Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences

The Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences promotes innovative, excellent, problem-oriented research that aspires to contribute to societal debates and address key global challenges.

The cohorts trained and supported by the ViDSS are part of a vibrant research environment and international networks. The ViDSS encompasses and fosters connections between a broad range of disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives. The ViDSS embraces the entire range of epistemological, methodological and theoretical approaches that are employed at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Doctoral candidates receive research training and write a doctoral thesis in the fields of communication, demography, development studies, nursing science, political science, science and technology studies, social and cultural anthropology, and sociology. The ViDSS aims for the highest standards in doctoral training and close supervision to ensure a mastery of social scientific debates and relevant theories and methods. As a result, ViDSS graduates are highly employable both within and outside academia.

News

In memory of our colleague Cornelia Staritz

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our cherished colleague Cornelia Staritz on 3 July 2025. Professor Staritz was part of ViDSS since its inception and her many contributions to the running of the doctoral school were pivotal in shaping its direction and profile.

Media articles and press releases

From Vienna to Malaysia: Analysing the Blue Revolution

ViDSS Student David Buchwinkler (development studies) reports on Malaysia’s aquacultures for the Rudolphina series “Road Trip”. David spent almost five months in Sabah, Malaysia’s northernmost state, to analyse the ecological and social impact of the shrimp farms established there in 2010.

Fellowship and award winners

Theodor Körner Förderpreis 2024 for Christina Siegert

Sociologist and ViDSS Alumna Christina Siegert was awarded the Theodor Körner Prize for her doctoral thesis “Poverty risk within couples across the family life course”. Her work sheds light on income inequality and the risk of poverty among heterosexual couples. Congratulations!

Fellowship and award winners

Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award for Ruta Kaskelviciute

ViDSS Alumna Ruta Kaskelviciute was awarded the Kyoon Hur Dissertation Award by the Mass Communication Division of the International Communication Association for her doctoral thesis “Perceptions and effects of mediated terrorism: An intergroup approach”. Congratulations!

Media articles and press releases

World order in disarray

While the international system of states is based on a set of rules that the world imposed on itself after World War II, fewer and fewer states believe in the promise of peace offered by a rules-based order. In the Tiroler Tageszeitung, Adham Hamed discusses the international order, double standards and the arms race against the backdrop of current developments in the Middle East. (In German)

Media articles and press releases

Victims, heroes, perpetrators – Italians’ perceptions of WWII history

Italy’s involvement in WWII is contentious and complex and so are the stories created around it, which have been instrumentalised for various political purposes over time. A study by ViDSS Student Marta Vukovic (co-authored with Susanna Bastaroli and Sylvia Kritzinger) investigates Italians’ perception of Italy’s Fascist past and role in WWII on an individual level.

Blog

Culture at the core: Journalistic values in the Pacific Islands

(by Birte Leonhardt, Folker Hanusch, Shailendra B. Singh)

The role of journalism in society is shaped not only by professional norms but also by deeply held cultural values. This is particularly evident in the Pacific Islands region, where journalists operate in media environments that are often small, tight-knit and embedded within traditional communities. Our survey of journalists across ...

Radio and podcast

Episode 19 – Library and data in the 21st century

Felix Maile and Dorota Vargová provide insights into their experiences with archives and data bases. Learn about the extraordinary lengths they had to go to chase primary sources, which ethical questions they have to deal with and why they are not using any AI tools for their analyses.

Media articles and press releases

Selective (de-)sensitisation through exposure to digital hate

A study conducted by ViDSS Student Rinat Meerson (co-authored with Kevin Koban and Jörg Matthes) examines how exposure to digital hate affects social media users. The findings show that frequent exposure to hate leads to more direct intervention such as commenting or countering but reduces the willingness to rely on moderation.