PhD Courses in Denmark

Course dates and time: 14-16 January 2026 from 9:15-17:00

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of empirical research methods in the twenty-first century. Emphasis will be placed on the principles and practices of research design, data collection, and analysis, as well as ethical considerations in research. The guiding questions are: “What defines good empirical research today and how can it be achieved in a PhD project?” During the workshop, input will be provided by (guest) lecturers and course participants who will present their PhD projects and give feedback to their peers. The course covers both traditional and digital methods to demonstrate where their respective strengths lie but also where they can complement each other. The course thus addresses challenges such as paradigmatic differences in methodology, the use of digital tools and platforms, and the combination of traditional and digital approaches and methods in data collection and analysis. 

Academic aim:
- Learn to tailor research methods to research questions and interests
- Understand methodological concepts, opportunities, and challenges
- Get to know different (state-of-the-art) approaches to data collection, including examples from current research
- Identify options to tie different methodological approaches to one’s PhD project
- Practice presenting one’s own work in a precise and concise manner
- Learn about colleagues’ works and practice peer-feedback

Target group:
Open to PhD students across disciplines (Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences) and in all stages of the PhD

Programme:
This course will provide doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences with a comprehensive understanding of empirical research methods in the twenty-first century. Emphasis will be placed on the principles and practices of research design, data collection, and analysis, as well as ethical considerations in research.

Our guiding questions will be: “What defines good empirical research today and how can it be achieved in a PhD project?” We will explore this together based on students’ PhD projects and the aligned input from the instructors and selected guest speakers. The experts in qualitative, quantitative, and digital methods will discuss methodological and practical aspects addressing the current needs students have in their empirical projects.

The course covers both traditional and digital methods to demonstrate where their respective strengths lie but also where they can complement each other in innovative empirical research designs. Therefore, we will engage in contemporary challenges PhD students might face when conducting empirical research, such as paradigmatic differences in methodology, the use of digital tools and platforms, and the combination of traditional and digital approaches and methods in data collection and analysis.

In addition to traditional lectures and discussions, all students will present their PhD project with a focus on methodological challenges they face and receive feedback by peers and the instructors. Hence, a major element of the course is to share and tackle project specific issues together to equip students with the ability to refine their research project, methods, and/or analysis. By the end of the course, students will have advanced their knowledge about empirical methods and are able to apply it to conduct rigorous and effective research in their PhD and beyond.

For preparation, each participant fills out a survey that will be sent in advance. In this survey, students should indicate which method(s) they are using or planning to use in their PhD project, which particular challenges, questions, or in-depth knowledge they would like the lectures to cover.

Each participant is also required to write a short paper (5-7 pages) that briefly outlines the PhD project, mainly focusing on the pressing methodological challenges and questions they are facing. The papers will be circulated in advance and must be read by all course participants in preparation for the course.

All participants will briefly present their papers in the course with a focus on methodological challenges. The instructors will assign each paper to another participant in advance who will prepare an initial peer feedback as the first response after each presentation followed by an open discussion.

Finally, participants are required to read a selection of texts before each class, covering the basic concepts and forming a basis for discussion in the group (to be announced, including a list of supplementary readings with introductory literature).

Preparation of presentation:
Once admitted and before the course will begin the students must prepare a 20 minute oral presentation based on their project. More information about the presentation will be given once the students have been officially admitted to the course. 

Course organisers:
- Franziska Marquart, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen
- Manuel Menke, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen

Language: English

ECTS: 3.8

Max. numbers of participants: 20

Registration: Please register via the link in the box and send an abstract outlining your PhD project (no more than half a page) by e-mail to phd@hrsc.ku.dk no later than (TBA).

Further information: For more information about the PhD course, please contact the PhD Administration (phd@hrsc.ku.dk).

Literature: depends on participants’ background and determined on the basis of the survey sent out in Autumn 2025