Research Project

If you follow the standard curriculum (start in September and complete 15 EC every period) the Research Project is carried out in periods 2-4 (i.e. November-July) of the second year of the programme. However, there is all flexibility to adjust the timing to your own needs. For example, you can work half time on your research project for one period if you want/need to follow courses. The duration of your research project will increase correspondently. The important requirement is that the hours you spend on the research project correspond to the 44 EC – not less but also not more. 

The Research Project of will take four periods or 32 weeks when working full-time (38.5 hrs per week). Holidays, courses, or other activities that lead to time off or part-time work on your Research Project will result in a longer duration of your Research Project. Keep this in mind when planning your studies and the Research Project deadline. Please see below what to do when your Research Project is delayed and you have to apply for a Research Project deadline extension.

An (internship) contract is required if your project takes place outside UU, for example at a company.

Arrange the (internship) contract before submitting your application form in Osiris.

The contract has to be checked and signed by the Research Project Coordinators, Rebecca Puyk and Noor Weelink, on behalf of the UU via science.internshipcontracts@uu.nl. Once your contract has been checked and signed by the UU, you can upload it with your application form in Osiris (for more information on that, go to the page 'Getting started').

The contract options are as follows:

• The Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) contract is preferred for an external project inside the Netherlands.
• The EAIE contract is preferred for an external project outside of the Netherlands.
• The host organisation may have their own contract, provided that it meets the requirements of Utrecht University.

There can only be one contract, so please discuss this with the host organisation carefully. We advise students to first discuss their contract with their supervisor before signing.

Penalty clause (a fine)

The Faculty and Utrecht University strongly discourage signing an contract provided by an external organisation with a penalty clause (a fine).

Please be aware: We will not co-sign any contract which contains a penalty clause (fine).

Going abroad? You need to take these extra steps:

• If your project is outside of the Netherlands, you also have to do a Stay Abroad request in Osiris after receiving approval by the Board of Examiners. Information about this can be found on the webpage Internship abroad.
• Please read the whole page carefully. If you have questions, please contact the International Office. Be aware that arranging a project abroad takes time.
• You might find this checklist useful during the organisation of your traineeship abroad.
• It is important to check the travel advice for your destination given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please type in your destination on the website (in Dutch). If your country has orange or red areas your Stay Abroad request cannot be validated.

> Project supervisor/First examiner*:
The project supervisor/first examiner is - together with the second examiner - responsible for your assessment and registering your grade in Osiris. They must be an employee of UU (or UMCU) and a junior lecturer [junior docent], lecturer [docent], senior lecturer [hoofddocent] or full professor [hoogleraar]. The first examiner is responsible for ensuring the involvement of a second examiner.

> Second examiner:
Must also be a UU (or UMCU) employee and a junior lecturer [junior docent], lecturer [docent], senior lecturer [hoofddocent] or full professor [hoogleraar]. This person is not involved in your supervision but is - together with the first examiner - responsible for the final assessment and grading.

> Daily supervisor (optional):
This is the person who will supervise your day-to-day activities. Your daily supervisor can be the same person as your project supervisor/first examiner, but this does not necessarily need to be the case. Sometimes you can be supervised by a PhD student or someone outside the UU. When your project takes place outside UU the daily supervisor might be someone from the company/institute. Please note that an external supervisor cannot be an examiner.

*Students following a double degree master's programme will be co-supervised by two project supervisors/first examiners, one of each programme.

Students with a project from 1 September 2024:

This is what you need to do if you foresee a delay of your Research Project or extension/addition to the project is necessary.

The protocol*

1. The student and examiners need to finish the Research Project before the in Osiris Zaak specified end date. The end date is the last date by which the final grade is determined. The end date is based on full-time study.
2. If the end date cannot be met, the student, first and second examiner agree on a new end date. This new end date will be passed on to the Board of Examiners by the student via Osiris Student > ‘My Cases’> ‘Start Case’  > ‘Request to the Board of Examiners’ > ‘request type ‘New end date thesis project’. A document showing the agreed new date (in the format of an email communication among all parties or a letter signed by both supervisors) has to be uploaded to the Osiris. This needs to happen before the initial end date is reached. Valid reasons for agreeing on a new end date can be both personal circumstances and research-related circumstances.
3. The student and examiners can impose an examination on the agreed end date. In the case the other party does not agree with this, they can turn to the programme leader. A student who due to circumstances beyond their control cannot be present during examination can request the Board of Examiners for a special testing provision.

The student and/or examiners can turn to the Board of Examiners in cases of disagreement on the implementation of this protocol or other conflicts not covered by this protocol. In these cases, the Board of Examiners decides in line with the spirit of this protocol.

*This protocol is translated from the Dutch version in the EER/OER and no rights can be derived from any errors in translation.

Students with a Research Project from before 1 September 2024 can choose to follow the new protocol or the protocol from before 2024, which is described below:

This is what you need to do if you, due to circumstances beyond your control, foresee a delay of your Research Project in Part 1 or Part 2.

The procedure:

1. Discuss this first with your supervisor(s). If all agree a new realistic end date will be set for the Research Project.
2. After that, contact the Study Advisor and the programme coordinator and ask for consent to determine a new end date for your thesis.
3. Apply for an extension of the research project deadline for Part 1 or Part 2 to the Board of Examiners via Osiris Student > ‘My Cases’> ‘Start Case’  > ‘Request to the Board of Examiners’ > ‘request type 7 'Delay of research or thesis project'.

What information is needed for the application form:

• A statement from the Study Advisor
• A copy of an email in which the supervisors support the request for a deadline extension
• A proposed new deadline
• Short statement to support your request