This degree is a three-year degree that includes a mandatory conversion year in the first year and a research stay of six month at the World Trade Institute of the University of Bern in the second or third year. The doctoral research will be carried out under the main supervision of Professor Herwig. One co-supervisor will be a member of the World Trade Institute of the University of Bern.
Candidates will be enrolled as PhD students at the University of Antwerp that will also confer the degree. They are subject to the normal rules and regulations governing PhD researchers and theses of the University of Antwerp, subject to the following deviations:
- Candidates are subject to the light formula in respect of obtaining PhD credits
- In the first year, candidates must complete the conversion year successfully in order to be allowed to continue with their PhD
- Candidates are co-supervised by at least one researcher of the World Trade Institute of the University of Bern
- Candidates spend six month at the World Trade Institute of the University of Bern during the second or third year.
During the first year of the degree (conversion year) candidates are involved in an intensive training programme. Several components of the training programme will bring together the PhD students and their supervisors on a number of occasions (several 2-day intensive workshops; an annual doctoral colloquium; other seminars organised on an ad hoc basis). By the end of the conversion year candidates are required to have obtained a number of set points, awarded on grounds of performance in the various components of the training programme and a long essay, which every candidate has to submit by the end of the academic year. Only candidates who complete the conversion year successfully will be allowed to proceed to full doctoral status.
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