Curriculum

Doctoral Training Programme

The IMPRS for Language Sciences offers structured doctoral training designed to develop scientific excellence, methodological breadth, and professional versatility. Training is organised around a personal development portfolio — built progressively throughout the doctorate and reviewed regularly with your supervisory team.

Training

All doctoral researchers share a mandatory common programme covering interdisciplinary language science, responsible research practice, AI literacy, neuroimaging methods, and well-being. A portfolio of strongly recommended modules — delivered in partnership with Radboud University — addresses professional skills such as academic writing, project management, presentation, and career preparation.

Beyond this, you choose elective coursework tailored to your research needs and interests, from across Radboud University’s four participating faculties and other established providers. The School also offers cohort-tailored compact modules and community-building activities throughout the year.

Equal Opportunities

The School works actively to ensure that access to training and career development does not depend on your background or personal circumstances. Soon, dedicated provisions will cover accessibility needs, seed grants for early collaborative projects, support for short-term research placements at other Max Planck Institutes, and structured writing retreats to support timely thesis completion.

Progress Monitoring

Your progression is governed by a structured checkpoint system and a personalised Training and Supervision Plan, agreed with your supervisory team at the start of the doctorate and updated at each checkpoint. Welfare support runs on a parallel, independent track.

IMPRS Certificate of Accomplishment

On completing both the doctoral project and the training programme, you receive an IMPRS Certificate of Accomplishment in addition to your Radboud University PhD degree. The Certificate bears the MPG Minerva logo and the IMPRS Spokesperson’s signature, attesting to your participation in the School and completion of the structured training programme.