Training and Supervision Plan
At the start of their track, each PhD candidate writes a (TSP). The Training and Supervision Plan is a standard agreement between the PhD candidate and the supervisory team and is approved by the coordinator of the Graduate School. The TSP is a contract that protects your right to proper supervision, as well as appropriate training and education during your PhD journey. Part of the TSP is the mandatory developed by the Graduate School. The TSP must be submitted to the PhD coordinator within 3 months after the start of the PhD journey.
Assessments
For PhD candidates employed by the VU Amsterdam and bursary PhD candidates, 10 months after the start of their PhD appointment, a Stop/Go assessment follows on the basis of a first report of the results and an updated work plan. See the Stop/Go form . At this assessment the following persons are present: the PhD candidate, the supervisor(s), the director of the Graduate School and the PhD coordinator. In the following years, there will be annual assessments between the supervisor(s) and the PhD candidate. The Stop/Go assessment for self-funded PhD’s takes place between 10 and 18 months after their enrolment at the Graduate School. There are no annual interviews for external PhD candidates. Each year, they will submit a succinct annual report to their supervisor(s) and to the Graduate School. For the format of this report, see external PhD candidates.
The Golden Rules for PhD Supervision
The Graduate School of Humanities supports adequate and beneficial supervision and promotes healthy and sustainable PhD-supervisor interactions. To this end, and aligning with the four principles of the VU’s Art of Engagement, the GSH has adopted the ‘’ of Leiden University and adapted them to the VU’s School of Humanities. Part of the Training and Supervision plan is a discussion of the VU’s GSH Golden Rules for PhD Supervision.
Number of PhD candidates per supervisor
The GSH advises supervisors to take on a maximum of 6 (full-time) PhD candidates; in the case of part-time candidates, the number can be adjusted proportionally. The GSH considers this advice to be in the interests of both the PhD candidate, who receives sufficient supervision time, and the supervisor, for whom the workload remains manageable.