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This model for study and doctoral work, which is based on the US example, has so far been unique nationwide and is funded as part of the German federal government’s Excellence Initiative. The new Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science aims to attract the brightest minds worldwide and win them over to research at an early stage. Until now, it was more attractive, particularly for foreign students, to go to the USA or Anglo-Saxon countries after completing a bachelor’s degree, because doctoral scholarships are awarded there at master’s level.
Students with a strong interest in research can enter the doctoral programme in Saarbrücken directly after completing a bachelor’s degree. Over three semesters, the students receive broad scientific training through lectures and seminars. They must then pass a qualifying examination, followed by the research and dissertation phase. Alternatively, as before, students are also admitted after completing a master’s degree; they too are prepared individually for their research phase and must take a qualifying examination. During the preparatory phase, students receive support through the Graduate School in the form of scholarships (around €700 per month) or student-assistant contracts. The doctoral phase is financed through scholarships (around €1,400 per month) or staff positions. Special support is also planned for female students.
The Graduate School has a competitive admissions process. All students receive intensive supervision, and their progress is jointly assessed by all professors every semester. They are also taught so-called soft skills, for example on the subject of “Scientific Writing and Presenting”. Shared offices during the preparatory phase are intended to foster team spirit among the students.
The International Graduate School of Computer Science encompasses all doctoral training in computer science at Saarland University. Its goal is to establish itself among the world’s ten best academic training institutions in computer science. Alongside the computer science department at Saarland University, the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) participate in research and teaching within the Graduate School.
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