URSI PhD programme

Becoming an independent researcher entails more than undertaking a research project and publishing articles, resulting in your thesis. As a PhD candidate, you are also expected to broaden your academic development beyond the topic of your project. Therefore, the GS has an educational program for PhD candidates: the URSI PhD program. To a large extent, you can shape your own program, such that it fits your wishes and needs perfectly. However, there are some elements within the URSI PhD program that are compulsory. The program is divided in 3 elements: courses, research related activities and organizational activities.

Courses are rewarded by assigning ECTs to the course. ECTs are important for the URSI PhD program as every PhD candidate has to obtain a certain amount of ECTs. The curriculum is based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). 1 ECTS = 28 hours (contact time plus working hours). The exact amount of ECTs a PhD candidate has to gain is depending on the background of the PhD candidate and their contract. See the table below for an overview:

Type of PhD researcher	Characteristics	Research and teaching division	Credits to obtain
Employed PhD researchers (appointed by RUG)
PhD researcher, direct (government) funding, 4 years		85% research, 15% teaching obligation	30 ECTS
PhD researcher, with research funding (indirect government funding) or contract funding (contract research), 3 or 4 years	Appointed by University of Groningen, with research funding (NWO), or contract funding (e.g. RWS, EU, etc.)	100% research, no teaching requirement	5 ECTS
Scholarship PhD Researchers (with scholarship from the RUG)
University of Groningen PhD scholarship 4-year scholarship	UG scholarship	100% research, no teaching requirement	30 ECTS
University of Groningen PhD scholarship 2- year scholarship	UG scholarship, double/joint degree, 1 or 2 years elsewhere	100% research, no teaching requirement	15 ECTS
Scholarship PhD Researchers (with external scholarship)
Own scholarship	Own external scholarship, e.g. NUFFIC, CSC, home country, etc.	100% research, no teaching requirement	30 ECTS
Externally funded PhD Researchers
‘Hogeschool’ PhD	Funded by Hogeschool	100% research	5 ECTS
External PhD Researchers
External PhD researcher	Appointed and working on PhD elsewhere	100% research	5 ECTS

Courses offered by the RUG

The Groningen Graduate Schools (GGS) offer a large diversity of courses for PhD researchers.

Also, the Corporate Academy provides an overview of all courses available within the RUG for PhD researchers.

Courses offered by the Federation of Graduate Schools in Social Sciences and Humanities

The Federation of Graduate Schools in Social Sciences and Humanities consists of eight graduate schools. The GS of Spatial Sciences is one of them. More information on courses they offer.

Courses offered by our own Faculty (FSS) and Graduate School (in cooperation with other parties e.g. ESI / Talen Centrum)

Publishing in English
Workshop PhD defence “Finishing your PhD”
(ReMa) courses offered by FSS. Check the schedule and Ocasys for more information.
PhD Personal Development Programme
Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) on analysing with ATLAS.ti

Courses offered by NETHUR

NETHUR Netherlands Graduate School of Urban and Regional Research) offers an educational program for PhD researchers and a collaborative research program for PhD researchers and supervisors. NETHUR is a joint initiative of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Radboud University Nijmegen (RU), the University of Groningen (UoG) and Utrecht University (UU). As GS, we share in their educational program. This means you can take up the courses they offer in your URSI PhD program. We strongly encourage you to follow NETHUR courses.

Overview URSI PhD programme

Course	Compulsary Optional	Remarks
PhD Introductory event	C	Compulsory for all PhD researchers
Academic Integrity	C	Compulsory for all PhD researchers
In charge of your PhD	C	Compulsory for all PhD researchers
Start to teach	C/O	Compulsory for employed PhDs with direct funding. PhD researchers with a scholarship can follow this course on the condition that they will teach.
PhD Personal Development Program	C/O	Compulsory for PhD researchers with a scholarship (internal and external), and employed PhD researchers with direct funding.
Course on research methods	C/O	Compulsory for PhD researchers with a scholarship (internal and external), and employed PhD researchers with direct funding.
Courses in Career Perspectives Series up to at least 5 ECTs	C/O	Compulsory for PhD researchers with a scholarship (internal and external), and employed PhD researchers with direct funding.
Courses with NETHUR up to at least 5 ECTs	C/O	Compulsory for PhD researchers with a scholarship (internal and external), and employed PhD researchers with direct funding.
Research related activities
Presenting at URSI PhD conference	C	Compulsory for all PhD researchers

Model Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER) for the FSS PhD programme of PhD Scholarship students

Last modified:

07 June 2023 09.59 a.m.