Communication Science (PhD) – (Ph.D.)

Contents

ASCoR offers a three-year international PhD program in Communication Science. Applicants come from many countries around the world. The program builds upon the strengths of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences from the University of Amsterdam, so that PhD students benefit from working with scholars in Communication Science as well as from other social sciences. Upon completion of the program and defense of the dissertation, students receive a PhD in the Social Sciences from the University of Amsterdam.

Research
PhD research, including data collection, is conducted throughout the project.

The research project is based on a proposal that is usually written by one or more senior ASCoR faculty, and in all cases conforms to the following criteria:

* Fit into the ASCoR research program.
* Contain all compulsory elements of a Dutch Science Foundation application: Definition of academic relevance (theoretical background), research question, proposed methodology, societal relevance, work plan and a budget (see also ).

Each PhD project usually consists of 3 or more research studies, leading to three or more peer-reviewed academic publications.

PhD training
PhD training is organized by the Graduate School of Communication. All ASCoR PhD candidates are enrolled in the PhD Training Program of the Graduate School of Communication. As a Research Master degree is assumed for all new PhD candidates, the coursework is generally limited to 9 EC. Prospective PhD candidates who do not have a Research Master in Communication Science will be asked to follow a transfer program in methods and/or Communication Science before starting on the PhD project.

In addition to the Graduate School coursework, all PhD candidates are also members of a PhD Club in which research is discussed every two weeks, and of course each PhD candidate has his/her supervision team.

Teaching
PhD candidates with an employment contract at UvA are usually required to teach a number of classes in the undergraduate program of communication science within the Bachelor College.

PhD thesis and thesis defense
The final months of each project are devoted to finishing the PhD thesis, which is based on the articles written throughout the project. After the dissertation has been read and approved by a committee of experts, there is a public defense, held at the University of Amsterdam.

Faculty

The Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR is the research institute in Communication Science at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam.

It is the largest research institute of its kind in Europe and is among the largest worldwide. More than 50 senior researchers are permanently associated with ASCoR, and its English-language PhD programme hosts more than 35 students.