Study requirements

Within the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) every PhD student must be registered with the Graduate School of Medical Sciences (GSMS). This applies for everyone preparing a PhD thesis. The curriculum has a varied program, which gives all students working on a thesis the opportunity to join courses related to their research and circumstances.

The GS curriculum is based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). While carrying out the 'standard' four-year research project, 30 ECTS credit points must be earned by taking courses and doing workshops (chosen freely). As there are several categories of PhD students the required number of ECTS credit points varies accordingly:
- 4 years: 30 ECTS^*
- 3 years: 22.5 ECTS^*
- 2 years: 15 ECTS^*

^{*1 ECTS credit point = 28 hours approx. (of contact time or working hours on a subject). The GSMS Education Committee is responsible for assigning the credit points.}

ECTS credit points can be obtained by:
1. Following courses in the GSMS education program
2. Following courses at other institutes and organizations
3. Following Research Master’s program courses
4. Conducting research activities.

In addition to taking courses, it is important that PhD students familiarize themselves with activities related to the transfer of knowledge, such as keeping up with professional literature, participation in work discussion meetings and reference meetings of the student’s own research group and − in consultation with their supervisor − of other research groups, active participation in local and national scientific meetings, and in international meetings.

The following research activities will yield ECTS credit points as well, to a maximum of 4 ECTS/yr:

  

 

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