The PhD training programme 2018-2019 can also be downloaded here. 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 2018-2019
Mandatory components (min. 9 EC)
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
Bart van Klink, Vincent Geeraets
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
2 EC
Period
27 February 2019
Fee
N/A
Registration
Internal PhD candidates can register via Canvas: https://canvas.vu.nl/enroll/RBMDN9
External PhD candidates can send an e-mail to the Graduate School.
Additional information
See 2017 course description
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
Jan-Apr 2019, on 14/1, 28/1, 11/2, 25/2, 11/3, 25/3, 8/4 (Monday afternoons from 2-5 pm)
An introduction meeting to take place on Monday 10 December 2018 from 16:30-17:15.
Fee
N/A
Registration
Graduate School
Additional information
See course description
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. At the first (plenary) meeting various methodological issues concerning legal interpretation, selection of sources, theoretical and normative frameworks, the is-ought relation and multidisciplinary research will be discussed. Subsequently, PhD students write a paper in which they reflect on some methodological issues in their research. Preferably, this text can be included in the introduction of their thesis when the methods used have to be described and justified. The paper will be discussed with the lecturer at the second (individual) meeting.
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)
Period
18 Oct 2018, 13 Dec 2018, 7 Feb 2019, 11 Apr 2019; master classes to be scheduled on an ad-hoc basis
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.
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
Credits
6 EC
Period
Participants can fit the training to their needs on an ad hoc basis.
Workshop to take place on Wednesday20 February 6 March 2019 (Note: the workshop has been rescheduled!)
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
Feb-May 2019 (provided there are sufficient registrations)
Fee
N/A
Registration
Graduate School
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
Feb-Mar 2019 (2019-1)
Mar-May 2019 (2019-2)
May-Jun 2019 (2019-3)
Sep-Nov 2019 (2019-4)
Nov-Dec 2019 (2019-5)
Fee
VU employees: free of charge
External PhD candidates: €2350 (2018)
Registration
training_programmes.hrm@vu.nl
Additional information
See factsheet
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
VU Learn! Academy
Target group
Teaching staff with <6 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: Spring 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: Spring 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
TBD
Period
Apr 2019
Fee
€475
Registration
m.hannay@vu.nl
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: Wednesday 16, 23, 30 January, 6 & 13 February 2019
Fee
€495 (open-enrolment workshop)
Registration
Registration form
Additional information
See factsheet and 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
Sep-Dec 2018 (2018-2)
Jan-Apr 2019 (2019-1)
Apr-Jul 2019 (2019-2)
Fee
In 2018, PhD candidates can participate for a fee of €400. For the first half of 2019, a fee of €695 is applicable. 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
Half-day session, probably in Nov or Dec 2018 (provided there are sufficient participants); it is also possible to join the training for the Faculty of Humanities on 12 Nov 2018 from 13:30 – 17:30
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
Max 12 EC
Period
N/A
Fee
N/A
Registration
N/A
Additional information
See for example the programme 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 (ongoing); sessions are held from 8:30 - 10:30.
Fee
Free of charge, breakfast will be served
Registration
Through the IXA website
Additional information
See the IXA website for more information. Workshops will be held in English.
Lecturer(s)/coordinator(s)
VU International Office
Target group
All PhD students
Credits
TBD
Period
Sep-Dec 2018
Fee
€12,50 per workshop
Registration
Online application form
Additional information
See online description of workshops