PhD / Doctorate •

Degree

Dr

Course location

Münster

Teaching language

• English

Languages

English only

Programme duration

6 semesters

Beginning

Only for doctoral programmes: any time

Application periods

This programme has no deadline listed.

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme

No

Joint degree / double degree programme

No

Description/content

The Graduate School for Geoinformatics (GSGI) provides a structured doctoral education in the interdisciplinary field of geoinformatics. 

GI (geoinformation) is a powerful economic factor: around 80% of all decisions in society are said to have a spatial component, due to the fact that everything happens somewhere at some time. GI is essential to numerous application areas, ranging from environmental and regional planning through transportation and logistics to telecommunication and energy provision. As a result of substantial growth, there is a severe lack of qualified GI professionals in industry, government, and academia. Globally, geospatial technology is often mentioned as a high-growth industry sector. Career chances for graduates with GI-related skills can therefore be considered to be very good.

Therefore, the objectives of the Graduate School for Geoinformatics are to accomplish the following:

Create an international centre of excellence for research on information integration, with a focus on both geospatial applications and locational reference as an integration enabler

Foster innovation in this area through a highly interdisciplinary research environment

Produce a critical mass of excellent graduates with doctoral degrees who will be well positioned to compete internationally for strategic and leadership positions in industry, government, and academia

Course organisation

Research programme:
The research programme targets substantial progress on spatial data science, machine learning, spatial intelligence, and situated computing. Consequently, the graduate school currently hosts doctoral researchers from various backgrounds, such as geoinformatics, computer science, geography, ecology, mathematics, and information systems.

Qualification concept:
The education and training programme is structured into six phases, each of them containing a small set of specific milestones. An integral part of the education and training programme is the modular course programme (equivalent to 30 ECTS credit points), which includes an optional one-month training module and a six-month mobility measure with an external partner. The education and training programme represents a joint and harmonised education effort, combining existing and specially developed courses and other qualification measures into a synergistic and flexible structure. Innovative aspects of the programme are an annual international symposium organised by the students themselves, a monthly virtual joint seminar using teleconferencing between the sites, a vibrant visiting researcher programme, and career development measures targeted to the job market.

The Graduate School for Geoinformatics produces a critical mass of excellent graduates with doctoral degrees in a field in which experts are needed economically and socially. Education will be at the highest level (level eight) of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) with the respective learning outcomes:

• knowledge at the most advanced frontier of geographic information science and at the interface between fields such as computer science, information systems, geosciences, and others
• the most advanced and specialised skills and techniques for acquiring, managing, integrating and using GI, required to solve the critical problems in research and society mentioned above
• demonstrated GI competence in terms of substantial authority, innovation, autonomy, scholarly and professional integrity, and sustained commitment to the development of new ideas or processes at the forefront of work in industry, government, and research, with strong leadership skills

Graduates of the Graduate School for Geoinformatics will apply and develop methods for computer-supported solutions to spatially referenced problems (global, regional, local). They receive specialised knowledge in geospatial technologies and geographic information science as well as in informatics and mathematics. The following core competencies are taught within the regular courses or in additional courses: English language, research methods, creative and critical thinking for problem-solving, decision-making and responsibility, individual initiative, teamwork, presentation of results (oral, written), practical experience, multicultural competencies.

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International elements

• International guest lecturers
• Projects with partners in Germany and abroad

Course-specific, integrated German language courses

No

Course-specific, integrated English language courses

No

Tuition fees per semester

None

Semester contribution

We do not charge tuition fees. However, students must pay a semester contribution fee of approx. 355 EUR per semester. This includes various services for students as well as a "semester ticket" covering public transportation in Münster and all of Germany.

You can find more information here .

Costs of living

We recommend that students budget at least 1,000 EUR per month to meet personal expenses (accommodation, living, health insurance).

You can find more information here:
https://www.uni-muenster.de/international/en/studierende/general-information/cost-and-funding.html .

Funding opportunities within the university

Yes

Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

The Graduate School for Geoinformatics is not in itself a funded project. Consequently, the call for applications primarily offers places and supervision for doctoral researchers. These places might be accompanied by scholarships or research positions (see each specific call).

Academic admission requirements

The formal requirement is a Master's degree. The graduate school hosts doctoral researchers from various backgrounds, such as geoinformatics, computer science, geography, ecology, mathematics, and information systems.

German language skills

No minimum language level required

English language skills

B2 required, proof via placement test/interview

Application periods

This programme has no deadline listed.

Submit application via

Please check this website .

Accommodation

As in all popular university cities in Germany, accommodation is in high demand and not easy to find in Münster – but it's not impossible either! Like most German universities, we do not have our own student halls of residence. However, the "Studierendenwerk", a governmental organisation, offers student halls in Münster . You can find additional information on housing options here and here (only in German).

When contacting about private offers, be careful! Please make sure that you never transfer money before you sign the rental contract. Ideally, you should be able to talk personally to the potential landlord, even if you are still abroad (via phone, video call, etc.) If you are not sure whether an offer is real or possibly a fraud, please feel free to contact the team of our International Office and send us the offer.

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Support for international students and doctoral candidates

• Welcome event
• Tutors
• Specialist counselling

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