PhD Training Programme

During your PhD journey, it is important to acquire sufficient training in Methods, Disciplinary, and Interdisciplinary Theory. We advise to follow courses for approximately 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits throughout your entire PhD trajectory. The specific courses that are relevant to you will depend on your research focus and the program group you are affiliated with. The PhD Training Programme is a cooperation between AISSR and the Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS).

AISSR Educational Committee

The AISSR Educational Committee ensures the quality of teaching and the educational process. They provide advice on the curriculum, regulations of the Training Programme and discuss the results of student evaluations. The committee also considers proposals for Short Intensive Courses (SICs) and addresses other education-related issues based on feedback from students, teachers, supervisors, and the PhD Sounding Board. Additionally, they prepare advisory or discussion notes for the annual meeting of the AISSR Scientific Educational Board.

Methods Support

Methods Support facilitates training in methods that match the research goals of our PhD students. Crash-courses, presentations, and accessible expertise on the web will contribute to a deeper understanding of methodological use within your PhD project.

Crash courses

• LaTex
• Introduction to R with regression analysis
• Social Network Analysis

The courses are free to AISSR members and open to a limited number of Research Master students and teachers outside the AISSR. To register, please send an email to aissr@uva.nl. A confirmation will be sent once the registration has been approved.

Peer-to-peer PhD Clubs

To foster collaboration and provide a supportive environment, the AISSR offers several peer-to-peer clubs for PhD students. These clubs serve as platforms for discussing research plans, design, data, and manuscripts among peers, rather than solely relying on your supervisory team. Participating in a PhD club allows you to give and receive constructive feedback on research ideas and papers. It also provides an opportunity to learn from fellow PhD students about their projects and gain valuable insights. If a club aligned with your research interest doesn't exist, you are encouraged to initiate your own PhD club.