The University supports Master’s students with above-average academic performance through the new Honours Programme. Participants receive personalised career guidance, support in pursuing their research interests – and gain exclusive access to networking opportunities. Applications will be accepted from early 2027.
“The Honours Programme enables particularly gifted Master’s students with an interest in academia to develop further – both academically and personally,” says Dr Susanne Haberstroh, Head of the Department for Study Affairs. “They gain exclusive insights into the world-class research at the University of Oldenburg. They also acquire important soft skills and methodological knowledge, and build long-term, interdisciplinary networks – crucial steps towards embarking on an academic career.”
The programme is kicking off with a pilot phase, which has just begun and in which twelve students from all Schools are initially taking part. The aim is to develop the programme so that students can choose from a range of modules based on their interests. Six modules, mostly taught in English, are planned, as is a certificate upon completion.
Preparing for an academic career
The Honours Programme combines various components. The pilot class of students is already building on this: among other things, the workshop ‘The Powerful Voice: Speaking with Dynamism and Power’ is planned, as is a workshop to prepare students for academic conferences. In future, the programme may include, for example, seminars and lectures on future-oriented social and academic topics, workshops on academic research, project management and career options in academia, networking events and excursions – such as to the University of Groningen, a strategic partner of the University of Oldenburg.
Individual support from the coordination team and tutors from the respective subjects is also planned. Students can take part in conferences and develop their own research projects. A highlight of this intake is a visit to the ‘Poster im Bundestag’ exhibition in June, where students from all subjects at German universities and higher education institutions present their research.
Next intake in spring 2027
The next intake will begin in April 2027, with 30 places available for students from all six Schools. Those interested can apply from the start of next year. They will then have three routes of entry: via their grades, a nomination from their School, or by applying independently – in each case supplemented by a personal statement, their Bachelor’s degree certificate and a letter of recommendation from a member of academic staff. A committee chaired by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs will then carry out the selection of suitable participants based on criteria such as credits, motivation, commitment, interest in research and diversity.
The Honours Programme is being implemented as part of the ‘Programme for Excellence’, which supports highly talented researchers at various stages of their careers. Funding is provided by ‘zukunft.niedersachsen’, the joint research funding programme of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation.
