Credits at NICA 2015-16
Requirements
Graduate students are required to obtain a number of EC credits at the national schools. If you are enrolled in a research master at the University of Amsterdam, for example, you will have to obtain a minimum of 6 EC (and a maximum of 12) at a national school during your two years of study, replacing one of the tutorials. However, different programmes have formulated different requirements, so please be sure to check at your home base.
NICA’s curriculum offers many options for you to obtain credits.
Options
1.) Our yearly PhD seminars (6-12 EC, throughout the year):
- ASCA Theory Seminar (directed by Sudeep Dasgupta)
- Cross Media Seminar (directed by Markus Stauff)
- LUKAS Theory Seminar (directed by Ernst van Alphen)
In principle, the seminars are meant for PhD students but selected research masters may participate. Contact the organizer(s) to see whether you are eligible, and make sure you formulate clear agreements about what you have to do to secure your credits. Please note: sometimes it’s possible to join for a semester, sometimes you’ll have to participate for the full year.
2.) Our courses:
- Research in Practice: Methods and Practices (6 EC, first semester), dedicated to methodological issues central to Cultural Studies;
- Aesthetics of Crisis (6 EC, second semester), on how the contemporary arts can (or indeed cannot) represent present economic and other crises;
- Critical Issues in the Cultural Industries: Media and Place (9 EC, second semester).
3.) Finally, you are welcome combine several smaller activities, such as our master classes and workshops. NICA assembles its programme at a rolling basis, so events are announced throughout the year. Make sure you subscribe to our updates (see sidebar).
Please note: if you are a member of NICA, you are nevertheless free to obtain credits at the other national schools. Have a look at what’s available at the schools for Media Studies, Literary Studies, Gender Studies, Art History, and Cultural History. Conversely, if you are already a member of one of the other schools, you may obtain credits from NICA as well.
Administration
If you want to earn your required credits through a NICA activity, please enrol through our site. Make sure you specify what research master programme you are following. Take care to reach clear agreements with the instructor about requirements and deadlines. If you have fulfilled all requirements, you will receive a NICA certificate for the ECs you’ve earned. You can have that certificate formally validated and registered at your own graduate administration office. If you have any administrative questions, please contact us through nica-fgw@uva.nl.