RIBES Graduate School

All RIBES PhDs (both internal and external) take part in the following activities at the Faculty of Science:

1. Introduction morning at the Faculty of Science
2. Scientific Ethics and Integrity

All employed PhD candidates of the Faculty of Science also participate in:

3. Practical Didactic Skills (or a comparable education course, such as Teaching Practice)
4. Essential Skills for Managing Your PhD (for PhD candidates starting in 2025 or later)

The remainder of the Graduate School programme (see below) depends on previous experience, preferences and desired career after the PhD. 

The RIBES Graduate School offers the following training programme, which includes a minimum of 420 hours spent on your personal and professional development. This programme is also listed in the TSP format of RIBES. 

Courses and training (224 hours) 

• Introduction for employees of the Faculty of Science (required activity) (4 hours - Sign up here)
• Scientific ethics and integrity course (required course) (12 hours - More info and registration)
• Practical Didactic Skills (required course for employed PhD candidates) (12 hours - More info and registration)
• Essential Skills to Manage Your PhD project (required course for employed PhD candidates from 2025 and onwards) (24 hours - More info and registration)
• Other courses and training*, recommended are:
  • Find, Manage and Publish Academic Literature (More info and registration)
  • Scientific writing course
  • Presenting course
  • Project management course
  • Career orientation

View a full list of available Radboud courses here and sign up via the gROW platform.

Total minimum hours: 224 hours (8 ECTS)

Elective activities (196 hours)

RIBES activities, for example:

• Attending or presenting at the annual RIBES day
• Lab / department meetings
• RIBES research theme meetings

Networking activities, for example:

• Attending conferences
• Radboud/Faculty research events
• Being a board or committee member (RIBES PhD council, PON, etc)

Other, for example:*

• Annual meeting with your mentor
• Science communication and outreach activities
• Organising research events
• Additional didactic training
• Other courses/ trainings/ workshops that are relevant to your development as a PhD candidate

 Total minimum hours: 196 hours (7 ECTS)

* View 'Activities at other graduate/research schools' for the possibilities of following courses at other organisations.

Certificate

PhD candidates can use the portfolio in Hora Finita to keep track of their training and elective activities. When PhD candidates complete and submit the RIBES Graduate School programme (420 hours / 15 ECTS minimum total) via the portfolio in Hora Finita, they receive a Graduate School certificate.

PhD candidates can join activities and courses within the academic community all over the country and the world. For example, at other (national) graduate or research schools. This is supported by RIBES and can be combined or integrated in the RIBES Graduate School programme.

Currently, many PhD candidates at RIBES participate in activities of the following organisations:

• Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS)
• Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE)
• Graduate School for Production Ecology & Resource Conservation (PE&RC)
• Netherlands Ecological Research Network (NERN) (not a research school but a network) 

All PhD candidates of Radboud University are registered in Hora Finita. Hora Finita is used to track progress, to remind PhD candidates and supervisors of deadlines, and to fill the portfolio. Hora Finita is also used to submit the manuscript at the end of the PhD trajectory. 

PhD candidates at RIBES choose their own mentor. They meet with them at least once a year. The guidelines for choosing a mentor and meeting with them are described in the RIBES PhD Guide. 

Are you having trouble finding an available mentor? Contact graduate school coordinator Lara de Die in that case.

Other support services

For specific questions or a confidential talk, PhD candidates can consult one of the supporting services at Radboud University. If you are unsure of where to go with your question, contact graduate school coordinator Lara de Die for advice (confidentially if needed).