PhD Programme
The Faculty’s PhD Programme prepares candidates to work as academics or professionals, fully capable of conducting research independently, as experts in their field of the social sciences. Graduates will also become familiar with the process of making research proposals, conducting collaborative work, presenting and communicating research within a community of experts, and with the process of peer review. Candidates are encouraged to develop their own individual research trajectories, and frequent one-to-one sessions with supervisors enable them to tailor their programmes accordingly. Currently the Faculty has an annual intake of 15 - 20 PhD candidates (with varying sources of funding). With the establishment of the Graduate School, the Faculty intends to double this number over a period of 5 years, with increasing representation from foreign and mature candidates.
A number of courses offered to PhD candidates, are taught both by staff at the Faculty and by members of our (inter)national disciplinary networks. During the first year, PhD candidates work on developing their own research proposal while following selected courses. Within the first three months, candidates together with their supervisor prepare a 'Training and Guidance Plan' (OBP:Opleidngs- en Begeleidingsplan), to help structure their work over the course of the programme. Progress is assessed at the end of the first year on submission of the final proposal and a term paper.
Overall, the four-year programme consists of three components:
- Research and writing of the PhD dissertation (about 80-85%)
- Attending courses/seminars/summer schools (approximately 10-15%)
- Teaching (about 5%)
PhD candidates need to complete a minimum of 30 credits through courses and seminars. Although the content will vary depending on the participant's discipline and experience, as a rule, the courses try to balance three aspects:
- Skill development (5-10 credits) – mainly within the Faculty
- Philosophy and Methodology (5-10 credits) – in collaboration with external network
- Advanced courses (about 10-15 credits) – mainly provided by external network
The Graduate School provides a focal point in a larger research network, linking departments, faculties and research schools. Some students will be able to transfer credits required by the Graduate School’s programme from courses completed elsewhere (e.g. in a research school), provided they meet the attainment criteria.
All PhD candidates are either linked to or embedded in a research team at the Faculty, and usually both their supervisor and daily supervisor will be based in the same department. However, other arrangements can be negotiated.
