Study Programme
IHS provides an environment that stimulates inspiring ideas at the crossroads of theory and practice in urban development and governance. Urban professionals grow as individuals and as academics, and the knowledge and the ideas they develop at IHS will contribute to them making a positive impact on the world.
The IHS PhD programme provides a refreshing academic-to-practice environment in which talented individuals can develop their ideas and broaden their experience to become the leading professionals in research, education and practice of urban development. This PhD programme brings together professionals from all over the world, supporting their research on multiple topics. IHS guarantees a productive working environment and offers a flexible programme with various modalities and research possibilities. Below, you can see an overview of our three main research clusters.
Part of Erasmus Graduate School of Social Sciences and the Humanities (EGSH)
The PhD programme is part of the Erasmus Graduate School of Social Sciences and the Humanities (EGSH). In this capacity, IHS can facilitate candidates to advance their groundbreaking research by offering access to courses and workshops and conferences organised by EGSH. All of this is geared towards enhancing the participants' research and networking skills. Candidates can choose from a wide range of courses catered to support their individual work and develop them as research professionals. According to their initial level, educational background, and PhD research strategy, the candidates choose which courses to follow in consultation with their supervisors in a Training and Supervision Plan. Through the events, programme participants interact with other PhD candidates from different Erasmus University departments and stimulate participants to look beyond their own projects and actively engage with different perspectives. Candidates also have access to the vast resources of the university library system & campus facilities. Finally, IHS PhD candidates are awarded a doctoral degree in Social Sciences and the Humanities from the high-ranking Erasmus University (#72 globally).
How is the programme organised?
Students in the PhD programme receive an à la carte menu of courses tailored to the various stages of the PhD track: Introduction courses for beginning PhD students; methodology courses and philosophy of science; In-depth theory courses for advanced PhD students; and final stages courses. Students engage with colleagues in a small-class environment to challenge research problems of interest to academia and practice. Studying the PhD at IHS allows students to directly contribute to research and education and receive a combination of academic guidance and reflection from years of practical experience in the fields below.
PhD Modalities
The IHS PhD programme is very flexible and caters for various modalities for PhD or post-doctoral research activities. Below you can find more specific information about each of the five modalities available for PhD candidates.
| Description | Degree | Tuition fee | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
Entire research (3-4 years) at IHS/EUR with a mandatory stay on site of only 3 months per year. | Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) | €12,500 per year |
|
| Description | Degree | Tuition fee | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research at IHS/EUR + another university. Defence at IHS/EUR. | Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) | €12,500 per year |
|
| Description | Degree | Tuition fee | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research at IHS/EUR + another university. Defence can take place at both universities. | Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) + Other University | €12,500 per year |
|
| Description | Degree | Tuition fee | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research at another university + 1 year (or less) at IHS. Defence at the home university. | Other University | €12,500 per year |
|
| Description | Degree | Tuition fee | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoc researchers visiting for a short period, who have the primary purpose of visiting the Erasmus campus, is to conduct individual research. | N/A | Administration fee 6 months: € 1,500 Up to 3 months: € 900 |
|
PhD Alumni Spotlight: Daniel Adamu
Daniel studied public-private partnership-led housing delivery in urban Nigeria.
Courses to improve your research skills
As a PhD candidate, you can take advantage of over 40 different process support courses, offered by the Graduate School. The aim of these courses is to support your research process and to help you maintain your work-life balance. Click on read more to view the complete list of courses.
- How to finish your PhD in time
- Making your research proposal work for you
- Professionalism and integrity in research
- Project management: doing less but achieving more
- Brush up your research design
- Philosophy of the social sciences and humanities
- English academic writing for PhD candidates
- Doing the literature review
- Several methods course
- Guided peer support for PhD candidates
- Defending your PhD
- Courses of choice based on your research design
Flexible supervision style
The Netherlands is well-known for its flexible management culture, strongly reflected in the supervision style provided here at IHS. As a PhD candidate, you will be considered a fellow researcher, and you will be able to participate in research groups. During supervision meetings, you will be provided with guidance and feedback, but you will also be encouraged to share your ideas and questions.
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