graduate School serves as a neutral cross-disciplinary point of contact where they can bring forward their concerns, ideas or personal problems. In addition, joint activities foster the relations between lecturers and students and thereby promote interdisciplinarity and a graduate community.

 The Dean of Leuphana Graduate School is responsible for all graduate and doctoral programs at Leuphana University and also serves as a Vice President on the University’s Presidential Committee. Deans of Studies for each master’s program ensure direct communication between the Graduate School and the faculties, and each major of a master’s program is assigned a professor as a course leader. In addition, a Standing Commmittee on Graduate Studies, equally composed of professors and students, allows to discuss transdisciplinary aspects of the master’s programs. So there are many ways to give the graduate student community one voice.

At Leuphana Graduate School, we do not only conceive community as a structure, but also place emphasis on transdisciplinarity in terms of content. Therefore all master’s students have the opportunity and obligation to learn something about the theories, research methods and ethical principles applied in other disciplines. This exciting excursion into the world of science is offered within the scope of the Complementary Studies – a program consisting of three modules which complement the master’s studies and which may add a new perspective to a student’s final thesis. Even in the major, interdisciplinarity is a central theme since today’s labor market requires continuous adaptation to changing contents and framework conditions. Graduates from Leuphana Graduate School will meet these requirements because they have learned to look at the world from different perspectives.

The Graduate School also provides financial support to students pursuing their master’s or doctoral degree. Highly qualified and socially committed students are offered a wide range of master’s and doctoral scholarships, a variety unique within the German academic landscape.

Master’s students with an excellent academic performance can shorten their path to a doctoral degree. The so-called fast track program gives master’s students holding an outstanding bachelor’s degree the opportunity to complete mandatory modules of the doctoral program. Challenging research incentives, early networking with doctoral candidates and advisors and, last but not least, academic recognition of the modules for subsequent doctoral studies provide an optimal basis for a fast academic career.

Being part of the community also implies interacting socially and sharing experiences. This is why Leuphana Graduate School invites all master’s and doctoral candidates as well as all lecturers, friends and sponsors to come together toward the end of the year and enjoy a hot cup of coffee. In summer we close the semester with a barbecue party.

We are looking forward to welcoming you as a member of our graduate community.