Program Curriculum

The Ph.D. program includes both general and specialized courses, organized in the context of the Graduate School of the Faculty of Humanities.

The Ph.D. program includes both general and specialized courses, organized in the context of the Graduate School of the Faculty of Humanities.

  The program covers two areas of study. On a general level, every Ph.D. candidate acquires firm knowledge in the theories and methodologies of religious studies. This foundation is deepened by the specialization in one particular field that will provide the principal framework for the Ph.D. thesis.

  The Ph.D. program comprises 240 ects. (1 ects. = 28 hrs.) from which 65 ects. (20 ects. yearly) are spent on acquiring working skills and educational training during the first three years. The remaining time and ects. are dedicated to research and writing the dissertation.

  The Graduate School Ph.D. program is compulsory for internal Ph.D. candidates (including self-funded) and is open to external Ph.D. candidates.
 

5 EC 10 EC 10 EC 35 EC
1 RSN + IS          CW I Optionals Research and writing
2 RSN + IS CW II English Research and writing
3 RSN + IS TTS Research and writing Research and writing
4 RSN + IS     Research and writing    Research and writing    Research and writing

RSN: Research Skills and Networking
IS: Individual Supervision
CW: Course Work
TTS: Training Teaching Skills


Research Skills and Networking (5 ec)

  • LIRS Informal meetings
    By organizing informal meetings the Institute brings together junior and senior researchers from inside or outside Leiden University.
  • The LIRS promovendi association (promovendi overleg) offers the opportunity to meet with fellow-Ph.D.s and discuss matters connected to being a Ph.D. student or individual projects in a protected environment. The promovendi association is currently convened by dr. Nathal Dessing (EMAIL) who also functions as “buddy” (Vertrouwenspersoon) for all Ph.D. students in our Institute.
  • Participation and research in NOSTER. Candidates participate in the training programme organized by the Netherlands School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (NOSTER) or other academic contexts.
  • Participation and presentation of research at international conferences
  • Course Academic Integrity

Individual Supervision and Annual Review(6 EC)

Throughout the whole period of their appointment, graduate students receive individual tutorials from their supervisor and present parts of their written work to their supervisor for correction.


Every year, performance and progress of each Ph.D. candidate are discussed in a “Result and Development Interview” between the Ph.D. candidate and his or her supervisor(s). These evaluations will make sure that Ph.D. candidate gets regular, formalized feedback in addition to continuous supervision to help her or him to make the best out of one’s research time. The Academic Director of LIRS will also independently evaluate progress of all Ph.D. candidates on the basis of submitted paperwork and an interview. Results will then be discussed with the supervisor(s), severe problems or major alterations of the Ph.D. projects can also be brought to the attention of the Dean of the Graduate School. Evaluation of participation in the Graduate School Ph.D. will be discussed with each resident candidate during the annual review. The first year after the Ph.D. candidates has been accepted is a year of probation. During this year, the Academic Director of LIRS can, after consultation with his or her supervisor(s), dismiss the candidate should his or her work appear to be unsatisfactory to the standards of the Institute. In cases of conflicts Ph.D. candidates can turn to dr. Nathal Dessing.

Courses (20 ec)

The Ph.D. candidate can choose from the wide program of courses offered at LIRS, the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University at large or NOSTER (Dutch School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion). Such courses range from additional language training needed for specialized research as well as courses pertaining to history, philosophy, culture and social sciences.

Course options

Training Teaching Skills (10 ec)

During the Ph.D. period students have the opportunity to obtain teaching experience by giving lectures to BA and MA students.

Optionals (20 ec)

  • Academic English (for non-native English speakers)
  • Further professional training and/or courses

Dissertation (174 ec)

At the end of their program all Ph.D. students must submit a written thesis as proof of competence in independently conducting academic research in their particular field. The Ph.D. program will be formally concluded by the defence of the thesis as laid down in the Doctoral Regulations and the Protocol Ceremony. 

Because of international developments in the publication of PhD dissertations the Board of Leiden University has decided that the entire dissertation should also be made available in digital form to the Institutional Repository (IR) of Leiden University, which is administered by the University Library (UB). This version must be identical to the printed edition. The PhD candidate is responsible for (paper) publication of the dissertation and free to do this commercially or otherwise.

Religious Studies Web Editors
Last Modified: 29-04-2011