Email communications
Here you will find an overview of all email communications sent to PhD candidates (mostly via the PhD Course Centre's Course update) regarding Coronavirus-related topics.
Dear all,
Last months, we offered the majority of our courses in an online format because of the coronavirus. We are very thankful that our trainers made it possible for you to continue with following our courses as much as possible.
Till the end of this year, we will continue with providing most of our courses online. The capacity for education in the buildings is limited because the distance of 1.5 meters has to be taken into account. We will keep following local measures at UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University related to the coronavirus. You can find the most important changes in campus activities in the timeline of the Roadmap. Updates, frequently asked questions and information on working and studying at Utrecht University can be found here.
In the PhD Course Centre Agenda, you can find in the course title and course description if the course will be online. A couple of courses will be organized at the Utrecht Science Park.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear all,
Utrecht University and the UMC are slowly expanding activities at the campus, and are doing the utmost to ensure that everyone can carry out their tasks in the best possible way. You can find the most important changes in campus activities in the timeline of the Roadmap.
Education still has to be continued in an online format as much as possible. The PhD Course Centre has cancelled all face-to-face courses until at least September the 1st. Most of our courses continue in an online format. If the course you are registered for can not continue online, you will receive a message from us. Otherwise, you can assume that the course will continue online. For more information, keep a close watch on our website.
- For GSLS announcements addressed to PhD candidates regarding Covid-19, click here.
- For more information about UU education during the coronacrisis, click here.
Our 'no-show' policy regarding the coronavirus
All cancelled courses are excluded from our 'no-show' policy. Are you registered for a course after the 1st of September? Keep a close eye on our course update and website for actual information.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear all,
The PhD Course Centre follows the policy of Utrecht University and the UMC. The Executive Board of Utrecht University sent out an update about education during the corona crisis last week in which they are stating that the Cabinet has decided that educational activities can slowly resume under strict terms. However, education has to be continued in an online format as much as possible. This is why the PhD Course Centre has decided to extend the cancellation of all face-to-face courses until at least September the 1st. Until this time, most of our courses continue in an online format. If the course you are registered for can not continue online, you will receive a message from us. Otherwise, you can assume that the course will continue online. For more information, keep a close watch on our website.
- For GSLS announcements addressed to PhD candidates regarding Covid-19, click here.
- For more information about UU education during the coronacrisis, click here.
Our 'no-show' policy regarding the coronavirus
All cancelled courses are excluded from our 'no-show' policy. If you are not able to attent a course due to the Coronavirus, please let us know as soon as possible. Are you registered for a course after the 1st of September? Keep a close eye on our course update and website for actual information.
Face-to-face courses or events that continue in an ONLINE format till September the 1st
- Science Communication: Relevant and Clear (May 13 - June 17)
- Supervising PhD candidates at the GSLS (May 12 - July 7)
- Writing a Scientific Paper (May 6 - June 3)
- Analytic Storytelling (June 2 - June 16)
- Introductory Biostatistics for Researchers (June 8 - June 26)
- Research Planning and Time Management (June 8 - June 9)
- Giving Effective Presentations (May 26 - June 18)
- Selling your Science (June 18 - June 25)
- This Thing Called Science (May 29 & June 26)
Courses or events that are cancelled or have to be rescheduled till September the 1st
- Supervision of Master's students (May 16 - June 9) - Will be postponed to another date.
- The art of Presenting Science (June 4 - July 2) - This course is rescheduled, participants have been contacted about the changes.
- Giving Effective Presentations (August 11 - August 25) - This course will be rescheduled.
- Supervisor of the Year Award Ceremony (June 19) - This event is CANCELLED until further notice and will be rescheduled to another date.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear PhD candidates, supervisors and chairpersons of the Doctoral Examination Committee,
From 1 July 2020, it will be possible to have PhD ceremonies take place in the Senaatszaal of the University Hall, with a number of adjustments. PhD candidates can choose to have their ceremony take place physically with a limited number of invitees, but it will also remain possible to do their PhD defense online.
Ceremony in the University Hall
The following adjustments have been made to ensure that PhD ceremonies in the University Hall comply with RIVM guidelines:
- There is room for six members of the Doctoral Examination Committee behind the table, including the chairperson. The other members participate in the ceremony and deliberation online;
- The doctoral candidate takes 7 copies of the thesis to the University Hall on the day of the doctoral ceremony;
- The maximum number of guests is set at 15, not including two paranimfs. Other interested parties can follow the defense via a live stream, for which the doctoral candidate receives a link;
- Afterwards, a reception for the guests can take place at the Faculty Club. The caterer will contact the PhD candidate two weeks prior to the ceremony to discuss the possibilities.
Approximately two weeks prior to the ceremony, the Beadle will contact those involved for further instructions.
Ceremony online
At the online ceremony, all those involved participate remotely in the session, at the date and time set at the Beadle’s office. Invited guests can follow the ceremony remotely via a live stream. The doctoral candidate will receive a link for this purpose, which can be distributed to the invited guests. The session then takes place as much as possible as in the Senaatszaal of the University Hall (Academiegebouw). No copies of the thesis need to be sent to the Academiegebouw. Approximately two weeks prior to the ceremony, the Beadle contacts those involved for further instructions.
If, in consultation between the doctoral candidate and the supervisor(s), a decision has been made about the ceremony in the University Hall or online, the doctoral candidate may inform the Beadle of the joint decision.
Kind regards,
Prof. Henk Kummeling
Rector Magnificus
Dear PhD candidates, supervisors and chairpersons of the Doctoral Examination Committee,
After the announcement of the Cabinet last Tuesday, we unfortunately had to decide not to proceed with PhD ceremonies in physical form until July 1st. The PhD ceremony is a moment you are looking forward to, that is why we want to continue the ceremonies online as much as possible from April 6th onwards. In this way, we will prevent your graduation from being delayed, and we will do as much as possible to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
During the online ceremony, all those involved will participate remotely, on the date and time as scheduled with the Beadle. Invited guests can follow the ceremony remotely via a live stream. PhDs will receive a link, that can be shared with their guests. The session then takes place as much as possible as in the Senaatszaal of the University Hall.
What will be different is the presentation of the diploma. Because the University Hall is closed, no diplomas can be produced at the moment. Those who have graduated will therefore receive a declaration signed by the Rector Magnificus, and will receive their diploma as soon as possible, when the crisis measures are no longer in force. We will see how we can make this a festive occasion!
It is important to emphasize that a doctoral thesis defense only takes place online when the PhD candidate agrees. If the candidate objects to this, the ceremony will be postponed. When, in consultation with your supervisor(s), you have decided on an online ceremony or postponement, you can inform the Beadle about your joint decision.
We are currently investigating how we can re-accommodate postponed ceremonies as soon as possible, but it will certainly take some time.
In case of an online PhD-defense, the Beadle will send a document to the PhD candidate and supervisor to be completed, about 2 weeks before the PhD ceremony. Upon receipt of the completed document, all parties involved receive the instructions, approximately 1 week before the date of the PhD ceremony.
With kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Henk Kummeling
Rector Magnificus
Dear all,
Together with Promovendi Netwerk Nederland and PostdocNL VSNU, NFU NWO and ZonMW are working on solutions for the bottlenecks young researchers are facing. Read their joint statement (in Dutch) here: https://www.nfu.nl/img/pdf/Uitloop_van_onderzoekstrajecten.pdf
For Chinese PhD candidates on a CSC-grant we have received news that according to their new policy, if the student's scholarship ends up at any time between 20th January to 30th June, their scholarship will be prolonged to 30th June. CSC has sent this information to the Chinese embassy and students can consult the embassy.
The PhD Course Centre follows the policy of Utrecht University and the UMC. This means that all face-to-face courses of the PhD Course Centre are cancelled till the 1st of June until further notice.
For more information, go to the site of the UU via this link:
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/practical-matters/information-coronavirus
While some courses are definitively cancelled, other courses might be continued online. For more information, see the section 'Upcoming Online Courses' or keep a close watch on our website. Are you already registered for one of our (cancelled) courses? You will be contacted by your trainer once the course will be continued online.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear all,
The PhD Course Centre follows the policy of Utrecht University and the UMC. According to the new measures the Executive Board of the university has decided that all university education has to be offered online until the 1st of June. This means that all face-to-face courses of the PhD Course Centre are cancelled till the 1st of June instead of April 20 until further notice. For more information, go to the site of the UU via this link:
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/practical-matters/information-coronavirus
In the overview below, you can see the most recent information regarding the progress of relevant courses.
Cancelled Face-to-Face Courses (from April 20 until the 1st of June)
- Achieving your Goals and Performing More Successfully in Your PhD (April 17 - May 8) *
- Digital Pictures: Data Integrity and Display (May 7 & 8, 2020) *
- Giving Effective Presentations (April 29 - May 13, 2020)
- Science Communication: Relevant and Clear (May 7 - June 17, 2020)
- Supervising PhD candidates at the GSLS (April 21 - June 23, 2020)
- Supervision of Master's students (May 26 & June 9, 2020)
- The Art of Presenting Science (April 20 - May 18, 2020)
- This Thing Called Science (April 24 & May 29, 2020) *
- Writing a Scientific Paper (May 6 - June 3, 2020)
Cancelled Events
- PhACE - PhD Activating Career Event (May 18 & 19, 2020)
- PhD Day 2020 (April 15) - postponed to October, 2020
- Breaking Science 2020 - postponed to autumn, 2020
*These courses are definitively cancelled. Some other courses might be continued online. For more information, see the section 'Upcoming Online Courses' or keep a close watch on our website. Already registered for one of our (cancelled) courses? You will be contacted by your trainer once the course will be continued online.
Our 'no-show' policy regarding the coronavirus
All cancelled courses are excluded from our 'no-show' policy. Are you registered for a course after the 1st of June? Keep a close eye on our course update and website for actual information.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear all,
The PhD Course centre follows the policy of Utrecht University and the UMC.
This means that all face-to-face courses up until April 20th are cancelled until further notice.
For more information, go to the site of the UU via this link: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/practical-matters/information-coronavirus
For up-to-date information regarding the PhD Course Centre courses, go to our website.
The PhD Course Centre cancelled all face-to-face courses up until April 20th. In the overview below, you can see the most recent information regarding the progress of concerning courses.
Cancelled Face-to-Face Courses
- Writing for Academic Publication (March 17 - March 31)
- Writing for Academic Publication (March 17 - April 7)
- Academic Writing in English (March 18 - April 8)
- Giving Effective Presentations (March 18 - March 25)
- Mindfulness and Stress Reduction (March 18 - April 22)
- Psychological Flexibility (March 18)
- The Art of Presenting Science (March 18 - April 15)
- Writing a Scientific Paper (March 20 - March 27)
- Adobe Indesign - from Dissertation Layout to Poster Design (March 23 - March 24)
- Supervising Research of MSc students (March 23 - May 11)
- Analytic Storytelling (March 24 - March 31)
- This Thing Called Science (March 27)
- Giving Effective Presentations (April 1 - April 22)
- Supervision of High School Students (April 7)
- Supervising PhD candidates at the GSLS (April 2 - May 7)
- Research Planning and Time Management (April 6)
- Achieving your Goals and Performing More Successfully in your PhD (April 17 - May 8)
Cancelled Events
- MD-PhD Lunch Event (March 25)
- PhD Day 2020 (April 15) - postponed to October, 2020
- Breaking Science 2020 - postponed to autumn, 2020
NB: Some cancelled courses will be continued ONLINE. For more information, see the section 'Upcoming ONLINE Courses' or keep a close watch on our website. Already registered for one of our (cancelled) courses? You will be contacted by your trainer once the course will be continued online.
Our 'no-show' policy regarding the coronavirus
All cancelled courses are excluded from our 'no-show' policy. Are you registered for a course after the 20th of April? Keep a close eye on our course update and website for actual information.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear all,
We regret to announce that the PhD Course Centre has suspended all its activities up until at least March 31 until further notice. This decision was taken following the national and, in particular, local measures at the UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University related to the Covid-19 pandemic. We will try to catch up and reschedule the activities at a later date this year in consultation with our trainers.
We trust to have provided you with sufficient information.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team
Dear all,
The PhD Course centre follows the advice of Utrecht University and the UMC. The UU is closely monitoring national and international developments concerning the coronavirus. UU follows the travel advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Nederland Wereldwijd and the guidelines of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
This means that for now all courses will take place as planned.
Stay home to recover and not to infect others if you:
- Have health complaints (coughing or shortness of breath or a fever) ánd have visited an area where COVID-19 is widespread in the past two weeks (see RIVM for an overview);
- Or if you have health complaints (coughing or shortness of breath or a fever) ánd have been in contact with a known patient with COVID-19 in the past two weeks.
Do you live in North Brabant? Please follow the advice of he National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to stay at home if you have a cold, cough or fever.
If the symptoms get worse, call your GP or the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD).
For more information go to the site of the UU via this link: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/practical-matters/information-coronavirus
Our "no-show policy" regarding the coronavirus
If the situation named above applies to you and you have to stay at home, contact us so we can further discuss your cancellation.
Kind regards,
The PhD Course Centre team