INFORMATION FOR AMSTERDAM UMC PhD CANDIDATES IN ONCOLOGY

Congratulations on your new position as a PhD candidate at Amsterdam UMC! Because you will be working on a research project in oncology,y ou are a member of the research institute Cancer Center Amsterdam and two schools: the Amsterdam UMC Doctoral school and the Onderzoekschool Oncologie Amsterdam (OOA).

In order to make a well prepared and efficient start to your PhD program, it is essential that you go through a number of steps. The first step (which you most likely already have completed) is to register your PhD track by filling out the form at this page. By filling out this form, your PhD programme is automatically registered at the Doctoral School as well CCA and OOA. The second step is to draw up and submit your PhD and Training Plan (TP). All relevant information about drawing up this plan is described below.

Please note: VUmc PhD students also need to register their project in the Hora Finita system.
Click here for information.

The goal of the PhD Plan is not to create extra paperwork, but to encourage an open and honest conversation between phD candidates and their supervisors about mutual expectations and goals during the PhD trajectory. The PhD Plan will also help you to make an overview of your PhD trajectory and the education you would like to follow.
The education/training part of your PhD programma (chapter 8 in the PhD plan) includes a number of compulsory elements essential to every PhD candidate and a more flexible part that can be tailored to your individual needs, interests and background. The basic criteria of all Training Plans are the same and include:

– a total number of 30 ECTS credits (1 ECTS equals 28 hours);
– a mandatory ‘Ethics and Integrity in Science’ course (2 ECTS);
– at least one conference visit (max 2 ECTS per visit);
– 
at least 8 ECTS earned in professional knowledge and general skill courses;
– 
the remaining credits are earned by participating in amongst others, courses, activities, retreats, conferences and (work) discussions. 

Since cancer immunology is a joint program of Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA) and AII, cancer immunology PhD candidates can choose between the rules of CCA or AII in drawing up their training plan.

Via the button link above, you can download the PhD and Training Plan template and view a step-by-step guide of how to draw up this Training Plan. More detailed information can be found below.

REGISTRATION HORA FINITA SYSTEM

Hora Finita is the registration system for all VU and VUmc PhD candidates. Click below for more information and instructions.

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WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRAINING PLAN?

It is essential for all OOA PhD candidates to acquire and develop the right skills that will ensure a successful career, either within or outside academia.

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HOW TO DRAW UP THE TRAINING PLAN

Via the link above you can download the PhD and Training Plan. You need to complete this document in consultation with your (co)promotor.

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PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE COURSES

The OOA offers a wide variety of professional knowledge courses, which you can take free of charge.

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GENERAL SKILLS
COURSES

It is very important that you also improve your general skills during you PhD training. These are of great use in any (future) job.

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SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES DURING YOUR PhD

Besides courses, a wide range of other activities that you will undertake also count as relevant aspects of your Training Plan.

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GOOD TO KNOW

The Training Plan which you and your (co)promotors will design will become the foundation of your PhD training, but can be optimized during the course of your PhD program. It is very important to focus on education right at start of your PhD training in addition to your research project. As you get closer to completing your PhD, you will need to spend more time on finishing your research and writing articles, leaving less time to take courses.

If you have any questions about the OOA Training Plan, please see our FAQ page or contact Evelien Bos (ooa-tp@amsterdamumc.nl). For general questions about the OOA or our educational programme, contact Esther Ruhe (e.ruhe@amsterdamumc.nl)

We wish you a very inspiring, educational and successful PhD trajectory and hope to see you soon at one of our activities!