Greater access to expertise
European Ph.D. students are offered a broader range of international expertise for their research than would be possible at a national level. In this respect it is particularly beneficial that students are able to choose the foreign tutors by whom they wish to be supervised. The role of an eminent academic such as Prof. Serge Moscovici as Programme Director is of particular benefit to both European Ph.D. students and senior researchers in the training network.
Benefits of a variety of methodological approaches
As each network university site has special expertise in a particular methodological approach to research in social representations, the student s are exposed to a variety of complementary methodological approaches.

Benefits of multidisciplinary approaches
The multidisciplinary approaches and facilities to which students are exposed in host universities give them access to a far wider range of research disciplines than would be possible nationally.

Unique tutoring system
In the course of their research, students are continually in contact with their tutors. Under the open learning system, tutors have on-line access to students’ work and are thus able to make didactic use of the web-site and monitor students’ progress quickly and directly. The European Ph.D. guarantees a maximum of 2-3 students per tutor per year. This ensures individual tutoring at all times and close monitoring of students’ progress.

Flexibility of open distance learning
The system of open distance learning guarantees flexibility in meeting the needs of students. Within the confines of the didactic structure it enables students to organise their research in the way that they wish. Open distance learning can also be adapted to provide more temporary or more specific training if required by the trainee.
Under the open distance learning system, the Programme Director and Scientific Co-ordinator have access to students’ research. Administratively speaking, this communal access is advantageous because it enables research training to be easily co-ordinated and supervised by the scientific committee.

An extra Ph.D.
The European Ph.D. is not a substitute for a national Ph.D., but can be earned in addition to a national Ph.D.