Universiteit Leiden

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PhD Trajectory

Most employed and contract PhD candidates at the Faculty of Humanities follow a 4-year PhD trajectory.

The most significant events, activities and/or milestones per year are listed below.

Note: No rights can be derived from this overview.

First year
  • Start meeting & submission of the Training and Supervision Plan (TSP, approximately after 3 months);
  • Start conducting research and writing of the dissertation;
  • Start taking training courses (both academic as well as generic skills) at one of the National Schools or your institute, and/or courses offered as part of the University Teaching Programme for PhDs;
  • Submitting text(s) agreed upon by the supervisor(s) on which the first substantive evaluation is based;
  • Go/no go decision (Annual Thesis Progress Evaluation*);
  • Annual review meeting with one or two independent members of staff.
Second year
  • Conducting research and writing of the dissertation;
  • Taking courses (both academic as well as generic skills) at one of the National Research Schools or your institute and/or courses offered as part of the University Teaching Programme for PhDs;
  • Annual Thesis Progress Evaluation* and update of TSP;
  • Annual review meeting with one or two independent members of staff.
Third year
  • Draft 1st chapter/article finished;
  • Draft 2nd chapter/article finished;
  • Draft 3rd chapter/article finished;
  • Taking courses (both academic as well as generic skills) at one of the National Research Schools or your institute and/or courses offered as part of the University Teaching Programme for PhDs;
  • Annual Thesis Progress Evaluation* and update of TSP;
  • Annual review meeting with one or two independent members of staff.
Fourth year
  • Draft 4th chapter/article finished;
  • Draft dissertation finished;
  • Annual Thesis Progress Evaluation* and update of TSP;
  • Annual review meeting with one or two independent members of staff;
  • Dissertation finished;
  • Organisation of the defence;
  • Exit meeting.

* Annual Thesis Progress Evaluation: for employed PhD candidates this is an annual Performance  & Development Interview (ROG). Comparable meetings are held annually with contract PhD candidates.

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