Institute of Sociology

Welcome to the Institute of Sociology

With 13 professors and more than 40 researchers, the Institute of Sociology (IfS) at the University of Duisburg-Essen is one of the largest higher education and research departments in Sociology in the German-speaking world. Currently, about 2,000 students are enrolled in different study programs at the IfS. The department forms part of the Faculty for Social Sciences at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

The Institute of Sociology is embedded in a dynamic and innovative research environment at the University of Duisburg-Essen which was created in 2003 through a fusion of two different University campuses. Research-intensive university chairs, the Institute for Work, Skills and Training (IAQ) and the Institute of East Asian Studies (IN-EAST), contribute to the national and international academic recognition of IfS scholars across a broad range of research topics. Together with the Institute of Political Sciences, the Käte Hamburger Kolleg Center for Global Cooperation Research, the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (KWI), and the Faculty of Education, the IfS forms an interdisciplinary cluster in the Social Sciences that inspires both academic staff and students. The knowledge and expertise of members of the IoS is regularly solicited by practitioners in different societal fields (e.g. political parties, trade unions, municipalities).

Coronavirus - Latest

►Our offices are open again, but we kindly ask you to contact the person you'd like to meet by email first to arrange a date and time for meeting.

► General and comprehensive information can be found here.

► Further information for students can be found here (German).

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Global and Transnational Sociology Summer School

After two pandemic years where our summer school moved online, the Global and Transnational Sociology Summer School of the IfS took place on campus again this year. A big thank you to the lecturers, guest lecturers from Brazil, Ireland and the USA as well as the students for their commitment! Soon, you'll find information about next year's summer school in this place. It will take part from June 12th to July 7th 2023.

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