PHD-READING Apparatus: Reading (Autumn 2026)

The Apparatus: Reading course ensures the necessary depth and breadth of academic knowledge in order to secure a high academic standard in the final PhD thesis. The content of the course, in combination with the individual work on the thesis, provides a solid foundation for generating original academic knowledge in order to make a substantial contribution to a discipline or area of professional practice. The candidates will gain knowledge of the apparatus that surrounds formalized research: validating research as research (systems of authority including referencing and peer review); structuring research (in terms of research questions and activities); research design (theory and methods of humanities and/or social sciences); and research mediation (communicate ideas to specialized and non-specialized audiences.) The course is organized through lectures and dialogue-driven seminars/workshops in which the discussions centre on each candidate’s research topics, methods, and challenges.

Knowledge

After completion of the Apparatus: Reading course the candidate:

• can evaluate strengths and limitations of adequate research designs in their own research endeavours, and to actively assess the design choices, and their implications, in research conducted by peers
• applies knowledge to demonstrate authoritative judgement, adaptability, and responsibility as an independent scholar or leading practitioner
• can develop, adapt, and implement research methodologies to extend and redefine existing knowledge or professional practice

Skills

After completion of the Apparatus course the candidate:

• masters academic reference systems, citations, annotated bibliography, literature review
• can formulate logical and compelling written arguments in a well-structured text
• applies skills to demonstrate scholarly autonomy and responsibility as an expert and leading practitioner or scholar
• identifies relevant concerns in research ethics

Compulsory Activities

Participation in seminar activities

Aural presentation of the PhD project with a description of planned activities

Public presentation of first year work in final seminar

Assignments

Oct. 23, 2026: upload to Box a Reading list with minimum 30 titles

Nov. 25, 2026: upload to Box an Annotated bibliography with minimum 20 titles

March 31, 2027: upload to Box draft of Literature review/theoretical framing

April 30, 2027: upload to Box final Literature review/theoretical framing

May 4, 2027: Research Design presentation

Examination

The compulsory activity is approved by the course coordinator and an external sensor.

The course is evaluated pass or fail.