Graduation
Useful information for completing your PhD.
Contract
Hora Finita
Guidelines
Regulations
Financial bonuses
Media
After graduation
Previous phases
for starting your PhD
for current PhD candidates

Graduation

Useful information for completing your PhD.

Contract


Contract

All PhD candidates must have a contract with Radboudumc to manage their PhD trajectory in Hora Finita. When a contract expires before the whole procedure is finished, action must be taken to retain access to Hora Finita. read more

Contract

All PhD candidates must have a contract with Radboudumc to manage their PhD trajectory in Hora Finita. When a contract expires before the whole procedure is finished, action must be taken to retain access to Hora Finita.

For all PhD trajectories Hora Finita must be used. This is because all steps in the PhD process, e.g. submission and review of manuscript, are performed exclusively through Hora Finita. Logging in into Hora Finita is done via SURFconext and is only possible with a Radboudumc (or RU) account.


Actions in case of an expiring contract

If the PhD trajectory is not completed within the contract period, a few actions should be taken so that access to Hora Finita and associated Radboudumc facilities remains possible. read more

Actions in case of an expiring contract

If the PhD trajectory is not completed within the contract period, one of the following actions should be taken so that access to Hora Finita and associated Radboudumc facilities remains possible:

  • The PhD candidate will be awarded a MTA contract with the Radboudumc. This MTA contract should initially be requested for up to 1 year.
  • The PhD candidate will receive a regular contract extension for up to 1 year to continue the PhD program according to the applicable rules of the Radboudumc Training Regulations.
  • If the completion of the manuscript will take longer and/or if the 1-year contract extension has expired, the contract will not be extended (again). However, as soon as the manuscript is actually finished a MTA with the Radboudumc should be arranged for a short period of time in which the manuscript can be submitted, reviewed and the PhD ceremony can be organized through Hora Finita.

Non-EU nationality

If the PhD candidate has a non-EU nationality, please be aware to always contact your HR officer 3 months prior to the ending date of the paid/unpaid contract as this may influence the legal status of living and working in the Netherlands.


Additional questions

Please contact us for additional contact.

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Additional questions

For additional questions about Hora Finita, please contact Hora Finita or one of the Graduate Schools (Radboudumc Graduate School or Donders Graduate School). Questions regarding contracts can be directed to your HR officer.

Hora Finita


Overview PhD trajectories

The Radboudumc Graduate School and Donders Graduate School have slightly different trajectories and procedures.


FAQ about Hora Finita

If you have any questions about Hora Finita, please check out the answers to frequently asked questions before contacting us.

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FAQ about Hora Finita

For additional questions about Hora Finita, please contact Hora Finita or your Graduate School (Radboudumc Graduate School or Donders Graduate School).

This FAQ is divided into the topics 'General', 'PhD Checklist', 'Checkpoints', 'Training activities (portfolio)' and 'Manuscript'.


  • What is Hora Finita?
    Hora Finita is the PhD project monitoring system of Radboud University and Radboudumc. With Hora Finita Radboud University and Radboudumc have an all-in-one system for the monitoring of all PhD projects. More information can be found on this page of the Radboud University's website.

    Who is considered a PhD candidate of Radboudumc?
    Every researcher in a PhD project under the supervision of a Radboud university medical center professor, is a Radboud university medical center PhD candidate.

    What is the link to Hora Finita?
    The URL is https://horafinita.ru.nl

    Is registration in Hora Finita necessary?
    For all PhD trajectories Hora Finita must be used, according to the Doctorate regulations. This is because all steps in the PhD process, e.g. registration, Training and Supervision Plan (TSP), submission and review of manuscript, are performed exclusively through Hora Finita. Logging in into Hora Finita is done via SURFconext and is only possible with a Radboudumc (or RU) account.

    Why can't I login into Hora Finita?
    Logging in into Hora Finita is done via SURFconext and is only possible with a Radboudumc (or RU) account.  

    Therefore it is important that all PhD candidates (regular PhD candidates, external PhD candidates, Radboudumc employees starting a PhD trajectory) are registered with HR in time. More information about registration of different types of PhD candidates can be found here.

    If the PhD trajectory is not completed within the contract period, action should be taken so that access to Hora Finita and associated Radboudumc facilities remains possible. More information can be found here.

    If you are unable to login, even though you have a Radboudumc account, please contact horafinita@radboudumc.nl.

    Where can I find Hora Finita manuals?
    There is an extensive set of manuals available in Dutch and in English for both PhD candidates and supervisors.

    For additional questions about Hora Finita, please contact Hora Finita or your Graduate School (Radboudumc Graduate School or Donders Graduate School).

Guidelines


Radboudumc PhD thesis guidelines

The requirements for a PhD thesis are defined by the Doctorate regulations of the Radboud University. In addition, Radboudumc PhD candidates adhere to the Radboudumc guidelines.

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Radboudumc PhD thesis guidelines


  • The PhD thesis is a proof of the ability to perform independent academic research. It is up to the manuscript committee to decide whether a thesis meets this criterion, thereby using the assessment criteria as defined in the Doctorate regulations of the Radboud University. The (co-)supervisors (‘(co)promotors’) will decide whether the PhD thesis is of sufficient quality to be presented to the manuscript committee.

    The requirements for the academic and non-academic part of the PhD thesis are defined in chapter 4 of the Doctorate regulations of the Radboud University. In addition to these general requirements, applicable to all faculties, Radboudumc PhD candidates adhere to the Radboudumc guidelines.

    Radboudumc guidelines provide clarity to all involved, such as to the PhD candidate and PhD supervisors but also to the members of the Manuscript Committee, Cum Laude Committee and Doctoral Examination Board.


Lay-out PhD thesis

See the guidelines and predefined templates for your PhD thesis lay-out.

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Lay-out PhD thesis

Cover PhD thesis

For PhD theses the "combination logo", which combines Radboud university medical center's logo & Radboud University's logo, should be placed on the back. The standard Radboudumc logo, without the English text, should be placed on the spine of the cover according to the predefined templates. If relevant, logos of other parties that were involved in the PhD research substantially can be added at the back.

Templates for these elaborations can be downloaded here:

Note: The cover guidelines for PhD candidates who are part of the Donders Graduate School remain unchanged (see information Donders thesis series).

Portfolio

Please list your itemized training portfolio according to this predefined format in your PhD thesis. The Graduate School will support you in this.

Procedure:

  1. After your manuscript has been approved in Hora Finita by your PhD supervisor, you will automatically receive an email requesting you to complete your portfolio in Hora Finita.
  2. Add required courses via the tab "required courses". Other activities can be added via "training activities" (see Tutorial for adding activities to your portfolio). Guidelines for study load in hours for different portfolio activities can be found here.
  3. Submit your completed portfolio via Hora Finita to the Graduate School (see Tutorial for submitting your portfolio).
  4. The Graduate School will review your portfolio and send you your portfolio in the predefined format. You will then be asked to check your portfolio.
  5. The final version can be included in your PhD thesis

Based on your portfolio the Graduate School will decide whether you have completed all the necessary components of the PhD program in order to be awarded with the Advanced Graduate School training certificate.

Note: Portfolio guidelines for PhD candidates who are part of the Donders Graduate School will follow. Please contact the Donders Graduate School in the meantime.


Advanced Graduate School training certificate

The education certificate differs per Graduate School. Therefore, please check out the information regarding your Graduate School.

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Advanced Graduate School training certificate

The education certificate differs per Graduate School. Therefore, please check out the information regarding your Graduate School.


  • Within the Fit for the Future transition, the new Radboudumc Research Institute started on 1 January 2023. Former RIHS and RIMLS PhD candidates have automatically become members of the new Radboudumc Graduate School.

    Radboudumc strongly encourages PhD candidates to develop a tailor-made training program that promotes several competencies and transferable skills. Completed courses, workshops, attended lectures and symposia should be included in a portfolio and added to the PhD thesis (see Procedure for completing your portfolio). The Radboudumc Graduate School rewards PhD candidates who fulfil all requirements with an Advanced Graduate School training certificate.

    What you need to qualify for the certificate

    To qualify for a Radboudumc Advanced Graduate School training certificate the following conditions should be met:

    1. The PhD candidate has submitted a Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) that has been approved by the Graduate School
    2. The portfolio is included in the PhD thesis
    3. The PhD candidate has attended:
    4. The PhD candidate has obtained a minimum of 700 hours of study load, as registered in Hora Finita

    NOTE:

    • Obtaining the Advanced Graduate School training certificate is not necessary to obtain the PhD degree. It is an extra certificate showing that the PhD candidate did additional training.
    • Since the current requirements differ from the former RIHS and RIMLS requirements for a certificate, there will be transition rules for former RIMLS and RIHS PhD candidates. The Graduate School will not be too strict.

    After submission of your portfolio via Hora Finita (see Procedure for completing your portfolio) the Graduate School will decide whether you have completed all the necessary components in order to be awarded with the certificate. You will be informed of this decision in due course.

    Further information


Research data management Requirements and examples

The PhD thesis should contain a description of the research data management.

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Research data management Requirements and examples


  • Description of Research Data Management in PhD thesis
    All Radboud University researchers are obliged to have all research data comply at least with the F (sustainably findable) and the A (proper access management) of the FAIR guidelines. Additionally Research Data Management must meet the (inter)national standards and legislation regarding scientific integrity and privacy (General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Dutch code for Scientific Integrity). The data management page of the PhD thesis specifies how this is achieved.

    The Radboudumc Data Management Plan tool should be used to prepare a Research Data Management (RDM) plan at the start of a PhD trajectory and to keep it up to date. PhD candidates must include a summary of the RDM plan in the PhD thesis. For more information check the website of RTC Data stewardship. If you need help with this please email datastewardship.im@radboudumc.nl.

Regulations


Doctorate rules and regulations

All Radboudumc PhD candidates graduate within Radboud University and therefore the university doctorate regulations apply to all PhD candidates.

read info on Radboud University

Towards the PhD defense

If the supervisor approves the manuscript, the path to the defence begins. You will find the steps leading up to the completion of the PhD on the Radboud University website.

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Radboudumc training regulation

As set forth in Article 17.4 UMC of the CLA for researchers in training read more

Radboudumc training regulation

March 2016

as set forth in Article 17.4 UMC of the CLA for researchers in training


  • ln this regulation, the terms below shall be defined as follows:

    1. Radboud university medical center: the university medical center that operates as an independent subsidiary (without legal personality) of Stichting Katholieke Universiteit (SKU) in Nijmegen.
    2. Director: the director of the Radboud university medical center's research institute with which the Graduate School is affiliated.
    3. Training and Supervision Committee: the Training and Supervision Committee referred to in Article 5 of this regulation.
    4. Researcher in training: the employee seeking to obtain a doctorate and employed to this end by Radboud university medical center, as described in Article !7 .3 (2) of the university medical center's CLA.
    5. Doctoral thesis supervisor a professor or professors appointed to play a supervisory role, pursuant to the Doctorate Regulations of Radboud University.
    6. Doctorol thesis co-supervisor: an individual holding a doctoral degree who is involved in the preparation of a dissertation, pursuant to Article 6 of Radboud University's Doctoral Degree Regulations.
    7. Daily supervisor a postdoctoral researcher tasked with supervising the researcher in training on a daily basis. This may be the doctoral thesis (co)-supervisor .
    8. Mentor: the individual with whom the researcher in training can consult for questions about non-content aspects of the training.

Financial bonuses


Graduation bonus

A graduation bonus for researchers in training at the Radboudumc is included in the collective labor agreement for university medical centers. An OIO ("onderzoeker in opleiding") who successfully graduates with a doctoral degree during the period of employment is awarded € 750. The amount is paid by the department where the OIO is appointed. See the CAO UMC 2022-2023, Article 17.4.4.

see file

Reimbursement of thesis printing costs

For Radboudumc PhD candidates the Radboud University regulations for the reimbursement of thesis printing costs apply. Hand in requests at your department for reimbursement within six months after the costs incurred. The maximum of reimbursement is € 2,200 for each PhD candidate. go to Radboud University

Transition allowance

The ‘Wet, Werk en Zekerheid’ law describes that an employee receives an severance pay at discharge, if the contract is ended after a minimum of 24 months. This severance is called the transition allowance. read more

Transition allowance

You will only receive a transition allowance if the initiative for dismissal (or non-renewal of contract) comes from Radboudumc. However, Radboudumc does not need to pay transition allowance if the dismissal is the result of serious culpable act or omission of the employee. You are completely free in how you want to use the compensation, for example to follow a course to prepare for your next job or to supplement any benefit. The transition allowance will be paid automatically, you do not have to ask for this. No justification is necessary for this allowance. The transition allowance does not affect the amount of your unemployment benefits (uitkering).

Right of transfer

The WWZ law contained a right of transfer for the transition allowance. Therefore, the transition allowance did not apply directly to all groups within Radboudumc. On 1 July 2016, the issues for the last unsolved rights of transfer were worked out. Now, Radboudumc also pays the transition allowance for PhD candidates with ‘onderzoeker in opleiding’ contracts that are terminated after 1 July 2016 without being renewed. 

Amount of transition allowance

The amount of the transition allowance is calculated on the basis of your (gross) monthly salary and length of employment. The main rule is that, for every (full) year of employment, you will receive one third of the month gross salary as a transition allowance. The monthly salary equals your hourly wage at the time of dismissal times the number of hours you work per month. If you work no fixed number of hours, the average working hours of the last twelve months will be considered for the calculation. For the calculation of your monthly salary, furthermore, fixed allowances such as holiday pay and annual bonus will be taken into account.
 
If you have had multiple contracts with Radboudumc, these contracts are aggregated to calculate the transition allowance. This is true, even if contracts are not directly followed up by each other. However, when the interval between two employment contracts is more than six months, the multiple contracts are not aggregated and counting of the period of employment starts again.
 
The government has posted a tool in Dutch that can calculate the transition fee. These calculations are indicative. The payroll also takes all relevant fees into account, but you can use the tool to see how much transition allowance you might receive. The transition allowance is a gross amount. Radboudumc keeps payroll taxes in here, which are paid to the tax authorities.

Questions?

For further questions, please contact the HR advisor of your department.

Media


Press release

We receive an overview of all Radboudumc graduations each month. Eight weeks before your graduation, we will contact you for press information. In case we didn't contact you, you can reach our science officers via the button below. Please contact them as well in case other media show interest in your graduation.

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Supply thesis to the University Library

A digital copy of the dissertation needs to be submitted to the central University Library with a view of including it in the repository of Radboud University. The digital version is made public on the day of the public defense or shortly afterwards Upon request by the PhD candidate, the chair of the Doctorate Board can determine that the inclusion in the repository is postponed by six months at most. In that case, the full text of the PhD thesis will be included in the repository under embargo.

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After graduation


Radboud Postdoc Initiative

The Radboud Postdoc Initiative is a source of information regarding postdoc-related issues. In addition it creates a platform to facilitate discussions amongst postdocs and promotes local collaboration and networking opportunities.

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Grant Support office

The Grant Support Office provides information and advice on grant opportunities. In addition, we can support researchers at Radboudumc in developing, writing and editing their grant proposal.

Career advisors

Four months before the end of your contract you can contact the career advisors of the Radboudumc for support in finding a new job. This advice is free of charge.

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Career advisors

Four months before the end of your contract you can contact the career advisors of the Radboudumc for support in finding a new job. This advice is free of charge.
 
We can support you with:

  • Application letter
  • Resume (CV)
  • Networking
  • Use of Social Media
  • Application conversation

Contact: mobiliteitsadvies@radboudumc.nl 
You will receive a reply within 2 weeks for an appointment.  
 
Mobility officers:

  • Monique Kropman
  • Shira Hurenkamp
  • Gerda Nachtegaal