Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies (FSGS) is a structured doctoral program that has been funded through the Excellence Initiative by the German federal and state governments since 2007. The Graduate School is part of Freie Universität Berlin. In 2012, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin has joined as an important cooperating partner.

Young scholars may apply with a research project in literary studies. Until 2017, scholarships for pre-doctoral studies, dissertations or postdoc projects were awarded; since 2018 FSGS awards Ph.D. positions as well as project scholarships. 

Members of FSGS can rely on an excellent infrastructure. They are part of an international and interdisciplinary network of research and teaching, and can put together a tailormade program to support their project from the Graduate School’s offers. In cooperation with the Graduate School’s faculty, you will organize conferences and workshops, invite international guests and thus help create your own curriculum.

The interdisciplinary colloquia during the winter semesters are mandatory, as they serve to introduce everyone’s projects and their work progress. Associates and guests of the school present their research at a weekly lunch forum for discussion.

A one-semester visit at an international partner university is part of the program. Furthermore, the Graduate School invites several doctoral candidates from partner universities for a visiting semester each year.