Compulsory training

For PhD candidates that have started after 1 September 2020, training in supervision (if applicable) and research integrity is compulsory. This holds for all PhD candidates at Utrecht University and is based on PhD candidates’ advice to get better educated on these subjects. Include this training in your Individual Training Plan of the TSA.

If you have questions about the compulsory training, please send an email to pcc@uu.nl.

Research integrity

The GSLS organises the Responsible Conduct of Research training years 1 - 4. During each training, you will discuss different aspects of research integrity, illustrated by a wide variety of cases, and share your experiences with fellow PhD candidates. All GSLS PhD candidates must follow this training, we don't make exceptions. Attendance of a similar course elsewhere doesn’t exempt you from this training. You can find course descriptions and training dates here.

Please note: if your PhD is shorter than 4 years, you are still required to follow all 4 trainings. You can participate in training 1 in your first year, training 4 in your last year, and the two e-modules of training 2 and 3 in between when it is most convenient for you.

Being a scientist is complicated. You must deal with responsibilities towards your colleagues, your profession, science in general and society. And on top of that, you must perform state of the art research providing thrilling results and new insights for the life sciences. Everyone knows that one should not cheat in science, but still it happens. Why?

This course will help you to remain a good citizen in science. The main aspects of responsible conduct of research will be discussed in short by examples taken from the life sciences. Tools will be provided to withstand the seductions and challenges put on you by supervisors, “the system” and your own ambitions. In this course, we will also discuss daily life experiences in research practice which will help you to responsibly manoeuvre through the grey areas of science.

Year 1: reading articles + 3 hours in person meeting consisting of an introductory lecture, outbreak groups and a plenary feedback session. This meeting introduces you to the main aspects of RCR and provides you with several resources and tools to be a responsible researcher.
Year 2: E-module "Integrity in academic publication: authorship and peer review" + 1 hour in person plenary feedback session.
Year 3: E-module “Responsible research through supervision, mentoring and working together” + 1 hour in person plenary feedback session.
Year 4: reading articles + 3 hours in person meeting consisting of an introductory lecture, outbreak groups and a plenary feedback session. This meeting prepares you for your next steps in science, and will focus on responsible writing of grants, collaboration and mentoring.

E-modules

"Integrity in academic publication: authorship and peer review"
This e-module will focus on how to be or become a good author and fair reviewer. Our aim is to stimulate you to become aware of relevant issues in your academic publishing practice and ways to approach them. The three learning units are as follows:
1) Authorship – who qualifies, order, publication strategy.
2) Academic publishing – FFP and retraction, predatory journals, dilemmas and grey areas.
3) Reviewing – peer review types, a constructive review.
“Responsible Research through supervision, mentoring and working together” This e-module will learn you how and why supervision, mentoring, and collaboration are key ingredients to support responsible conduct in research (RCR). The five learning units are as follows:
1) Introduction to RCR – history, present and future of RCR.
2) Expectations and responsibilities in supervision and mentoring – styles of supervision and mentoring, power relations and RCR, mutual expectations.
3) Culture, colleagues and communication – communication on RCR in your research practice.
4) Collaboration outside the research team – conflicts of interest, competing responsibility, IP.
5) Learning to take responsibilities and its boundaries – conversation with your supervisor/mentor.

Training in teaching and supervision

The GSLS, Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht offers training for various types of education like teaching and supervising Master students.

Teaching

Teaching: Start to Teach. Please visit the website for more information.

Supervision
As of the second half of 2026, the GSLS PhD Course Centre will gradually update its offer of supervision courses. To ensure a more coherent and future‑proof training programme, we will phase out two of our current courses. By simplifying our course portfolio, we can focus on offering a strong and consistent learning pathway:

The course Supervising MSc Students: Starter Kit was discontinued after the first half of 2026.
The more in-depth course Supervising Research of MSc Students will be offered until the end of 2026 and discontinued from 2027.
From 2027 onward, the already existing GSLS Master’s Supervision Essentials, organised by our own GSLS Master's Programme, will remain available as the main starting point for developing strong supervision skills. PhD candidates who have already completed the Supervising MSc Students: Starter Kit do not need to take this course, as the content overlaps.

Please find more information including course descriptions and schedules under "Which GSLS Supervising course fits me best".

Compulsory training

Research integrity

More information on Responsible Conduct of Research years 1-4

E-modules

Training in teaching and supervision

Which GSLS supervising course fits me best?

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