Graduate schools
At Wageningen University & Research, academic research and the PhD programme are coordinated by six Graduate Schools that together join forces under the umbrella of Wageningen Graduate Schools (WGS).
Graduate Schools have three main tasks:
- To coordinate, develop and facilitate doctoral education and training.
- To stimulate and coordinate the development of a coherent research programme within the mission of the graduate school.
- To safeguard, monitor and stimulate the quality and progress of research by staff, postdocs and PhD candidates.
The Graduate Schools of Wageningen University & Research and their areas of research are described below. It should be noted that research groups can participate in more than one Graduate School, but a PhD candidate usually belongs to only one Graduate School.
Our Graduate Schools
Graduate Schools
EPS
The national Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS) organises and coordinates fundamental and strategic plant research of the collaborating universities and institutes, aiming at the development of new principles in plant molecular biology, plant physiology, plant growth for sustainable agriculture and horticulture, plant breeding and plant protection.
EPS
The national Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS) organises and coordinates fundamental and strategic plant research of the collaborating universities and institutes, aiming at the development of new principles in plant molecular biology, plant physiology, plant growth for sustainable agriculture and horticulture, plant breeding and plant protection.
PE&RC
The mission of Production Ecology and Resource Conservation (PE&RC) is “Understanding the functioning of natural and managed ecosystems to improve the quality of life”. This mission can be viewed from a local, regional and global perspective, considering bio-/geo-physical and socio-economic objectives and constraints.
VLAG
The mission of VLAG Graduate School (VLAG) is to develop the careers of young researchers and to promote research collaboration in Biobased, Biomolecular, Chemical, Food and Nutrition Sciences.
WASS
The mission of Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) is to understand social processes with regard to today’s global challenges of disparities and poverty, of responsible production and consumption, of natural resource use and the environment, as well as of knowledge in society.
WIAS
The mission of Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS) is to improve our understanding of animals and their various roles for mankind through fundamental and strategic research and training of early stage researchers (PhD and post-doc).
WIMEK
Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research (WIMEK) aims to develop an integrated understanding of environmental change, its impact on the quality of life and sustainability and offers solutions for environmental improvement by:
- conducting innovative scientific and technological research.
- offering PhD training and education.
- dissemination emerging insights, recent research results and novel technological & policy approaches to companies, regulating authorities and society.
Education
Together, the 6 Graduate Schools offer a variety of courses, focused on development of (academic) competences, skills and career. The courses are open for enrollment for PhD- and EngD candidates, postdocs and staff. For an overview of the courses and registration possibilities, see the Wageningen Graduate Schools course registration tool.