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Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences

The doctoral programme in Social Sciences at the University of Vienna serves to prepare doctoral candidates for academic work in their field of doctoral research as well as to educate and promote early stage researchers. The doctoral programme provides an academic education of international standard and entails independent academic work in the doctoral candidate’s field of doctoral research.

Curriculum & Field of Doctoral Research

• Short description of the curriculum
• Possible fields of research
• Required documents
• Admission procedure

Responsibilities & Contact

• Directors of the Doctoral Studies Programme
• Doctoral Advisory Board
• StudyServiceCenter

Doctoral School

• Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences Speaker: Thomas Meyer Website
• Vienna International School in Earth and Space Sciences Speaker: Glenn van de Ven Website
• Vienna Doctoral School in Cognition, Behavior, and Neuroscience - from Biology to Psychology and the Humanities (CoBeNe) Speaker: Martin Voracek Website

The Vienna Doctoral Schools offers a wide range of courses and services for doctoral students in the field of social sciences.

Before applying for admission, we recommend that you search for potential supervisors on the website of the Doctoral School and inform yourself about the specific admission requirements of the Doctoral School.

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Doctoral Programme of Social and Economic Sciences

University degree.

Doctoral programm of Social and Economic Sciences „Dr. rer. soc. oec.“

Start of studies

Summer term 2025

Duration of study

6 semesters

Teaching language

Type of study programme, about the study programme.

The Doctoral Programme of Social and Economic Sciences has an academic focus, with the aim of developing students’ ability to undertake autonomous research and contribute to the development of their subject area, and training academics and researchers with a capacity for critical reflection, objective debate and holistic thinking. The doctoral programme is designed to provide an excellent, internationally competitive education which will attract students from all over Austria and from the international academic community.

• Qualifications profile and skills
• Enhanced methodological and methodical expertise in the field of social and economic sciences
• Immersion in current theoretical issues and empirical research in the field of social and economic sciences
• Development of the ability to use appropriate scientific methods to address selected issues in the social and economic sciences
• Authorship of scholarly publications at an internationally recognised level
• Doctoral programmes

The doctoral programmes at the University of Graz are run as a network of persons with habilitation qualification from the same, similar or completely different subject areas, providing a high-quality, attractive additional qualifications for a limited number of doctoral students, with the aim of furthering scholarly debate and understanding. Participation is voluntary and by application.

• Career prospects

Preparation for a wide range of career paths

Graduates of this programme are sought-after recruits in industry, and as young academics and researchers in universities and non-university institutions, giving them opportunities to contribute to the development of the international knowledge society in academic and professional roles; some are destined for prestigious careers in the social and economic sciences, and to use the extensive knowledge they have acquired to examine the structures of everyday life in detail and to work for the benefit of society.

• Note on registration

A prerequisite for admission to the doctoral programme at the University of Graz is a degree or diploma in a relevant subject area from a recognised Austrian or foreign post-secondary institution. Additionally, the qualitative requirements need to be fulfilled too. 

Doctoral Academy

„The doctoral programme offers young researchers the opportunity to develop their expertise at the highest academic level in all research methods. The constructive exchange with professors is a highlight which spurs you on to the highest possible level of academic achievement when writing your thesis. “

Deadlines for application

The submission deadlines for admission applications vary depending on the doctoral programme.

Further information

Questions about Doctoral Programmes?

The doctoral academy is happy to help you, send us a message.

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Training the next generation of social scientists.

Career development and internationalisation

» Networking and visibility

» Funding and prizes

The Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences promotes innovative, excellent, problem-oriented research that aspires to contribute to societal debates and address key global challenges.

The cohorts trained and supported by the ViDSS are part of a vibrant research environment and international networks. The ViDSS encompasses and fosters connections between a broad range of disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives. The ViDSS embraces the entire range of epistemological, methodological and theoretical approaches that are employed at the Faculty of Social Sciences . Doctoral candidates receive research training and write a doctoral thesis in the fields of communication, demography, development studies, nursing science, political science, science and technology studies, social and cultural anthropology, and sociology. The ViDSS aims for the highest standards in doctoral training and close supervision to ensure a mastery of social scientific debates and relevant theories and methods. As a result, ViDSS graduates are highly employable both within and outside academia.

PhD in the spotlight

ÖGPH-Nachwuchspreis for ViDSS student

Communication scientist Elena Engel was awarded the early career researchers’ award of the Austrian Public Health Association (3rd place) for her paper about social media influencers as a new source of health information (co-authored with Sascha Gell, Raffael Heiss and Kathrin Karsay). Congratulations!

Marietta Blau-Grant for students in our programme

The Marietta Blau-Grant offers financial support for six- to twelve-month study periods abroad. Lena Dege-Barron (development studies) will stay in Mexico, Antonia Modelhart (political science) will use the grant to continue her research in Australia, Finland and Italy. Congratulations!

When your boss is a collective

Collective property in pastures and forests does not only affect the co-owners but also personnel employed seasonally on common alpine pastures as herders or for dairying. Lisa Francesca Rail gives an overview of the types of commons typical for the Austrian Alps and explains how labor conditions and wages are affected when employers are not natural persons but collectives. (In German)

The race for critical raw materials

In the Ö1 Podcast “Dimensionen”, political scientist Gabriel Eyselein provides insight into the European raw-material policy and raw materials’ criticality. In the face of geopolitical tensions and global competition, the EU is reassessing its strategies for securing these raw materials. (In German)

Episode 16 – Creating impact

While most PhDs have accepted that their research probably won’t change the world, they at least want to make some impact on society. But how? We talk to Nora Hansl and Stefan Sonntagbauer about strategies of making research more impactful and their experiences of being personally impacted by their research fields including parent-child relationships and ghost encounters.

ÖAW DOC Fellowships for students in our programme

Three doctoral candidates in the Social Sciences are among this year’s recipients of a DOC Fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Congratulations to Lena Dege-Barron (development studies), Gwen Göltl (sociology) and Melanie Saumer (communication)!

South America as China’s new backyard

Anna Preiser explains in an interview why China’s interest in South America is not only a continuation of the colonial history of the continent. For South American governments, investment from Asia may strengthen their position towards the old imperialist powers. Nevertheless, South American countries continue to be in a disadvantaged position in global trade. (In German)

Diversity and health

Access to healthcare depends on identity markers such as gender, age or social background. Together with Awa Naghipour, Lucia Mair explains why discrimination in the healthcare system manifests in medical knowledge, treatments, social interactions and the architecture of clinics. To understand why health is unequally distributed we also need to look beyond the healthcare system. (In German)

Amazon in the Arctic

(by Katrin Schmid)

“Do you mind if we swing by the hub on our way home?” We drive along the paved road through the industrial area of town, toward Iqaluit International Airport, then turn right, away from the passenger parking lot and towards a warehouse with yellow pillars out front. A large sign reads, “Canadian North, seriously northern,” yet this sign is misleading – a mark of begone ...

New publications by ViDSS students

Multilingual Challenges: Empirical Social Research in Migration Societies, Transnational Spaces, and International Contexts. / Holzinger, Clara ; Draxl, Anna-Katharina .

Publications : Book › Special Issue › Peer Reviewed

“I don't attribute that to the fact that I'm a foreigner” : Female CEE migrants in Austria and their perspectives on deskilling experiences. / Holzinger, Clara ; Draxl, Anna-Katharina .

Publications : Contribution to journal › Article › Peer Reviewed

Austria (Vol. 16, 2023). / Bauer, Dominique ; Mattes-Zippenfenig, Astrid .

Publications : Contribution to book › Chapter › Peer Reviewed

When good intentions aren’t enough: Intersectional invisibilities in academia and the decolonial turn. / Bauer, Dominique ; Paredes Grijalva, Daniela .

Conducting marine genetic research for whom? Mapping knowledge flows from science to patents. / Dunshirn, Paul (Corresponding author) ; Zhivkoplias, Erik.

Tactics and affordances in the mediatization of war: pro-Ukrainian cyber resistance on Telegram. / Canevez, Richard ; Maikovska, Kateryna ; Zwarun, Lara.

Publications : Electronic/multimedia output › Radio show

Knecht, Alban (2024). Mit Sozialpolitik regieren. Eine ressourcentheoretische Policy-Analyse der Beschäftigungsförderung benachteiligter Jugendlicher in Österreich. Opladen, Berlin und Toronto: Verlag Barbara Budrich. / Malschinger, Paul .

Publications : Other contribution to periodical › Book/Film/Event review

Sustainable flying? The effects of greenwashed claims in airline advertising on perceived greenwashing, brand outcomes, and attitudes toward flying. / Neureiter, Ariadne (Corresponding author) ; Hirsch, Melanie ; Matthes, Jörg et al.

Revisiting Reflexivity: Liveable Worlds in Research and Beyond. / Davies, Sarah (Editor) ; Schikowitz, Andrea (Editor) ; Mora-Gámez, Fredy (Editor) et al.

Publications : Book › Collection › Peer Reviewed

The Structural and Temporal Curb of Populism: A Cross-Country Analysis of Authoritarian Populist Influences on Journalism. / Celik, Burce ; Radl, Marlene ; Ribac, Marko et al.

Von Erreichtbarkeit und dem Erreichtwerden : Älter werdende Eltern mit Pflegeverantwortung im Forschungskontext. / Falkenstein, Thomas ; Werner, Marlene ; Nagl-Cupal, Martin .

Publications : Contribution to book › Chapter

Felt-bodily communication as a medium for parents and their children with care needs: a neo-phenomenology perspective. / Falkenstein, Thomas ; Mayer, Hanna ; Nagl-Cupal, Martin .

Publications : Contribution to conference › Other contribution to conference › Peer Reviewed

“Do you practice what you preach?” : The effects of celebrities' pro-environmental messages on social media on young adults’ pro-environmental behavior. / Quesada Baena, Luis ; Binder, Alice ; Neureiter, Ariadne et al.

Health-related communication of social media influencers: A scoping review. / Kanková, Jaroslava ; Binder, Alice ; Matthes, Jörg .

Four eyes, two truths: Explaining heterogeneity in perceived severity of digital hate against immigrants. / Kirchmair, Thomas ; Koban, Kevin ; Matthes, Jörg .

Blurring Boundaries: A longitudinal analysis of skills required in journalism, PR, and marketing job ads. / Bernhard, Jana ; Russmann, Uta.

"I can't see the forest for the ticks, uhm, trees…” : The role of online forums in parents’ vaccination trajectories. / Paul, Katharina Theresa (Corresponding author) ; Pichelstorfer, Anna ; Hansl, Nora et al.

The more you know…? How disclosures, persuasion knowledge training, and political fit impact cognitive processing of targeted political ads. / Noetzel, Selina (Corresponding author) ; Binder, Alice ; Matthes, Jörg .

Enacting the Future : Environmental Activism Worldwide. / Daniel, Antje (Corresponding author) ; Jasser, Marie Theresa ; Olarte Sanchez, Lorena Elizabeth .

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Organization.

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Social Work

In addition to a general education as a social worker and social educator, the FH Campus Wien Department of Social Work also offers a bachelor's degree program for trained kindergarten teachers. Within the framework of the master's degree programs, FH Campus Wien engages in innovative developments through spatial and clinical social work. In the European master's degree program in Social Economy, students receive a joint degree. Close cooperation with social work organizations and FH Campus Wien's own Research Center  raise the quality of teaching and research for all the degree programs.

Social Management in Early Education and Care

Spatial and clinical social work, social economy, children- and family-centered social work.

Acad. expert program

Soc. Pedagogy – Therapy in Child and Youth Welfare Services

Diversity in research.

Research and development are a significant and growing part of the activities of the Department of Social Work. Partnerships with social institutions and organizations, and project-related funding from FFG and MAGELF prove the recognized research expertise of FH Campus Wien. Master's students are constantly involved in R & D activities.

Head Department

FH-Prof. Mag. Dr. Elisabeth Steiner

Head of Department Social Work; Head of Master´s Degree Program Social Space Oriented and Clincal Social Work +43 1 606 68 77-3301 [email protected]

Secretary's office

E-mail address for inquiries concerning the Department of Social Work: [email protected]

For study-specific questions, please contact the secretary's office of the respective study program.

New study location

As of 12 th July 2021, all study programs of the Department of Social Work (Secretary's office, offices, teaching rooms) will be located at Kelsenstraße 2, 1030 Vienna. All teaching activities will take place at this location from winter semester 2021/22.