| Following a restructuring of the UNU-MERIT training programmes in 2008, this course has been incorporated in the existing PhD programme in the Economics and Policy Studies of Technical Change. For more information, please write to PhDprogramme@merit.unu.edu |
This PhD programme targets competent and highly
motivated students from a variety of different backgrounds
in social sciences, economics and engineering. Applicants
should demonstrate an ability to pursue independent
research through their prior work and
academic distinction. Successful
graduates will play an important role in studying problems
and choices linked to innovation processes within firms
and policy institutions as well as the development
and use of new technologies. Upon graduation it is
expected that the candidates will play an important
role as scholars, policymakers and professionals in
their home countries and in the international UN community.
The PhD programme has an overall length of four
years and is divided into two distinct stages of study.
The first stage begins in September of 2006 and lasts
ten months.
Those students who achieve exceptional distinction
in their coursework will be invited to prepare a PhD
proposal, which includes the identification of a topic,
discussion of the topical and methodological issues
of the field in which the PhD will be pursued, and
where appropriate, an identification of the data resources
to be used or developed. The proposal will also identify
further areas of formal (class work and workshops)
and informal study to be pursued in the course of dissertation
research and writing.
Upon acceptance of the proposal, students are admitted
to the second stage of the PhD programme, which involves
doing the research for and writing a dissertation.
While working on the thesis, a student will meet regularly
with one or more supervisors for guidance and to assess
progress. Upon completion, the student defends the
thesis before a committee composed of University of
Maastricht and external faculty.
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