Institute of Sociology

Sociology in Göttingen

The Institute of Sociology at the University of Göttingen focuses on the scientific examination of structures and dynamics of social inequalities, especially with regard to the world of work, education, the welfare state and challenges of social coexistence, for example of people of different faiths or with or without migration experience. There are many opportunities for cooperation on the Göttingen Research Campus with its contemporary-oriented regional research centers on India (CEMIS) and East Asia (CeMEAS), the Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), the Center for Migration Research (CeMIG) and the Göttingen Center for Gender Studies (GCG). The Institute also cooperates with non-university institutions such as the Sociological Research Institute (SOFI) and the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity (MPIMMG).

The Institute of Sociology is supported by the following professorships:
• Interdisciplinary Criminological Research (Bliesener)
• Sociology / Migration and Ethnicity (Hans)
• Sociology / Social Stratification (Kurz)
• Sociology / Work, Companies and Economy (Mayer-Ahuja)
• Religious Studies / Social Scientific Studies of Religion (Nagel)
• Sociology with Focus on Digitalisation in the World of Work« (Nies)
• Sociology / Social Policy (Weishaupt)
• Sociology and Sociological Theory (Nell)


The internationally comparative research profile of the Göttingen Institute of Sociology is also reflected in our course selection. In the BA- and MA programmes sociology students do not only receive a comprehensive education on theories and methods, which is carried out in cooperation with the Centre of Methods in Social Sciences, but they can also choose from a large number of comparative courses or courses with a regional focus in the various fields of sociology. Furthermore, the Göttingen Institute of Sociology is involved in educating doctoral students in the framework of the Göttingen Graduate School of Social Sciences (GGG). Although the language of instruction is predominantly German, we usually offer a few classes in English each semester.