Setup Educational Programme

• Requirements for ICO PhD candidates

Set up of the ICO Educational programme		EC
Introductory course: a two day course, in which candidates present an overview of their PhD research proposal and the first study, review other proposals, review a PhD thesis, simulate an editorial board meeting and acquire insight in how to manage their supervisor. Candidates learn about the ten themes of ICO’s research programme, about the scholarly process and about scientific integrity and data management.		5
Two conferences are to be attended. The two conferences are offered bi-annually. The international conference is offered in collaboration with other European universities. The two conferences are organized alternatingly in Spring of every year. At the conferences fulltime PhD members are expected to give a paper presentation at least once during the ICO programme.
	1) ICO National Spring School: a national two-day networking conference (1 EC) in which PhD candidates present their work and receive extensive feedback from ICO staff members and their peers;	1
	2) ICO International Spring School: an international five-day networking conference (3 EC) in which PhD candidates present their work, receive feedback and attend thematic and methodology workshops offered by ICO staff and international well recognized experts in the field.	3
A variety of ICO courses, amounting to 9 EC combined		9
	Thematic courses in which candidates acquire knowledge about recent developments in various research fields representing the ten themes comprising ICO’s research programme.
	Methodology courses related to quantitative or qualitative methodologies.
	Shorter Educational Activities see page: https://ico-education.nl/education/shorter-educational-activities/
Total EC of ICO’s educational programme		18

Requirements for ICO PhD candidates within the educational programme

Fulltime PhD Members (≥ 0,8 fte for working on their PhD)
All full time ICO PhD candidates are required to participate in the following ICO modules: 

• ICO Introductory Course (time investment 140 hours, 5 ECTS) 
• A variation of ICO courses related to the ICO research themes and research methodology  and techniques (total time investment for all courses combined 252 hours, 9 ECTS)
• ICO International Spring school (time investment 84 hours, 3 ECTS). 
• ICO National Spring School (time investment 28 hours, 1 ECTS) 

In sum regular PhD students spent at least 504 hours (18 ECTS), of the available 1104 hours for PhD education on the ICO educational programme. 
After completion of all ICO modules the PhD candidates will receive the ICO Certificate. 

Part time PhD Members (≤0,8 fte for working on their PhD)
All part time ICO PhD candidates are required to participate in the following ICO modules: 

• ICO Introductory Course (time investment 140 hours, 5 ECTS) 
• ICO National Spring School (time investment 28 hours, 1 ECTS) or the ICO International Spring School (time investment full ISS: 84 hours, 3 ECTS; time investment half ISS: 42 hours, 1.5 EC)

ICO’s educational programme
The number of ICO courses PhD candidates are willing to attend is not restricted to a maximum. For instance, if a part time PhD Member wants to attend the full ICO educational programme, this is possible. After completion of all ICO modules the PhD candidates will receive the ICO Certificate. 

As a rule, in the admission procedure for the ICO Courses, PhD candidates members of ICO have an advantage over external participants. Please see our regulations for registration for details. 

Exemption for ICO Thematic or Methodological courses  is possible. For more information, please look at our Exemption regulations. 

For the regular PhD Members the ICO Introductory course, making a Junior (2nd year students) and a Senior (3rd year students) presentation either at the biennial ICO National or International Fall or Spring School, and participation in the International Fall or Spring School are compulsory.

How to get the ICO Certificate

If you have successfully completed the full educational programme of ICO, you are entitled to the ICO Certificate. To obtain this certificate please send an email to the Executive Secretary indicating that you have completed the educational programme. After a final check with the educational administration, the certificate will be send to you.