PhD Programme

The PhD programme at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) is a research-based programme that focuses on the conduct of a research project by PhD students. A research project is based on a proposal that is usually written by one or more senior ASCoR faculty, but in some cases by the PhD candidate him/herself. In all cases, the project conforms to the following criteria:

• Fits into the ASCoR Research Programme.
• Contains all compulsory elements of a Dutch Science Foundation application, including:
  • Definition of academic relevance (theoretical background)
  • Research question
  • Proposed methodology
  • Societal relevance
  • Work plan
  • Budget

PhD Project

A PhD project usually takes 4 years full-time and leads up to an article-based dissertation. The dissertation consists of 3 or more research studies, deemed to be of quality equivalent to peer-reviewed academic publications within Communication Science. In addition to writing articles, ASCoR PhD students also follow courses to broaden their knowledge, have the opportunity to visit (inter)national conferences, and attend relevant workshops and symposia.

PhD Training

The PhD training program at ASCoR consists of three learning pathways: a Teaching Pathway, Research Pathway, and Personal Development Pathway. All of these pathways contain mandatory components, which can be complemented, if desired by the candidate, with additional elective training.

• Mandatory components of the Research and Personal Development Pathways together encompass 9 ECTS.
• To obtain these ECTS, PhDs have to complete the courses:
  • Mastering my PhD
  • Introduction to a PhD in Communication Science
  • Academic Writing
• In addition, they will participate in one of ASCoR’s PhD clubs (i.e., a place for peer feedback and support) and attend several other, mandatory events.
• The Teaching Pathway consists of 54 hours of teacher training plus didactic coaching offered by the department.

PhD Progress Evaluation

Progress of all PhD projects at ASCoR is monitored at several points during the project through the following instruments:

Training & Supervision Plan

The basic work plan, agreements about supervision, and the training plan are laid down in the Training & Supervision Plan 2 months after the start of the PhD project.

First Year Paper

Nine months after the formal start of the PhD project, a paper must be ready and submitted to the ASCoR Board for a formal assessment. The paper is either an empirical article or a theoretical review article, and the quality of the article should be such that the article can comfortably be submitted to those outlets that are well-recognized in the particular sub-area.

Progress Report

In the Progress Report, the PhD candidate and the supervision team report on the progress so far, and indicate whether and how successful completion of the project before the project end date can be guaranteed. The report consists of:

• An outline of the dissertation
• An overview of progress so far of all thesis chapters
• An overview of papers that have resulted from the project so far
• A 'statement of feasibility' that the dissertation can and will be submitted a number of months before the project end date.

PhD Thesis and Thesis Defense

The final months of each project are devoted to finishing the PhD thesis, which is based on the articles written throughout the project. After the dissertation has been read and approved by a committee of experts, there is a public defense, held at the University of Amsterdam.

University of Amsterdam

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Overview:

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a renowned research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is one of Europe's leading universities, boasting over 40,000 students, 6,000 staff members, and 3,000 PhD candidates. The UvA is a hub for academic research and education, known for its commitment to connecting scientific research with societal challenges.

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Academic Programs:

The UvA offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Bachelor's:

Over 20 English-taught programs are available.

Master's:

Over 150 English-taught programs are offered.

For Professionals:

Short-term and long-term programs for those seeking to continue their education alongside their careers.

Summer School:

The UvA Summer School provides a variety of courses for international students.

Open Programs:

The UvA offers open programs for those interested in exploring specific topics.

Exchange:

The UvA participates in various exchange programs, allowing students to study abroad.

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Other:

The UvA is known for its strong research focus, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, social sciences, and natural sciences. The university also has a strong commitment to internationalization, with a diverse student body and faculty.