Coursework and Credits The program’s academic structure follows a combination of research and coursework (in the early phase) to support the candidate’s research progress. The total workload is designed to correspond to the expected credits/learning hours of a doctoral program (approximately 240 ECTS over 3-4 years). Doctoral Candidates are required to complete certain taught modules or courses during the first academic year (1st and 2nd Semester), aiming to bolster their research skills and domain knowledge. Explicitly the Program offers three (3) compulsory courses and a selection of nine (9) elective courses relevant to the relevant research fields from which each doctoral candidate chooses one. There is no procedure for exemption, in whole or in part, from the obligation to attend the doctoral course program. All coursework will be delivered in English, unless otherwise specified, in person and/or in a hybrid format and may be taken at either IU or BLCU. Both institutions recognize and credit the courses taken at the partner university as part of the Joint Ph.D. requirements. Thus, credits earned for coursework delivered in person and/or in a hybrid format by BLCU will be accepted by IU and vice versa, according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).