Grand unification in the heterotic brane world

String theory is known to be one of the most promising candidates for a uni ed description of all elementary particles and their interactions. Starting from the ten-dimensional heterotic string, we study its compactification on six-dimensional orbifolds. We clarify some important technical aspects of their construction and introduce new parameters, called generalized discrete torsion. We identify intrinsic new relations between orbifolds with and without (generalized) discrete torsion. Furthermore, we perform a systematic search for MSSM-like models in the context of Z6-II orbifolds. Using local GUTs, which naturally appear in the heterotic brane world, we construct about 200 MSSM candidates. We find that intermediate SUSY breaking through hidden sector gaugino condensation is preferred in this set of models. A specific model, the so-called benchmark model, is analyzed in detail addressing questions like the identification of a supersymmetric vacuum with a naturally small μ-term and proton decay. Furthermore, as vevs of twisted fields correspond to a resolution of orbifold singularities, we analyze the resolution of Z3 singularities in the local and in the compact case. Finally, we exemplify this procedure with the resolution of a Z3 MSSM candidate. (orig.)