Getting a PhD is more than just conducting a research project. It also allows one to develop, improve or refine academic and transferable skills. The combination of research capabilities and individual skills will prepare one for a career both inside and outside academia. To help identify what skills and competencies to develop or improve, the GSH encourage PhD candidates to take a self-assessment of competence development with the help of the online and free available tool The PhD Competence Model. This tool provides you with the possibility of monitoring your development during your PhD journey.
Training Programme
Each PhD candidate devotes 30 ECTS (840 hours) to education and training. This concerns both education aimed at content, arranged for by the fifteen national research schools (see LOGOS, the Council of Dutch Research Schools in the Humanities) and education in skills, provided in the form of mandatory courses by the Graduate School of Humanities and elective courses and modules offered by amongst others, the University Library, the VU Centre for Teaching & Learning, the VU Language Center and the Graduate School of Humanities. The programmes of the GSH and of the national research schools are free and open to all PhD candidates enrolled in the GSH. For PhD’s that started their trajectory after September 1, 2022,
iThenticate
Underlining the importance of scientific integrity and in line with the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (NGWI), all VU PhD candidates that started their trajectory after September 1, 2022 are required submit one appropriate product to a plagiarism check in the first phase of the PhD program. A Quick Starting Guide and FAQ page can be found on the University Library's Libguide page.
Compulsory Courses Graduate School of Humanities
The GSH courses, Research Integrity, Data Management and Key Issue in the Humanities are a compulsory part of your doctoral education. This holds for all PhD candidates at the School of Humanities. The GSH offers their mandatory courses once a year, during the first semester.
Key Issues in the Humanities (2ECTs)
This course considers the ‘nature’ of the humanities and its research methods, the challenges and opportunities of inter- and transdisciplinary, knowledge utilization and societal relevance. The course concludes with a Graduate Seminar for Ma and Rema students on Thursday February 5, during which the course participants present on the themes discussed.
Course convener: Annemie Halsema
Dates: Thursday November 12 (13:15- 15:00), Thursday December 3 (13:15- 15:00), Thursday December 17, (13:15- 17:00) Thursday January 14 (13:15- 15:00), Thursday February 4 (Research Seminar from 13:00-18:00).
Location: The course will be offered simultaneously online and in person. Taking part in the online version of the course is limited to PhD candidates for whom in person/live participation falls beyond their real options, for instance because they reside outside of the Netherlands.
Registration via: form
Research Integrity (2 ECTs)
This course considers what it means to do ‘good’ research, to be a ‘good’ researcher, act with ‘integrity’ and how to approach ethical dilemmas experienced in research. Attention is furthermore paid to the politics of knowledge production and the challenges and opportunities of the current digital and technological developments.
Course convener: Krishma Labib
Location: The course will be offered online and in person. Taking part in the online version of the course is limited to PhD candidates for whom in person/live participation falls beyond their real options, for instance because they reside outside of the Netherlands.
Dates In Person Version: Wednesday September 9 (10:00- 12:00), Wednesday September 23 (9:30- 12:30), Wednesday October 14 (9:30- 12:30).
Dates Online Version: Wednesday September 9 (15:00-17:00), Wednesday September 23 (13:30- 17:00), Wednesday October 14 (13:30- 17:00).
Registration via: form
Research Data Management Essentials (1,5 ECTs)
In this course, you will learn the basics of how you can take care of your research data, in which you will cover issues like which laws and codes of conduct your research should comply with, where you will store your data, where you will archive them for the long term and how you will make them FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Please note that you need to do some preparations before the first workshop. You will receive more information shortly after the registrations have closed. The course is worth 1 EC if you complete all compulsory components. Each course consists of 2 online or in person workshops and an online peer review session. Detailed information about the time slots can be found in the course descriptions in LibCal.
Course convener: Jolien Scholten
Data:
- 2026-1 (online): 29-10-2026, 12-11-2026, 19-11-2026 – registration closes 08-10-2026
- 2026-2 (in person): 04-11-2026, 18-11-2026, 25-11-2026 – registration closes 14-10-2026
Registration: You can sign up through LibCal (select the right course there).