ECTS-points

The PhD student must accomplish courses or similar educational elements which correspond to 30 ECTS points. These are awarded in the following manner:

ECTS points for department events

ECTS points are awarded for a range of events at the department. A PhD student can accumulate a maximum of 5 ECTS points for coursework through participation in these kinds of events:

  • PhD evaluation seminar (as either presenter or formal opponent): 1 ECTS point
  • PhD evaluation seminar (attending but not presenting or formally opposing): ½ an ECTS point per 4 presentations. NB: Participation in PhD evaluation seminars is compulsory, unless the PhD student is absolutely unable to attend (e.g. due to studying abroad)
  • Tuesday lunchtime research meetings (for those presenting material): 1 ECTS point 
  • Tuesday lunchtime research meetings (for those attending but not presenting material): ½ an ECTS point
  • Informal PhD study circle initiated and organised by the student: 1½ ECTS points for a sequence of six meetings
  • Participation in informal PhD study circle initiated by a student: ½-1 ECTS points, depending on the extent of the involvement
  • Participation in PhD network meetings with academic content (as presenter): 1 ECTS point
  • Participation in PhD network meetings with academic content (not as presenter): ½ an ECTS point
  • Miscellaneous other activities: ECTS points by agreement with the Head of the PhD  program

ECTS points for conferences

A PhD student can earn a maximum of 6 ECTS points for coursework for participation in conferences:

  • Conferences at which the student does not present a paper: ½ an ECTS point per day
  • Conferences at which the student presents a paper: an additional 2 ECTS points for the day on which the paper is presented.

ECTS points for courses

A PhD student can earn a maximum of 6 ECTS points for participation in generic courses. Half an ECTS point per day is awarded for participation in a generic course.

There is no maximum to the number of ECTS credits which PhD students can accumulate through participation in PhD courses pertaining to the subject matter of the thesis. However, please note that the total number of points to be earned during the entire PhD  program is 30.

  • ½ an ECTS point per day of the course
  • For students presenting a paper of less than 10 pages: 1 additional ECTS point for the day on which the paper is presented
  • For students presenting a paper of more than 10 pages: 2½  additional ECTS points for the day on which the paper is presented
  • One standard page consists of 2,400 characters, excluding the bibliography. If an extraordinarily large amount of literature or some other form of time-consuming preparation is a prerequisite for participation, an additional ½ ECTS point is conferred per day. The Head of the PhD  program determines whether the latter is justified
  • If the PhD student organises courses, an additional ½ ECTS point is added per day, up to a maximum of 1½ points per course. These extra ECTS points (in addition to those that the student receives for his or her own participation in this course) are considered as generic ECTS points

Remember that it is always the rules of the department that apply and that it is the Head of the PhD programme who decides how many points can be credited by taking a given course. Some course providers are, for example, considerably more generous than the department guidelines.

Also remember that as a rule PhD courses must be at PhD level (that means BA and MA courses cannot be credited) - except if the students are enrolled under the 4+4 or 3+5 arrangement and have not completed the first years.

Please note that the dates, titles and venues of all the above mentioned events, as well as the nature of the PhD student's participation and the ECTS points sought (in accordance with the guidelines set out) must be clearly indicated in the half-yearly report. It is expected that the PhD student in cooperation with the supervisor calculates the correct number of ECTS.