Individual Training: Curriculum
Each PhD candidate develops an individual curriculum tailored to their qualifications and research interests.
Seminars and courses are selected for each candidate individually from courses supported by GHS, from the teaching units of the faculties, and from courses offered by other Swiss or foreign universities. Some candidates also take part in internationally organized Summer Schools, which provide high quality training in specific fields. Active participation at meetings or conferences can be recognized as part of the PhD curriculum as well.
18 ECTS credit points are necessary for the GHS PhD program. These ECTS include:
- Mandatory Requirements (3 ECTS)
- Core Courses (2 to 4 ECTS)
- Method Skills (4 to 6 ECTS)
- Special Knowledge (including meetings and conferences) (min. 6 ECTS)
3 Mandatory ECTS are:
The Course Catalog lists suggestions for the different course categories. The Mandatory, Core, Methods and Special Knowledge Courses offered by the GHS are listed on the website. GHS recognizes external courses and meetings/conferences when they meet the requirements and can provide financial support in many cases.
Additional Course information:
- Each PhD candidate compiles an individual curriculum based on qualifications and relevance to the research interests.
- Also courses and meetings/conferences not listed in the GHS Course Catalog can be selected upon agreement with the GHS Coordinator; they must involve active participation and be of minimum of 0.5 ECTS and on a 0.5 ECTS scale.
- The selection of courses and meetings/conferences should be documented in the Doctoral Agreement (DA).
Which Rules Apply to My PhD Program?
All students who were admitted to the GHS after 01.05.2023 will do their PhD under the new regulations.
First and Second Year Exams
Two intermediate evaluations (1st Year Examination and 2nd Year Examination) evaluate the PhD candidate’s comprehension and competence as well as the progress in the research project:
- 1st Year Examination: A written exam focusing on the project's methodology. [More information here: Old regulations / New regulations]
- 2nd Year Examination: An oral exam about the project, serving as a master probe before the final defense exam. [More information here: Old regulations / New regulations]
Progress Reports
Candidates must submit an annual Progress Report, documenting all activities such as coursework, exams, meetings with co-referees, conference visits, and publications. [Detailed information here]
Final Exam (Defense)
Preparation: Before the final exam, candidates are required to submit at least three scientific papers to peer-reviewed journals. [Information for publications and PhD thesis here]
Completion and Verification: Candidates must ensure with the GHS office (info.ghs@unibe.ch) that all GHS PhD Program mandatory requirements are fulfilled and recorded in the system. Additionally, they they need to communicate the defense date to the GHS office to receive a timeline for the process.
Instructions: Detailed instructions for the preparation and submission of your PhD documents are available [More information here].
Degree Awarded: Upon completion of the program, candidates are awarded the title "PhD in Health Sciences (Specialization). [More information here]
Supervision
You can find the general supervision rules in the old regulations here and the new regulations here. For an overview of the supervision team's tasks, please refer to the table at the bottom.
