The normal duration of the program is four years (eight semesters), comprising an initial two years of coursework and then two years of dissertation work. All coursework must be finished within two years, while students can remain enrolled for a maximum of four years (eight semesters). This does not include the seven-week Summer Terms offered by approval of the Academic Council; nor does it cover term-leaves of absence. But at the same time, any student who who needs additional thesis completion time, may, upon applying to the Social Sciences Institute, be granted a maximum of four more semesters for this purpose.

Students have to (a) take and pass a minimum of 14 courses overall (including 12 courses for credit, plus a non-credit Pro-Seminar, as well as the also non-credit PhD Thesis course); (b) take and pass a set of Qualifying Exams comprising both their research languages and their chosen subjects; (c) within the framework of the said PhD Thesis course, to propose, research and write a PhD thesis that satisfies universally accepted criteria for original work.