The Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) is part of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence funded by the German Research Foundation in the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments. In the focus of this unique structure of creative and innovative training are around 80 doctoral candidates, the Junior Fellows, from more than 25 African, American, Asian and European countries. The Junior Fellows benefit from a clearly structured, academic and career-oriented training as well as a genuine expertise in the African studies which has increased continuously since the foundation of the University of Bayreuth. The international network with Partner Universities on the African continent creates even more so excellent conditions for the research of the Junior Fellows.