PhD at the PThU

Everyone in possession of a master’s degree can apply for the PhD programme at PThU. If you are not in possession of a master’s degree yet, you must first obtain it. At the PThU, you can follow the one-year Master of Theology programme. You can also start the PhD programme with a foreign master’s degree, but only if this degree has the same level as a Dutch master’s degree.

If you are in possession of a master’s degree, you must apply for the PhD programme as a PhD prospect. You will then enter into the first phase of the PhD programme: the Initial Graduate School. This first phase is a series of three courses (15 ECTS), which takes place in the autumn on Mondays and Tuesdays. The courses are:

• General Theological Research Skills
• Research Management and Ethics
• Research Proposal Development

During these courses, you will be supervised by Graduate School professors and your promotor in writing a research proposal, a data management plan and a training and supervision plan.

You will also attend the yearly Graduate School meeting. This meeting offers you the opportunity to network with current PhD candidates, as well as experts from your field of study.

You complete phase 1 by submitting your completed research proposal, data management plan and training and supervision plan. The PThU Doctorate Board decides whether or not you will be admitted as a PhD candidate to the Graduate school.

Only in exceptional cases can you skip phase 1, for instance if you have already done a research master. This is decided on a case by case basis by the PThU.

Once the PThU Doctorate Board has granted permission, you will officially be a PhD candidate at the PThU. This means you move on to phase 2, the Graduate School. In the Graduate School, which starts in September, you will begin working on your research and dissertation. You will be supervised by your promotor, as well as at least two experts in your field(s) of interest. You will also follow the training programme you have decided on in your training and supervision plan. You must gain a minimum of 15 ECTS in training. You have a choice of:

• courses (offered by NOSTER as well as other external institutions)
• workshops
• seminars
• participation in international conferences or expert meetings
• yearly Graduate School meeting for all (prospective) PhD candidates 

Are you a fulltime PhD candidate? Then you must finish your promotional study within four years after the start of the Graduate School. Are you a parttime PhD candidate? Then you must finish your promotional study within six years after starting.

Once your research is finished, you will have to defend your dissertation. This happens in an official doctorate ceremony, where your promotor will also be present. You can read all about the doctorate ceremony in our dissertation protocol. Once you have successfully defended your dissertation, you will officially be granted the title ‘doctor of theology’.