Introduction

On 1 September 2006, the Faculty of Spatial Sciences (FRW) of the University of Groningen started its own Graduate School of Spatial Sciences (GSSS). The GSSS includes the existing Research Master (ReMa) in Regional Studies of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences and the PhD track of the faculty. The Graduate School of Spatial Sciences has a unique multidisciplinary perspective, i.e. a combination of economic geography, cultural geography, planning and demography.

The objective of the Graduate School of Spatial Sciences is to provide high quality education for students who want to be trained as researchers in Spatial Science, either at Research Master or PhD level. High quality education can be guaranteed as teaching is linked to highly qualified research by senior researchers. The Graduate School of Spatial Sciences strongly emphasizes the integration of research by senior researchers, PhD researchers and Research Master students. The Graduate School programme is linked to the Bachelor Challenge Programme that aims at attracting motivated, research-oriented and excellent students.

PhD researchers conduct their research in one of the research programmes of the Faculty of Spatial Science. The Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI) is the governing body directing research at our faculty. For more information about the research programmes click here. URSI in turn is linked with the national research school NETHUR. There are two more research institutes to be found under the roof of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences. First, the Populations Research Centre (PRC) and secondly, the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). The CDS is a cooperation between several faculties at the University of Groningen.

Below you will find a diagram with a schematic overview of the programme of the Graduate School of Spatial Sciences. For an overview of the organizational structure click here.