Programme structure
Overview
The Ghent University Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) is structured as follows:
| Minimum set (= compulsory for all) |
Standard set (= each doctoral candidate has the right to this level of free training) |
Maximum set (= the maximum requirement imposed by faculty for faculty-mandated doctoral training programmes |
|
| Onboarding track | yes | ||
| Specialist courses | no | 3 courses | max. 3 additional courses (organized by the Doctoral School) |
| (regular course units) | no | no | max. 30 ETCS in course units |
| Transferable skills | no | 3 seminars | max. 3 additional seminars |
| Conferences | no | no | 3 presentations/posters |
| Self-reflection report | annually | ||
| Defence | yes | ||
Faculty-mandated compulsory programme
Faculties may choose to make (part of) the Doctoral Training Programme compulsory for some or for all of their PhD candidates, although the requirements cannot exceed the maximum set (see table above). Consult your faculty's regulations to inform yourself about whether or not a compulsory programme applies to you.
Certificate of the Doctoral Training Programme
From academic year 2024–2025, all PhD candidates have the right to request the certificate of the Doctoral Training Programme when they are ready to submit their dissertation. Most PhD candidates (with the exception of candidates that have faculty-mandated compulsory programmes) can freely choose courses relevant for the development of their research and their (research) career. The contents of the certificate will be determined by each candidate's training and professionalization choices. Candidates can include courses organised by Ghent University's Doctoral School, as well as courses organised by other institutions.
PhD candidates who wish to obtain the certificate and PhD candidates that have faculty-mandated compulsory programmes should submit their curriculum 20 working days prior to the faculty board meeting deciding upon admittance to the doctoral exam. For more information on how to submit your curriculum for final evaluation, please refer to these guidelines.
Combination Educational Master
Doctoral candidates may pursue an educational master's degree during their doctorate. Part of the course units of an eduma can be included free of charge in the curriculum of the doctoral program. Specifically, these are course units from the programme line theoretical training and elective course units related to education. These can be included in the basket of 30 ECTS provided for in the maximum set (see above). For the inclusion of these course units, PhD candidates always need the permission of the supervisor.
Course units from the programme lines didactics, the internship and the master's thesis can only be taken via a separate enrolment in a diploma contract for the relevant Educational Master programme at UGent. For these courses, PhD candidates must pay the tuition fees.
Once you have followed these courses, you can apply for them to be recognised in your doctoral training programme curriculum if you want them to appear on the certificate of the doctoral training programme - it is important to note that only an educational master's degree counts towards employment at master's level in secondary education.
From the program line internship of the Educational Master program of UGent, internship A or internship B or internship C - these are the internships that are in line with the followed subject didactics - can be recognized as broadening course within the doctoral program in the cluster 'Career Management'. This does not mean that this internship is exempted from paying the tuition fee, nor does it mean that this internship does not require enrollment in the diploma contract of the Educational Master's program.
Not finding the information for your specific situation on this page? Contact us!
Questions about the doctoral training program: doctoralschools@ugent.be
Questions about the educational master: educatievemaster@ugent.be
Related information
Registration, recognition and funding procedures for courses