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The ASCoR international Ph.D. program consists of five successive steps,
namely Ph.D. proposal, Ph.D. training, Ph.D. research, 7-month paper,
and Ph.D. thesis.
Ph.D proposal
The Ph.D. proposal is the basis on which the project can start. The proposal
should in all cases conform to the following criteria:
a) fit into the ASCoR research programme, in particular one of the three
domains;
b) contain all compulsory elements of a science foundation application.
The compulsory elements of the Dutch Science Foundation application include:
Definition of academic relevance (theoretical background), research question,
proposed methodology, societal relevance, work plan and a budget (see
also www.nwo.nl).
Ph.D. training
Ph.D. training is concentrated in the first 18 months of the program. It
consists of a number of intensive classes on methods and design in Communication
Science. These classes are taught in English. Students are also members
of Ph.D. "clubs" related to research domains, in which research is discussed
regularly and there is specially arranged individual mentoring and supervision.
There is at least one supervisor, the advisor or "promotor", but supervision
is usually a collective affair involving a small committee of ASCoR faculty.
Ph.D. paper
Seven months after the formal start of the Ph.D. project, an article must
be ready. The 7-months article is either an empirical article or a theoretical
review article and the quality of the article submitted after 7 months should
be such that the article can “comfortably” be submitted to those
outlets that are ‘mainstream’ in the particular sub-area. Note
that ‘can comfortably be submitted’ does not mean that the article
should actually be or have been submitted, although this could be agreed
upon as well. The criterion itself however means that the article should
be a) complete with respect to the question or aim that the articles poses,
and b) would hold a fair chance to be accepted by outlets that are ‘mainstream’
in the particular sub-area.
Teaching
Ph.D. students receiving a full scholership are required to teach a number
of classes in the undergraduate program of communication studies.
Ph.D research
Ph.D. research and fieldwork is usually conducted in the second and third
year of the program.
Progress Portfolio
In the so-called 'Progress portfoli', the Ph.D. student and the supervision
team report upon the progress so far, and indicate whether and how succesful
completion of the project before the project end can be guaranteed. The
portfolio consists of a set-up of the dissertation (at least at chapter
level), an overview of progress so far of all thesis chapters, an overview
of papers that have resulted from the project so far, and a 'statement
of feasibility' that the dissertation can and will be submitted before
the project end date, signed by the Ph.D. student and the supervision
team.
Ph.D thesis
The final part of the program is writing the Ph.D. thesis. Writing the Ph.D.
thesis will usually be concentrated in the fourth and final year of the
program. After the dissertation has been read and approved by a committee,
there is a public defense held in the Aula of the University. |
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