It is possible to register for courses here until 1 month before the start of the course. If the course is not yet open for registration, it is also possible to click ‘keep me informed about this course’ to stay updated!
Courses are free to attend for NIG-members (senior or PhD), if you are not a member, course fees are paid per course. Course fees are 100,- per course (1 day) for participants from member institutions and 150,- for third parties. For seminars (3-5 days) there is a fee of 500,- for participants from member institutions and 750,- for third parties.
View the ‘Overview access to courses’ to see eligibity for our various courses and events.
Track
Courses
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: prof. dr. Tamara Metze (Delft University of Technology) & prof. dr. Thomas Schillemans (Utrecht University)
Date: October 30, 31 & November 3, 4, 2025 (+ online introduction session september 30, 13:30 to 15:00)
Formerly Dynamics of governance research: Dealing with responsibilities, controversies, and stakeholders
Date: January 26-28, 2026
Read more about the course here
Formerly Formulating and Answering Research Questions
Apply for this course here
Instructors: dr. Merlijn van Hulst (Tilburg University), dr. Dimiter Toshkov (Leiden University), prof. dr. Barbara Vis (Utrecht University)
Date: March 2-6, 2026
Read more about the course here
Registration is currently closed
Instructor: prof. dr. Zeger van der Wal (Leiden University), prof. dr. Sarah de Lange (University of Amsterdam)
Date: March 18-19 2025
Read more about the course here
Tutorials (3EC)
Read more about the course here
Behavioral Sciences and Public Policy (3EC)
Apply for this course here
Instructor: prof. dr. Lars Tummers
Date: November 10-12, 2025
Read more about the course here
Digital Governance: Past, Present, and Future (3EC)
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Instructors: dr. Shirley Kempeneer (Tilburg University) & prof. dr. Albert Meijer (Utrecht University)
Date: December 1-3, 2025
Read more about the course here
Advanced Introduction to Public Governance (3EC)
Apply for this course here
Instructor: dr. Sjors Overman (Utrecht University)
Date: January 21-23, 2026
Read more about the course here
Governance of Transitions (3EC)
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Instructor: prof. dr. Thomas Hoppe & prof. dr. Tamara Metze
Date: April 8-10, 2026
Read more about the course here
Preparing your future academic career (1EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: prof. dr. Sandra Groeneveld (Leiden University), prof. dr. Steven van de Walle (KU Leuven) & dr. Nadine van Engen (Ministerie van Financiën)
Date: September 10, 2025
Read more about the course here
Current Themes in EU Governance (4EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: prof. dr. Ellen Mastenbroek (Radboud University), prof. dr. Peter Bursens (Antwerp University), dr. Mendeltje van Keulen (University of Applied Science The Hague), prof. dr. Markus Haverland (Erasmus University Rotterdam), prof. dr. Bernard Steunenberg (Leiden University) & prof. dr. Oliver Treib (University of Münster)
Date: March 25-28, 2025
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Read more about the course here
Network and Collaborative Governance: Theories, Methods and Practices (4EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: prof. dr. Erik Hans Klijn (Erasmus University) & prof. dr. Joris Voets (Ghent University) + guests
Date: April 3-5, 2025
Location: Bologna, Italy
Read more about the course here
Science in Pictures (1EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructor: Ellen van Heijst
Date: March 13, 2025
Location: University Museum Utrecht
Read more about the course here
Managing public organizations and employees in a challenging environment: a macro, meso and micro perspective (3EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: dr. Carina Schott (Utrecht University) & prof. dr. Brenda Vermeeren (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Dates: January 14-16, 2025
Read more about the course here
Making Science on Politics and Governance Matter: Strategies for ‘Bridging the Gap’ Between knowledge and policy (3EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: dr. Marlies Honingh (Radboud University) & dr. Mark Reijnders (SCP)
Date: March 11, 13 and 20, 2024
Location: SCP, The Hague + Utrecht University
Read more about the course here
Collaborative Governance for Innovative Public Value Outcomes: the Role of Leadership and Institutional Design (3EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: prof. dr. Eva Sørensen (UCL), prof. dr. Jacob Torfing (Roskilde University) & dr. Marlot Kuiper (Utrecht University)
Date: July 3-5, 2023
Read more about the course here
Critical and Interpretive Public Administration (3EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructors: dr. Eva Wolf (Tilburg University), dr. Shivant Jhagroe (Leiden University), dr. Mark van Ostaijen (Erasmus University Rotterdam), prof. dr. John Boswell (University of Southampton), prof. dr. Tamara Metze (Delft University of Technology), dr. Lars Dorren (Leiden University)
Date: November 4-6, 2024
Location: Utrecht
Read more about the course here
For NIG PhD members who take the full program, no additional charges apply for a limited number of places in the UU/EUR/UvT/VU Research Master Public Administration and Organisational Science. Per course, a maximum of two participants can be accommodated. Application deadlines are January 1st for courses in the spring semester and the July 1st for courses in the fall semester.
Please note that these courses involve at least weekly on-site meetings in Utrecht and require regular coursework over a period of 10 weeks.
Data Analysis: from notes to stories (6EC)
Apply for this course here
Instructor: dr. Merlijn van Hulst (Tilburg University)
Date: Fall 2025 (period 2)
Read more about this course here
Data Analysis: from numbers to stories (6EC)
Apply for this course here
Instructor: dr. Sjors Overman (Utrecht University)
Date: Spring 2026 (period 3)
Read more about this course here
High control designs: experiments and surveys (9EC)
Apply for this course here
Instructors: dr. Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen (Utrecht University) & dr. Rosanna Nagtegaal (Utrecht University)
Date: Spring 2026 (period 4)
Read more about this course here
Low control designs: field research (9EC)
Registration is currently closed
Instructor: dr. Yousra Rahmouni Elidrissi (Utrecht University) & dr. Ozan Alakavuklar
Date: Fall 2025 (period 1)
Read more about this course here
External course funding scheme for NIG PhD members
NIG reimburses up to 500 euros in total for PhD members who take the full program, and who have participated in at least three core curriculum courses, subject to conditions.
Note: some changes have been made to this funding scheme as of 2023: conditions
KOMEX 2026
Konstanz Methods Excellence workshops
KOMEX offers pluralistic, not-for-profit methods training designed for PhD students and early-career researchers across the social sciences. Read more about KOMEX 2026 here. For PhD-candidates enrolled in the NIG-program there are two, reserved places each year free of charge. Courses are offered in person in Konstanz or fully online via ekomex, providing flexibility for participants worldwide, along four methodological tracks.
If you are enrolled in the NIG program and want to participate in KOMEX 2026, please send an email to nig@uu.nl. You don’t have to registrate via KOMEX too.
Course formats and dates
Short courses (2 days): 19-20 February 2026
Compact courses (3 days): 23-25 February 2026
Main courses (5 days): 23-27 February 2026
Other Methods schools
Skills track
In addition to recognizing courses, we also value special activities that contribute to the professional and scientific development of doctoral candidates with credits. The maximum for these activities is 7.5 ECTS.
Read more about the skills track here