Graduate School of Science
PhD Training Programme
As a PhD candidate, you are expected to follow certain courses and training programmes in the context of your training as a researcher. The courses and training programmes will help you conduct your research, write your dissertation, develop your career, and gain self-insight.
Training requirements
According to the Leiden University PhD guidelines, all PhD candidates (employed, scholarship, external and externally financed) are expected to follow compulsory transferable skills courses (see below).
Further requirements:
For employed and scholarship PhD candidates:
- 140 hours of academic activities (training in the candidate’s specialism, conference attendance, etc.), and
- 140 hours of activities focusing on transferable skills, including the compulsory transferable skills courses below
For external and externally financed PhD candidates:
- To be decided per individual PhD candidate in consultation with the supervisor.
Are you in doubt about which requirements apply to you? Please consult the PhD contactperson of your Institute.
Further instructions about your training plan can be found in the template in Training and Supervision Plan
Compulsory transferable skills courses
The following courses are compulsory for all PhD candidates of the Faculty of Science.
Online introductory module "Inform"
It is mandatory for all PhD candidates to go through the online module 'INFORM' (5 credithours)
Scientific Conduct
A number of cases of scientific fraud and misconduct were bad publicity for the scientific world. Are these cases signs of a system in crisis or just some anomalies in an otherwise good scientific framework? This course will give attention to the grey area and your role as an individual scientist to prevent misconduct.
Preferred moment of attendance: Start of your first year
Duration: 5 hours including attendance and preparation
Information and registration: Scientific Conduct
Training offer
Your training programme may vary by institute and your personal situation. You can think of courses in data management, writing a grant proposal, teaching skills, enhancing your learning qualities, Intellectual Property (IP) and how to use (social) media. But also coaching, intervision, and career counseling. Please discuss with your supervisor which courses will work best for you.
Training courses are available for PhD candidates through:
- HR Training offer including academic writing, presenting skills, time management, and knowledge utilisation. Courses in career development, personal development, communication, working effectively and research skills are taught throughout the year.
- Some institutes and research schools also offer (obligatory) training courses for their PhD candidates. Please check the institute’s website or ask your supervisor and/ or PhD coach for more information.
- Leiden Learning & Innovation Center (LlinC) offers teaching possibilities (only for PhD candidates with employee status) and partial BKO certificate. A maximum of 20 hours may be registered for teaching as a total for the entire PhD track and 20 hours for partial BKO certificate.offers teaching possibilities (only for PhD candidates with employee status) and partial BKO certificate. A maximum of 20 hours may be registered for teaching as a total for the entire PhD track and 20 hours for a partial BKO certificate.
- Academisch Talencentrum (ACT) offers language courses. A maximum of 20 hours may be registered as a total for the entire PhD track.
- The Graduate School of Science offers a CSC PhD introduction for CSC scholarship PhD candidates. For this, 5 hours may be registered.
- PhD candidates may take BSc/MSc courses at Leiden University. The PhD candidate must request a proof of participation from the provider, stating the number of hours.
Registration
You can register for courses yourself. For courses offered by HRM Learning & Development, you register using the "Register" button.
- PhD candidates who are employees of Leiden University can register via the button "Register (Staff)".
- PhD candidates who have their own scholarships and are guest employees, register using the button "Register (Guest/LUMC)".
Please register the number of hours you spent on academic activities and transferable skills in LUCRIS GSM. Courses you took with HRM Learning & Development will automatically appear in your LUCRIS data. You should register any other courses yourself by filling in the number of hours spent on the course and uploading a certificate that proves your attendance and the number of hours (see the LUCRIS manual).