The Intensive programme taken in the first year is designed so that students gain knowledge and abilities related to cross cultural research and nursing issues. Study of the nursing phenomena and health care systems is based on case studies. Advanced research methods are taught by faculty members using examples from their own research programmes to illustrate particular techniques. In addition students share their own research work by presenting a short account of their research project for discussion. In the second and third year Intensive programme there is a stronger focus on the students' research with student-led critique and debate around nursing phenomena, the influence of culture on research and advanced research methods.

The Intensive programme is held over a two-week period in one of the participating Universities. The first year students attend for the full two weeks. The second and third year students attend for five days, spread over the two weeks so that they can spend a weekend with each other. During the period when all the students are in residence, there are combined student-led presentations. Second and third year students are also encouraged to participate in any of the first year sessions that interest them. In order to fulfil the requirements of the European dimension, students must include a European theme as part of the research-based thesis in which they present their doctoral work.

The benefits of adding a European perspective to doctoral programmes in nursing are considerable. Firstly such an initiative facilitates the advancement of nursing science in Europe. For example, although the programme has only been held once, faculty and students have already begun to clarify the nursing phenomenon of dependency. Secondly, it fosters networking across European Universities. While thirdly it provides opportunities for the development of European multi-centre research initiatives. Since the first Intensive programme in March of this year (1999) a major research project involving many of the participating Universities has been submitted to the European Union for funding. Finally by changing the venue of the Intensive programme each year, faculty and students will spend time in a number of different European Universities over the three - year period.

Curriculum development and standards for quality
It was agreed from the start that students would fulfil the requirements for a doctoral degree set by their own University (e.g. total length of time required for completion of a doctoral thesis, number of taught courses, presentation of thesis and its defence). Work on the curriculum thus took into account the doctoral programmes, standards for quality and requirements for doctoral studies of each participating University.

The curriculum was developed during a series of meetings held at the University of Surrey. To make best use of the limited time available, it was found fruitful to set explicit goals for each meeting, accompanied by clear objectives. There was surprisingly little disagreement about the content of the programme and the method of delivery. The greatest challenge was drawing up a timetable that would allow faculty to make their contribution without incurring unnecessary expense. As the programme is, currently, entirely self-funding we had to keep the cost to a minimum.