As a general guideline, 1 EC equals 28 hours of course load. The information listed here will be updated from time to time.
PhD Training Programme 2019-2020
Mandatory components (min. 9 EC)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Bart van Klink, Vincent Geeraets
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
2 EC
Period
11 March 2020 (one-day course with assignment)
Fee
N/A
Registration
The course has reached maximum enrollment. Registration is not possible.
Additional information
See 2020 course description (indicative)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Henk Elffers
Target group
All PhD students but especially starting PhD candidates who engage in empirical research (although empirical element in research may be limited)
Credits
3 EC
Period
Seven biweekly meetings on Wednesday afternoon, 2-5 pm: 25 March, 2 and 22 April, 6 and 20 May, 3 and 17 June.
Fee
N/A
Registration
The course has reached maximum enrollment. Registration is not possible.
Additional information
See course description (2019-20 sample)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Bart van Klink
Target group
All PhD students but especially PhD candidates in their 3rd or 4th year
Credits
3 EC
Period
To be scheduled on an individual basis
Fee
N/A
Registration
Graduate School
Additional information
The course Legal Research Lab focuses on the question how the methods used in legal research have be justified. PhD students are asked to reflect on the methodological challenges in their research and how to deal with them. To begin with, they write a paper in which they reflect on some methodological issues in their research, concerning legal interpretation, selection of sources, key concepts, the normative framework and the relation with other disciplines (if applicable). Subsequently, a concept version will be discussed with the lecturer. After that, a final version is submitted. Preferably, this text can be included in the introduction of their thesis when the methods used have to be described and justified.
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
2 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
N/A
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
2-6 EC (as a minimum, PhD candidates have to present their research at least on one occasion)
18 Dec 2019 from 12:00 - 14:00 in room 2A-45/47 of the Initium Building.
Other scheduled dates in the academic year 2019-2020 are: 19 March 2020, 4 June 2020; master classes to be scheduled on an ad-hoc basis.
Seminars usually take place on Thursday afternoons from 15:30 - 17:30 in room 2A-45/47 of the Initium Building.
Fee
N/A
Registration
Graduate School
Additional information
This component involves active participation in four seminars throughout the year and in (occasional) masterclasses with international top researchers. During the seminars, PhD candidates are expected to present their research, provide feedback on each other's work and in general engage in discussions with their peers. Participation in seminars and masterclasses is mandatory for internal PhD students. We acknowledge that external PhD students may not always be able to attend, but we encourage them to participate as well.
Mandatory optional components (min. 5 EC)
The following components relate to the VU Amsterdam-wide mandatory requirement of transferable skills. The PhD candidate is required to choose one or more components adding up to at least 5 EC. The components can also be used for the optional section of the training requirements.
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Frances Gilligan
Target group
All PhD students. Especially for second- or third year PhD students
Credits
6 EC
Period
This is an ongoing, mostly online, course and participants can fit the training to their needs on an ad hoc basis. Participants also have the option to participate in one-day workshops.
The next workshop is scheduled on Wednesday 20 May 2020.
Fee
N/A
Registration
Internal PhD candidates can register via Canvas: https://canvas.vu.nl/enroll/J6K3NE
External PhD candidates can send an e-mail to the Graduate School.
Additional information
See previous course description (indicative)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
TBD
Target group
All PhD students, junior researcher and (junior) lecturer-researchers
Credits
6 EC
Period
March - June 2020: Wednesday afternoon 1:30 - 5:00 pm 18 March, 1, 15 & 29 April, 13 & 27 May, 10 & 24 June
Fee
N/A
Registration
Please send an e-mail to the coordinator
Additional information
See 2018 course description (in Dutch)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
HR Training Programmes
Target group
First year PhD students (with three months to one year of experience)
Credits
2 EC
Period
Nov-Dec 2019 (2019-5)
Fee
VU employees: free of charge
External PhD candidates: €2350 voor 2018 (kostprijs 2019 nog niet bekend)
Registration
training_programmes.hrm@vu.nl
Additional information
See factsheet and VUnet (only accessible with VUnet ID)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
VU Learn! Academy
Target group
Teaching staff with <5 years of experience of teaching at university level and who do not have a first-level teaching qualification for secondary school teaching
Credits
5 EC
Period
Next session: Fall of 2019
Fee
VU-employees: €75 (administration costs)
External PhD candidates: €2500
Registration
learnacademy@vu.nl
Additional information
See website VU Learn! Academy (Dutch and English version)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
VU Learn! Academy
Target group
Teaching staff with >=5 years of experience of teaching at university level and who do not have a first-level teaching qualification for secondary school teaching
Credits
2-4 EC
Period
Next session: Fall of 2019
Fee
VU-employees: €75 (administration costs)
External PhD candidates: €2500
Registration
learnacademy@vu.nl
Additional information
See website VU Learn! Academy (Dutch and English version)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Academic Language Programme (Faculty of Humanities)
Target group
PhD researchers who are in an advanced stage of writing
Credits
3 EC
Period
Apr 2020
Fee
€475
Registration
Registration form
Additional information
See online course description
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Taalcentrum-VU
Target group
Researchers and scientists who need to give concise and persuasive presentations of their research in English
Credits
2 EC
Period
5 meetings – next sessions:
- Tuesday 29 October, 5, 12, 19 and 26 November 2019
- Tuesday 3, 10, 17 December, 7 and 14 January 2020
Fee
€495 (open-enrolment workshop)
Registration
Registration form
Additional information
See factsheet and online course description
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Taalcentrum-VU
Target group
PhD students who are preparing their dissertation in English, and for scientists and researchers who want to publish in an English-language specialist journal.
Credits
3 EC
Period
Summer course (intensive):
- 12, 13, 14 and 15 August 2019 (9:30-16:30)
Regular course, consisting of 8 sessions (10:00-13:00):
- Wednesdays: 4/9, 11/9, 18/9, 9/10, 16/10, 23/10, 30/10, 6/11 (2019)
- Tuesdays: 10/9, 17/9, 1/10, 8/10, 15/10, 22/10, 29/10, 5/11 (2019)
Fee
€695 (open-enrolment workshop)
Registration
Registration form
Additional information
See online course description
Optional components
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
18 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
PhD students may choose to spend three months as an embedded researcher in a non-academic setting, such as law firms, banks, ministries, etc. PhD students will have to make their own arrangements. See for more information also the Professional PhD Program of Promovendi Netwerk Nederland (Dutch only).
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
HR Training Programmes
Target group
PhD students employed by VU University towards the end of their 3rd or beginning of 4th year
Credits
1 EC
Period
September-November 2019 (2019-3)
Fee
In 2019, PhD candidates can participate for a fee of €695. For internal PhD students the costs will be borne by the faculty and will be settled with the transition fee. Every PhD student whose employment lasted at least two years is entitled to this fee.
Registration
training_programmes.hrm@vu.nl
Additional information
See factsheet
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
1 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
N/A
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
VU University Library
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
1 EC
Period
TBD
Fee
N/A
Registration
Graduate School
Additional information
The University Library provides training on Research Data Management (RDM) for PhD students. Good RDM (e.g. storing, sharing, archiving, describing your research data) contributes to research transparency and integrity. Due to the advance of new technologies, data volumes and numbers of files are constantly increasing. For that reason good data management is an essential part of data-driven research as well. In this workshop, we will introduce and discuss the different aspects of RDM which typically need to be covered in a data management plan (DMP), such as data description, data storage during research, sharing data with colleagues, data archiving after research and data citation. The various components of research data management will be related to the FAIR principles (that is, principles to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable). We will also address the ethical and legal framework, including the General Data Protection Regulation (the new EU-law on privacy which will be in effect from May 2018).
In this training, you’ll learn why good RDM is necessary and how it can be beneficial to your research. In an interactive workshop, we will provide you with practical guidelines and instruments to manage your data properly. You will be working on a DMP for your own research, so that you can apply the things you learn to your own project.
This training requires some preparation from your side. You will be asked to read and watch information about RDM (two short articles and a website). In addition, you need to write a first draft of a DMP, which will be worked out in more detail during the workshop.
Estimated time investment for the preparation: 20 hours.
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
2-4 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
N/A
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
TBD
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
N/A
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
1-5 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
N/A
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
Depends on the course
Period
1-week courses from Saturday 11-18 January 2020
Fee
Depends on the course
Registration
How to apply
Additional information
See the website of the VU Amsterdam Graduate Winter School
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
N/A
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
Max 2 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
N/A
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA)
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
TBD
Period
Various dates (workshops and other activities)
Fee
Depends on the event
Registration
Through the IXA website
Additional information
See the IXA website for more information.
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
VU International Office
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
TBD
Period
TBD
Fee
€17,50 per workshop
Registration
Contact: phd@vu.nl
Additional information
See online description of workshops