HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES INTERDISCIPLINARY DOCTORAL PROGRAMME

The basic goals of the doctoral programme The Humanities and Social Sciences are for students:

  • To acquire a thorough understanding of a wider research field and to excel in research in their specific field.
  • To become capable of mature, independent and critical thinking.
  • To develop original approaches to research problems.
  • To learn how to be independent in creating new knowledge and learning how to transmit that knowledge.
  • To develop a high level of academic and research ethics.

 

The duration of the interdisciplinary doctoral programme in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, is 3 years (180 ECTS credits) and represents the third level of the Bologna cycle.

The programme consists of organised classes (60 ECTS credits) and individual research work for the doctoral thesis (120 ECTS credits). The ultimate goal is an accomplished doctoral student, who excels in research, whose results are internationally verified and who is capable of engaging in high quality independent research.

 

INTERDISCIPLINARY DOCTORAL PROGRAMME

Fields coordinated by Department of Geography:

  • Geography
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL STUDIES
  • BALKAN STUDIES
  • EUROPEAN STUDIES
  • ETHNIC AND MIGRATION STUDIES

 

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

The structure of the programme is designed to emphasise organised study in the first year and at the beginning of the second year, while the later emphasis is on research and the preparation of the doctoral thesis.

YEAR I: 60 ECTS, ORGANISED FORMS 40 ECTS

  • Compulsory core course I – 10 ECTS
  • Compulsory core course II – 10 ECTS
  • Elective seminar course I – 10 ECTS
  • Elective seminar course II – 10 ECTS
  • Research work (work on the doctoral thesis proposal and the academic article) – 20 ECTS

 

YEAR II: 60 ECTS, ORGANISED FORMS 10 ECTS

  • External course – 10 ECTS
  • Research work (Registration and public presentation of the doctoral thesis proposal, work on the thesis, work on the academic article, approval of the doctoral thesis topic by the University): 50 ECTS

 

YEAR III: 60 ECTS, ORGANISED FORMS 10 ECTS

  • Work on the thesis and the academic article – 50 ECTS
  • Public presentation of research results and public thesis defence in front of the doctoral committee – 10 ECTS

 

COURSE PRESENTATION

COMPULSORY CORE COURSES Compulsory core courses are basic methodological and theoretical courses, compulsory for all students enrolled in individual programme fields; students register 20 ECTS of courses upon agreement with their supervisor. Courses are implemented in an organised way, which is adjusted according to the number of students. Individual fields can form more core courses if needed. Related fields can offer joint core courses to facilitate their implementation.

DOCTORAL SEMINARS Doctoral seminars direct students towards their selected study field, confirmed by the doctoral thesis topic. Every year faculties provide for the preparation and implementation of elective seminar courses, adjusted to students’ specific fields of study or the doctoral thesis topic. They are implemented as elective seminar courses for restricted groups of students from the same field, or as individual work with students. Such a design provides for the highest level of flexibility, a tailor-made approach that meets individual student needs adjusted to research interests and enables prompt integration of the latest research findings and topical issues. Upon agreement with the supervisor and in line with the research topic of the doctoral thesis, students select seminars worth 20 ECTS. They are implemented as organised forms of study; implementation depends upon the number of students.

EXTERNAL COURSES External courses are electives enabling inter-institutional and international mobility. In agreement with the student’s supervisor and in line with the doctoral thesis topic, the student selects course(s) worth 10 ECTS from outside the institution at which he/she is enrolled.

 

CONDITIONS FOR PROGRESSION IN THE PROGRAMME

  • The completion of 40 ECTS in organised forms of study, work on the thesis and work on the academic article are required for progression to the 2nd year of study.
  • The completion of 10 ECTS in organised forms of study, the registration and public presentation of the doctoral thesis topic a positive assessment of the doctoral thesis topic and its approval by the University of Ljubljana are required for enrolment in the 3rd year of study.
  • The third year is devoted to individual research work (preparation of the doctoral thesis and academic article).