PhD

15 Jul 2009

Here you can find information on:

Doing your PhD in Holland
Why do your PhD in Holland?
What is doing a PhD in Holland like?
Research schools and graduate schools
Finding a PhD position
PhD researchers often paid employees
Fellowship or grant
A PhD next to your job
Admission requirements
Tuition fees

1. Doing your PhD in Holland

In Holland, research is carried out by research universities, research institutes and by companies. Only the 14 research universities can award PhD-degrees. However, since other research institutes generally work in close collaboration with these universities, they can also provide positions to PhD candidates.

In addition to the standard PhD-degree, the three universities of technology also offer design and technological design programmes in a number of engineering fields. These consist of advanced study and a personal design assignment. Technological design programmes require two years of study to complete and graduates obtain the degree of ‘Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng)’.

2. Why do your PhD in Holland?

Holland ranks 2nd worldwide in number of publications per researcher
Holland ranks 3rd worldwide in impact of research publications
Holland has excellent graduate schools
There is a large variety of research fields
There are 14 research universities
A PhD is not regarded as a study but as serious research
PhD candidates and their supervisor work in close collaboration
There is a great amount of interdisciplinary collaboration
PhD researchers are often paid employees

3. What is doing a PhD in Holland like?

The aim of doing a PhD is to complete a dissertation based on original research. In Holland this requires a minimum of four years of doing research and writing. PhD research projects and dissertations must of course always be original work, as candidates are required to make an original contribution to the body of knowledge in their field. The dissertation is made public and parts of it are often used as articles in international journals. In general Dutch dissertations are held in high esteem since they live up to the highest academic standards.

Once the research is complete the supervisor judges whether the dissertation is ready for publication and oral defence. Then a committee of professors is appointed to read and approve the dissertation and to question the candidate during the traditional, centuries old oral defence ceremony.

4. Research schools and graduate schools

Doing a PhD in Holland is a hands-on activity and involves little course work. PhD students start doing research from day one. This allows them to develop their own ideas and priorities in their research while having close contact with their supervisor. All PhD students are part of a graduate school or research school. These schools provide them with an inspiring research environment. They offer tailor-made study programmes, master classes, seminars and conferences.

In research schools, multiple research universities and research institutes join their forces and knowledge. At the level of a subject area universities and institutions work closely together in offering in-depth knowledge. Within a research school, you will meet PhD candidates and advanced researchers in your field from your own and other Dutch universities.

Graduate schools, by contrast, are organizations within universities. Like research schools, they provide challenging study and network environments. They can take different shapes. Some graduate schools are interdisciplinary, other graduate schools focus on a few or one discipline.

Each PhD student is assigned a supervisor who will provide daily guidance through the entire research period. Most often this supervisor will be an associate professor or a full professor.

5. Finding a PhD position

In Holland there are three types of PhD-positions.
The PhD candidate:

is employed by the institution;
brings funding with her/him, such as a fellowship or grant;
is funded by his/her external employer (part-time PhD);

PhD candidates in Holland are regarded as professional researchers rather than as students. The fact that the majority of the PhD candidates is employed, strengthens their status as professional researcher.

6. PhD researchers often paid employees

Of the total number of PhD candidates in Holland, the majority sign an employment contract with the research institute at which they do their PhD-research. There are two ways in which you can find a PhD-position: through vacancies or networks.

In the first case a research group has created a research proposal for which they have created a PhD-position. Such positions, open for international candidates, are often advertized internationally by means of job boards such as www.academictransfer.org, notices in scientific journals, letters to academic institutions where potential candidates study and on the website of the institution. Candidates wishing to apply should contact the institution directly.

Furthermore, research groups might have some spare budget for innovative research. If you know in which topic you want to do PhD research and you cannot find a vacancy which fits your interests, it is wise to pro-actively propose your research to research groups of your choice. For an overview of the disciplines which are offered at the research universities and research institutes please visit the factsheets of the Dutch research universities.

7. Fellowship or grant

About one sixth of the PhD candidates in the Netherlands are not employed by the institution but finance their PhD research through a fellowship or grant. Often these candidates come from abroad. If you want to use this option there are two things you need to arrange:
1. find yourself a fellowship or grant. To find available fellowships and grants please visit: Fellowships & Grants and www.grantfinder.nl.
2. find yourself a supervisor at an institution. A supervisor will support your proposal and serve as the official supervisor for your research. Try to find someone with a leading reputation in your field. You can direct your inquiry to the central information office, which can provide information about the opportunities available at the university or institute in question. The best way to find a supervisor is through international networks in your field. Your own professors and their networks can be a good source of information. Furthermore, you can also find information at alumni networks, Nuffic Netherlands Education Support Offices or blogs.

8. A PhD next to your job

Sometimes it is possible to obtain a PhD degree next to a (fulltime) job. If you (and your employer) are interested in this option, contact the institution of your choice for more information.

9. Admission requirements

PhD positions in Holland are of high quality, therefore candidates have to meet high standards. It is important that candidates begin with a solid background in the theory and methods of their field. You will need to have a recognized master’s degree. Satisfactory knowledge of English is another requirement. Candidates from other countries generally choose to write their dissertation in English. This requires full mastery of English idiom and grammar. These language skills must be demonstrable before work on the dissertation begins.

Given these considerations, the individual university will determine whether to admit the candidate.

10. Tuition fees

Some Dutch institutions charge tuition fees for enrolment and supervision. Each research university has its own way of charging for the cost of supervision and access to laboratories and other facilities. Fees also vary from one discipline to the next, depending on aspects such as whether or not expensive equipment is required.

PhD