The study programme at GSDW
The GSDW's study programme consists of six teaching formats. These will be discribed here.
Please find further lectures, courses, and seminars via "further courses".
Colloquium
The colloquium is held by two Principal Investigators from different disciplines. The colloquium is centred around questions, concepts, and theories relevant for all fields of ancient studies represented in the Graduate School, and thereby facilitates an interdisciplinary exchange. In order for the attendance of a colloquium to be counted as a Hauptseminar, the participant is required to hold a presentation (the presentation may, but by no means must be related to the dissertation topic). The participant will thereupon receive a certificate (Schein/Hauptseminar-äquivalenter Leistungsnachweis); each Fellow is required to participate in two colloquia during his or her fellowship.
Two colloquia are held every summer semester.
Methodology seminar
The methodology seminar presents concepts and methods from different fields of ancient studies, e.g. Archaeology I: Material Culture and History; Archaeology II: Image Studies; Philology, Cultural and Religious Studies; Sociology and Anthropology. The methodology seminar is organised as a series of lectures by different speakers ranging from the Graduate School’s Principal Investigators to international and national experts. An open discussion follows each lecture. The lectures may be supplemented by readings prepared in advance. The fellows are not required to present papers in this seminar.
The methodology seminar is offered every semester and must be attended twice during the fellowship.
Research Forum
The research forum is a colloquium for the doctoral fellows in which all current dissertations are presented to and discussed with the assembled members of the GSDW or, alternatively, smaller groups of doctoral fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and Principal Investigators. The research forum is held every semester, and attendance is mandatory. Each fellow is required to present a brief (20 min.) update on his or her dissertation once per year; a discussion of the presented material follows (20 min.), in which participating fellows and PIs can ask questions and provide feedback. Each doctoral fellow is required to present once per year for a total of three presentations in the course of his or her (three-year) fellowship. The middle presentation may be shortened to 10 minutes if wished.
Semester abroad: If a fellow spends a semester abroad and presents his/her project there in a similar colloquium, he/she may be excused from the research forum during that semester. The fellow must, however, submit a written acknowledgement of his participation from his/her supervisor at the hosting in order for the substitution to be recognised by the GSDW.
Predoc: If a graduate student begins his/her fellowship as a predoctoral fellow and therefore spends four years in the GSDW, the presentation in the research forum in his/her first year counts as one of the obligatory three presentations.
Seminar of the MZAW Visiting Professor
The MZAW visiting professor holds a seminar every semester. The focus of each seminar varies according to the academic background of the current professor, who is, however, asked to present the material in an interdisciplinary way and to incorporate theories and questions from other fields. Doctoral fellows are required to attend one seminar of an MZAW visiting professor during their fellowship. In order for participation to be recognised and a certificate (Schein/Hauptseminar-äquivalenter Leistungsnachweis) awarded, the attendee must hold a presentation in the seminar.
show all Seminars of the MZAW Visiting Professor
Group meetings
The Focus Areas in the GSDW are interdisciplinary research groups led by one or two postdoctoral fellows. In these groups, hermeneutically important theories and concepts form various fields are to be discussed. The groups also provide an environment for improving soft skills and for discussing individual issues concerning the dissertation. The postdoctoral fellow acts as a mentor and academic advisor for the doctoral fellows in his or her group. Work done in the Focus Areas may also lead to the organisation of workshops and/or conferences.
Specialised Advanced Seminar
Specialised advanced seminars are seminars given by the participating professors at the Münchner Zentrum für Antike Welten (MZAW) offered as part of the GSDW curriculum. Since these seminars usually focus on a specific discipline and involve discussion of its methodology, participation in a specialised advanced seminar may replace participation in a methodology seminar.
The range of specialised advanced seminars offers each fellow the chance to follow his or her own interests and motivations apart from the obligatory curriculum.show all Specialised Advanced Seminars