The educational program of the IMPRS-gBGC consists of courses related to global biogeochemical cycles, transferable skill courses, outreach activities and other scientific activities. Doctoral researchers must attend the mandatory overview course, two of four core courses, as well as skill and elective courses that are special to the IMPRS-gBGC member’s interests in the section 'Courses related to global biogeochemical cycles'. The elective course(s) may include offerings such as special summer research schools or offerings at outside Universities and must be approved by the PhD advisory committee. Transferable courses are offered inside and outside the IMPRS-gBGC. According to the ECTS minimum 1 credit point (CP) has to be achieved in transferable skill courses. The course 'Rules of good scientific practice' is mandatory for doctoral researchers of the IMPRS-gBGC. Credited outreach activities are presentations at international conferences, publications in an international peer-reviewed journal and public outreach. In addition, doctoral researchers will be required to make a three month foreign research visit (other scientific activity).

Interactive world map which give the countries where PhD researchers spend their three month research visit, as of November 2018