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.