First year (Coursework and Confirmation of Candidature)
The first year will be for completion of coursework and preparation of a full PhD proposal. Upon enrollment, students will be assigned promoters, at least one from UGM and at least two from ACU, who will guide them in preparing a full PhD proposal in the first two semesters; they are also required to take courses in the first two semesters. As students come from many different disciplinary and religious backgrounds, the courses are expected to provide a common academic ground and are designed to help prepare students to write a dissertation proposal, undertake research in the discipline, and write the dissertation successfully.
The courses below are offered at IRS, UGM (tentative). Students may take courses offered by other departments with the approval of the promoters.
| SEMESTER I | SEMESTER II |
| Research Design in Interreligious Studies | Research Methods in Interreligious Studies |
| Theories of Religion and Society | Religion and Contemporary Issues |
| Inter-Religious Hermeneutics | History of Religions |
Comprehensive examination/confirmation of candidature
By the end of the second semester, students must have completed the coursework and be ready to take the Comprehensive Examination (the oral examination of the PhD proposal). Students are advised to do some preliminary research, both literature and, where appropriate, field research, to make sure that the problem proposed in the proposal is sound and they are ready to immediately start their research upon acceptance of the proposal. Consultation with the promoter and co-promoter(s) should be undertaken intensively during the preparation for the examination. If there is any difficulty with timely communication or mutual understanding of the project with the (co-)promoters, students should contact the PhD program committee.
If their grade indicates a substantial revision is required, the student has up to 3 months to revise their proposal. In this case, they do not have to undergo another oral examination, but their promoters and co-promoters must approve their dissertation proposal. After passing the Comprehensive Examinations and completing all required revisions, the student is declared a PhD Candidate.
Dissertation research and writing
In the next stage, after passing the Comprehensive Examination, students will start spending time at ACU. Students conduct literature-based research or field research and write their dissertations. They should be in close contact with the promoters and co-promoters. At the end of each semester, students need to submit a logbook detailing their progress, which must be approved by their (co-)promoters. Submission of the semester logbook is a condition for registration in the following semester.
- Mid-candidature review:
Within 18 – 24 months, students, with the approval of the promoters, will undergo a mid-candidature review (first Seminar Hasil/dissertation promotion club). At this stage, students would have completed a substantial portion of their research and would present the interim results in a seminar attended by the promoters, other lecturers, and students.
- Final Year Review
Within the period of 6 months (the latest) prior to thesis submission, students will take the second Seminar Hasil. At this stage, students will be near completing a full dissertation.
- Final Examination
The final examination consists of written assessments of the dissertation by four examiners (two from within the two universities and two external examiners) and an oral examination.