The graduate school is headed by two representatives and speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Detlef Nolte (GIGA Vice president and Head of GIGA’s Doctoral Programme)
• Prof. Dr. Cord Jakobeit (Chair of International Relations at the University of Hamburg)

The professional management and advancement of the research program is conducted by an academic director:

• PD Dr. Dirk Nabers (Head of GIGA's Research Programme 4: Power, Norms and Governance in IR)

All of these positions are supported by two co-ordinators:

• Dr. Miriam Prys (GIGA)
• Dr. Jörg Meyer