The expected duration of PhD projects is 3 years during which the students of ESTRADE mostly concentrate on their interdisciplinary research projects (89% of their PhD time period). To a lower extent (11%) they attend scientific and non-scientific classes.
In the first year, PhD students attend the introductory course, scientific classes (e.g. lectures, work shops, and summer schools), non-scientific classes (i.e. soft skill seminars as, e.g., advanced writing skills for scientific publications and third party funding proposals), and compulsory classes (choice of additional activities from scientific and non-scientific classes). The students have the opportunity to select from classes specific activities based on their relevance for the student’s scientific and personal development. Further, PhD students are asked to present the outline of their thesis within the ESTRADE Retreat at the end of the first year.
In the second year, PhD students will attend scientific, non-scientific, and compulsory classes as mentioned for the first year. The students are strongly encouraged to absolve a three-month internship in either a national or international research institution or an administration authority working in estuary and wetland management. This internship is expected to develop the students’ scientific and/or non-scientific skills and to enhance their career opportunities after finishing their projects. At the end of the second year PhD students will present their result at the ESTRADE Retreat.
In the third year, PhD students will attend scientific, non-scientific, and compulsory classes as mentioned for the first year. The ESTRADE winter school can be attended as one of the scientific classes during this year. At the end of third year students are expected to submit their (preferably cumulative) theses. The final exam for PhD students will be their disputation which is headed by a disputation committee.
ESTRADE employs the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) which valuates 30 hours workload = 1 credit point (cp). Each doctoral candidate should earn at least 12 credits. Credits must be derived from all classes (introductory course, scientific and non-scientific classes) and/or other activities, chosen in agreement with supervisors.
PhD students benefit from guidance by their individual and interdisciplinary groups of three supervisors, which are participating researchers of the graduate school ESTRADE. This thesis committee consists of (i) the Principal Advisor, (ii) the Co-Advisor, and (iii) the Panel Chair. At regular intervals PhD students will receive structured feedback from their thesis committees on the development and results of their PhD research project. This annual evaluation will be documented by a panel report.