phd amsterdam

PhD Programme

Psychology Research Institute / PsyRes

• Application and Admission

Project & activities

During your PhD appointment, which typically lasts three to four years, your primary focus will be conducting research for your doctoral dissertation. However, we also encourage you to engage in other activities such as taking courses offered by the PhD Training Programme, teaching undergraduate courses in the Departments of Social Sciences, and actively participating in the research community, both within PsyRes and at national and international levels.

Close-knit community

As a PhD student at PsyRes, you will be part of a vibrant community that values your growth and development. We offer coaching, training, and a strong PhD Community to support you throughout your doctoral journey. We encourage our students to publish their research early in their careers, enhancing their academic profiles and fostering their future career prospects.

Programme Groups

You will be assigned to a programme group where you will conduct your research and be immersed in a supportive and collaborative environment. We are excited about newly interest in pursuing a PhD at the University of Amsterdam and look forward to welcoming postgraduate students to our dynamic academic community at PsyRes.

The Brain and Cognition programme aims to gain understanding of cognitive phenomena based on neurobiological principles, and has a focus on using cognitive research to understand clinical phenomena and to develop assessment tools or interventions for specific patient groups. The focus is thus on both typical and atypical brain functioning and cognition. The group has a relatively large number of PhD students and therefore there is ample possibility for interaction with other PhD students, both for research purposes (e.g. asking questions about methods or complicated analysis) as well as for social purposes. Interaction with other members of the program group, i.e. post docs and staff members, is actively encouraged through weekly program group meetings in which plenary talks are given by members of the group from all levels.

There is a strong research-oriented atmosphere and new experimental projects are generally discussed in smaller group settings to foster discussion and collaboration. PhD students are supervised by at least two staff members (promotor and co-promotor) and often part of the Amsterdam Graduate Network, a network organization with PhD students from both the UvA and the VU (in case the PhD project is mostly on the nature of human cognition and its neural basis) by a graduate school of choice (in case the PhD project is in the domain of clinical neuropsychology).

Should you have any questions about pursuing a PhD in the Brain and Cognition group, please click on the link below.

PhD students in Clinical Psychology are always supervised by at least two staff members (promotor and co-promotor) and participate in the teaching programme of the School of Experimental Psychopathology (EPP).

Individual studies of PhD students are generally discussed in small group settings. In these meetings, not only their own studies are discussed, but also major articles in the field. Further, PhD students are encouraged to present their work on international conferences.

Should you have any questions about pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology, please click on the link below.

The research group consists tenured staff and about 50% PhD students and postdocs. PhD students are supervised by at least two staff members and become a member of a lab group in which research is discussed in a constructive atmosphere. The interaction between PhD students and other staff is encouraged actively which results in considerable cross-fertilization between several themes of the program.

PhD students and their supervisors prepare a training program at the start of the PhD project, which includes taking courses, for example those offered by research schools like EPP or IOPS. Although PhD students are recruited on the basis of a research proposal, students are encouraged actively to make an independent contribution, especially during the final stages of the project. The progress made by PhD students and postdocs is continuously monitored by their supervisors, and on a yearly basis by the research institute.

Should you have any questions about pursuing a PhD in Developmental Psychology, please click on the link below.

Many topics are initiated by PhD students, who fulfill an important role in our research culture. Fortunately, in the last years the number of PhD students increased due to NWO funding. Generally, PhD students are supervised by at least two staff members.

Each month plenary talks are held. The objective of the internal collaboration is to increase the quality and productivity of the group and to improve the unity of the research. Finally, PhD students participate in activities organised by the  Interuniversity Graduate School of Psychometrics and Sociometrics (IOPS) , the institute for the advanced dissertation training in psychometrics and sociometrics.

Should you have any questions about pursuing a PhD in Psychological Methods, please click on the link below.

The Social Psychology research group has a relatively large group of PhD students, which generates a research-oriented atmosphere. Individual experiments are generally discussed in small group settings; these discussions focus on design and measurement issues.

PhD’s are always supervised by at least two staff members and are encouraged to participate in the summer school of the European Association of Experimental Social Psychology (EAESP), and to present their work not only at international conferences but also in smaller scale, more informal, meetings such as those of ESCON (European Social Cognition Network) or CERE (Consortium of European Researchers on Emotions); and in incidental small group meetings sponsored by the EAESP (European Association of Experimental Social Psychology.

Should you have any questions about pursuing a PhD in Social Psychology, please click on the link below.

PhD students in Work and Organizational Psychology work in a cooperative, research-oriented environment and are specializing on various topics in W&O psychology. PhD-students in our group are always supervised by at least two staff members (promotor and co-promotor), with whom PhD-students together actively discuss research ideas and papers. PhD-students also participate in the Work and Organizational Psychology teaching programme in the Bachelor and Master.

Individual studies and papers of PhD students are often discussed in our monthly research meetings with a large section of the programma group. Further, PhD students are encouraged to present their work on international conferences. Finally, they become a member of the Dutch research school Kurt Lewin Institute (KLI), where they follow courses and meet PhD-students (and faculty) from all over the Netherlands.

Should you have any questions about pursuing a PhD in Work and Organizational Psychology, please click on the link below.

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PhD research

How to become a phd student.

The main route to becoming a PhD student at the Amsterdam School of Economics is to follow the intensive 2-year Research Master's programme at the Tinbergen Institute (TI). The aim of this excellent Master's programme in economics, econometrics and finance is to prepare students for further academic research. In the 2 nd year of the Research Master's programme, students are usually assigned a supervisor, based on their research interests. Students who are assigned a supervisor from ASE have the opportunity to apply for a PhD position at our School.

For fields not covered by the TI, and for specific projects, vacancy announcements are posted on the website of the University of Amsterdam.

Candidates who are financially self-supporting (usually those who wish to pursue a PhD next to an appointment in a company or elsewhere) can apply for an external PhD. The conditions are stated in below document 'External PhD students ASE'.

Tinbergen Institute

Tinbergen Institute (TI) is one of Europe's top graduate schools and research institutes in economics, econometrics and finance. The institute uniquely combines the best of 3 leading universities in the Netherlands: the University of Amsterdam (UvA), VU University Amsterdam and Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). TI offers a Research Master's programme in Economics (with 3 tracks: Economics, Econometrics and Finance) as well as PhD opportunities under expert supervision by our international research fellows. With 30 nationalities in the institute and 70% of our students coming from abroad, Tinbergen Institute provides a truly international experience. The 3 universities also work together in the joint Research Master's Business Data Science .

PhD Council

At the beginning of 2021, the UvA Economics and Business PhD council was started. It represents the interests of all PhD candidates at the Faculty of Economics and Business, from both the Amsterdam School of Economics and the Amsterdam Business School. Aim of the council is to be a sounding board for organisational developments within the faculty that concern PhD candidates. In addition to this, they want to stimulate interaction and communication between PhD students at different sections and departments.

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PhD Research

• PhD trajectory
• Courses for PhD candidates
• PhD projects
• PhD Council

Becoming a PhD student at Amsterdam Business School?

The Amsterdam Business School aims to conduct and high-quality international research and offers teaching that meets international standards at a high-level. We regularly offer PhD positions for outstanding candidates who want to pursue an academic career in the inspiring and challenging academic environment of our school and who are willing to contribute to its lively community. Currently about 60 PhD candidates are working on their PhD research at Amsterdam Business School, running the gamut of business and management disciplines.

At the University of Amsterdam Business School there are two main ways to start a PhD trajectory: through the Tinbergen Institute and on a vacant project. Furthermore, we sometimes accept open applications. Most PhD students are employed by faculty as PhD researcher in a full-time position with all the benefits of employment, including a good salary. The entry into such a position is either through one of the research master programmes of the Tinbergen Institute (see below) or directly in an open vacancy. Another route is by submitting a research proposal either as a student on a scholarship (such as the China Scholarship Council Programme) or e.g. with employer funding for those working in a R&D department in another organisation.

The Amsterdam-Rotterdam Consortium for Graduate Education (ARC), a joint initiative by t he University of Amsterdam (UvA), Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) provides 2 important PhD programmes that prepare for a research trajectory at Amsterdam Business School. 

• An intensive 2-year research master in Economics, Econometrics and Finance. Students who pursue a PhD in finance are selected from this research master at the Tinbergen Institute.
• The research master in Business Data Science has a strong focus on data science related to multiple business fields. Students who pursue a PhD in e.g. Operations Management are selected from this research master. 

Both Master's programmes prepare students for a subsequent 3-year PhD trajectory with a state of the art course programme with rigorous training in the core subjects and tools of economics, econometrics and finance in the first year and specialisation in one of the many fields of research through field course work and the research master thesis in the second year. At the end of the programme, students are matched with a supervisor based on their research interests. Students who are assigned a supervisor from ABS have the opportunity to start the PhD trajectory at our school. 

• Read more about the Research Master in Economics, Econometrics and Finance
• Read more about the Research Master in Business Data Science

Most PhD positions will be published on the vacancy website of the UvA. Requirements, which vary by position, will be published in each vacancy. The educational programme for these PhD candidates at our school consists of an individualised course trajectory that each PhD candidate shapes, in consultation with his or her supervisor and the Research Institute director. This approach enables education tailored to the needs of each individual candidate and project. This model is in place as we have PhD candidates from very different backgrounds in different research sections as well as many different research topics, ranging from leadership and accounting to marketing and entrepreneurship, and the methods and disciplines they need to be trained in are too different to combine in one single programme. Many interesting and excellent course options are available for PhD candidates and since the programme is highly individualised, even very specific courses as well as summer schools from other top-institutions, even those abroad, can be selected.

• Read more about our vacant positions
• Read more about our tailor-made educational programme

Candidates who wish to pursue a PhD on a specific topic (usually related to their work environment) and who are financially self-supporting (e.g. with company funding or a formal external scholarship) can apply for an external PhD trajectory. The first step is to match the candidate and proposal with a supervisor at Amsterdam Business School in the relevant field. If a supervisor has been found, a similar trajectory as for those on a vacant position is followed and a tailor-made educational programme will be compiled.

• Learn more about our PhD trajectory for external PhD candidates
• Read more about the tailor-made educational programme
• Find vacancies for PhD candidates in the overview of UvA vacancies

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ASH PhD programme

• Becoming a PhD candidate
• Practical information
• PhD training
• Pilot study
• ASH dissertation award
• Social Safety

If you are interested in joining ASH either as an employed or self-funded candidate, please consult the website of the Faculty of Humanities by following the link above.

PhD candidates employed by the Faculty

Some PhD candidates are employed by the Faculty of Humanities for their PhD project. Sometimes the funding is made available by EU or NWO grants, sometimes the Faculty offers PhD positions. These are advertised on the  UvA vacancies list  and/or on the ASH website .

Externally or Self-funded PhD candidates

Self-funded PhD candidates bring their own funding either by having a job on the side, or a stipend, loan or grant from another source. These PhD candidates are entitled to a small research budget, library access, e-mail facilities, supervision, and they have access to the programmes offered by the research school to which they belong. We do not charge tuition, but the PhD candidate must ensure the support of two supervisors, at least one of them having the ius promovendi.

More information for PhD researchers

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The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

PhD programme

The Faculty of Science (BETA) at VU Amsterdam has a broad range of research. One of the binding factors between the 10 departments / graduate schools of the faculty is the combination of fundamental and applied research. Approximately 700 PhD candidates are working and studying at the faculty and contribute to the high quality research of the faculty.

General information on the PhD programme at VU Amsterdam can be found here .

Career development tips and good practices for PhD candidates & Postdocs can be found here .

More information on the PhD programme

Promotion trajectory.

Appointment/duration. PhD programmes at VU Amsterdam generally last three to four years, depending on the scientific discipline, type of appointment and funding. The  VU Doctorate Regulations  and the admission procedure apply to all PhD candidates, regardless of their type of appointment. The Doctorate Regulations cover matters as admission to the PhD programme and the responsibilities and authority of those involved in the programme.

The admission process begins when an employee is hired as an internal PhD candidate, or, in the case of researchers with a scholarship, externally financed PhD candidates, or external PhD candidates, when the supervisor agrees to supervise the PhD candidate. Generally, graduate schools/departments are responsible for the admission process. The admission process starts after the application for the doctorate is successful.

Registration The PhD candidate and the supervision team are registered in the registration and tracking system  Hora Finita . Follow-up steps in the PhD programme are also registered in this.

Training and supervision plan (TSP) As soon as possible after registration, the agreements about supervision, research and education are registered in the training and supervision plan (TSP).

Supervision Good supervision of PhD candidates is crucial; it contributes to the well-being of PhD candidates and an open, safe and inclusive research culture, high research quality, and it prevents delays and dropout of PhD programmes. To facilitate adequate supervision for PhD candidates and supervisors,  Golden rules for supervision  have been established. There are also suggestions for a  go/no go procedure  at the end of the first year.

For supervisors of PhD candidates, a PhD supervisors starting page has been prepared with relevant links. All supervisors of PhD candidates are obliged to follow the basic training course Supervising PhD candidates (starting or senior version) (offered by HRM). This also applies to experienced supervisors, unless they receive permission from the dean to follow a customised trajectory.

There are more (in-depth) training courses aimed at supervising PhD candidates from the VU Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). In the flowchart Training for supervisors of PhD students you will find more information on which training is the best match. For more information on the courses: Personal development VU employees - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam . [RH1]  

Education The educational programme for PhD candidates provides for a variety of activities that strengthen the academic, professional, and general skills of PhD candidates. During the doctoral period, each PhD candidate must obtain 30 EC. Guidelines for following PhD candidate education can be found  here . [RH2]  

Teaching Teaching is a skill that PhD candidates need to acquire as academics, and should preferably be an integral part of PhD trajectories. Teaching can have a positive effect on their academic training and future career steps. However, it is important to keep teaching time limited, to assure timely completion of the doctoral programme.

The teaching includes, but is not limited to, giving tutorials, practical classes, lectures, and providing support in writing theses and doing research to Bachelor and Master students. Faculty guidelines for the time and activities dedicated to teaching for the different categories of PhD candidates are given here . [RH3]  

Thesis and Plagiarism Scan Guidelines and suggestions for dissertation composition and scope can be found  here . Authorship of scientific articles should be well agreed upon between PhD candidate and supervisors. A presentation on authorship can be found  here .

All PhD candidates starting from 1 September 2022 are required to submit one written product in the first phase of the PhD programme to a plagiarism check. In addition, all PhD candidates, who started before September 2022 can voluntarily use the tool up to once a year.

Reimbursement The regulation regarding reimbursement expenses incurred during a PhD trajectory can be found here .

Training and Supervision Plan (TSP)

Background Each PhD candidate develops an individual Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) that is uploaded to the VU Hora Finita . This plan is tailor-made for the PhD candidate with the aim of becoming a well-qualified and independent researcher.

Content The TSP contains the agreements between the PhD candidate and supervisors on several issues, including:

• Supervision. This defines who will act as supervisor(s) (under whose daily supervision the PhD candidate will work and who will be the promotor). It also includes agreements on the structure and frequency of supervision by the promotor and daily supervisor(s). If the supervisor is not also the promotor, it is also registered that at the start of the doctoral research, as well as those moments that are decisive for the progress of the research, the PhD candidate has a conversation about the doctoral research with the promotor. The promotor and PhDl candidate shall meet at least once a year.
• Research. This concerns the topic and overall approach to the research.
• Training. This refers to the training plan which consists of four parts:

A. Mandatory components (minimum 4 EC).

• The course Scientific Integrity, taken preferably in the first and no later than in the second year. The faculty board admits students to this course only after full registration in Hora Finita.
• A visit to at least one international conference

B. General skills (together with C: minimum 8, maximum 20 EC)

C. Scientific specialization (together with B: minimum 8, maximum 20 EC)

D. Research-related activities (minimum 8, maximum 20 EC)

Procedure The first version of the TSP together with Form I is submitted to the department (PhD coordinator and vice dean) within the first month after admission of the PhD candidate. The TSP is reviewed during each PhD candidate’s annual interview with the supervisor(s).

More information More information can be found on the website of the graduate school/department where the research is conducted and from the graduate school's key user(s) of Hora Finita or PhD coordinator(s).

PhD courses

An overview of PhD courses can be found here . Here you can select for courses supplied by the different departments (Graduate schools) of the Faculty of Science.

For general questions on education, PhD candidates can contact the PhD coordinator of the department (see schedule under Training and Supervision Plan (TSP)).

Below you will find the description of the Research Integrity Course of the Faculty of Science.

Course Research Integrity

All PhD candidates that started after 1 April 2015 are required to take the course on Research Integrity. Preferably, the course is taken in the first year and no later than the second year.

This PhD course is only for PhD candidates of the Faculty of Science.

The aims of the course are to:

•  introduce you to the topic research integrity;
• help you identifying any potential grey areas in your research field;
• stimulate an open discussion on research integrity matters on the work floor.

You can register for the course Research Integrity after registration in Hora Finita and receipt of the PhD decision/promotiebesluit document.

For registration in Hora Finita you can contact your department secretary office. After approval of your registration in Hora Finita, you will receive a PhD decision/promotiebesluit.

After receipt of the PhD decision/promotiebesluit document, you can register for the course Research Integrity by mailing the board secretary, Maaike Croes,  [email protected] .

You will receive an invitation and brochure, and also the instruction for the online course Epigeum.

Please send the certificate, that you will receive after completing the online Epigeum course ultimately two weeks prior the start of part I of the Research Integrity Course to Maaike Croes,  [email protected] .

For information on the course:  Brochure Research Integrity Course .

For more information, contact Maaike Croes: [email protected] .

Hora Finita

Registration of the promotion trajectory The promotion trajectory has to be registered in the tracking system Hora Finita . Hora Finita supports the processes starting from admission of the PhD candidate until the PhD defense and makes the PhD candidate's progress transparent.

This trajectory has to be started by the Hora Finita key user(s) of your department/Graduate school (see schedule below) from the secretariat. After this has started, the PhD candidate will receive an email with the request to fill in all information needed and to upload the required documents. The whole process of the beginning to your defence will be registered in Hora Finita. For questions, please contact the secretariat of your department.

Hora Finita Login Go to horafinita.vu.nl and then click the button 'login with VUnetID'.

More information More details can be found here .

Departments / Graduate schools and Hora Finita key users

PhD support

General courses In addition to subject-oriented courses, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers PhD candidates a variety of general education courses. The complete set of courses can be found in the Learning Management System (LMS). The Quick Reference Card (QRC) ‘Search and register for courses and update your learning plan’ explains how LMS works. This QRC can be found via the link to LMS.

General VU courses for PhD candidates are:

• Career orientation for PhD candidates and postdocs
•  Peer coaching for PhD's and postdocs
• PhD success and personal efficacy
• Advanced academic writing for PhD researchers
• Concise formulation

Help, support and advice To ensure that PhD candidates are feeling well and less likely drop out, there are PhD candidate advisors for each department. The PhD candidate advisor is independent, and knows the faculty and PhD procedures well. With the PhD candidate advisor, the PhD candidate can discuss wellbeing, work environment, the PhD programme, and other issues. The PhD candidate advisor can advise and refer the PhD student to other people and help.

The PhD candidates will meet the PhD candidate advisor at different times, starting with a welcome interview.

A list of the PhD candidate advisors is found here .

For help, support and advice PhD candidates have different options, please consult Help, support and advice for PhD candidates .

Healthy working conditions for PhD candidates are described in the UNL (formerly: VSNU) document:  Healthy working conditions in the Dutch PhD system .

PhD council

The Science Faculty PhD Council consists of PhD candidates from various departments within the Science Faculty. The PhD Council aims to support the social and professional interests of the faculty's PhD candidates. Visit the PhD Council website for more information (English only).

Preparation on career after PhD

When a PhD  candidate enters the final phase of the promotion trajectory, the question of what to do after the PhD becomes increasingly urgent. The PhD programmes at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam are an excellent stepping stone for a career both inside and outside academia. The PhD candidates have the opportunity to discuss various career prospects during the duration of the PhD programme.

The VU offers PhD candidates career orientation courses in the early stages of their promotion trajectory, and encourages them to work strategically towards their professional goals.

A career outside of science The vast majority of the PhD candidates will have to pursue his/her career outside universities after the PhD. It is therefore essential that early-stage researchers orient themselves to suitable positions in industry or a social context in good time, before their contract expires.

A career in science Most scientific positions at Dutch universities are funded by external research funds. Being able to acquire research grants is crucial for a career in science. The VU Grant Desk offers professional advice and dedicated support to researchers in acquiring external funding.

It also offer s a special support program for PhD candidates wishing to apply for a Veni grant, the most widely awarded grant for conducting independent research after obtaining a PhD. Many researchers also apply for the NWO Rubicon grant, which allows them to gain experience at leading research institutes abroad.

It is also possible to apply for a postdoc position. This is a temporary research position of 2-4 years. For an overview of all postdoc positions (and other possible positions for a PhD, such as junior lecturer or researcher) please refer to the academic job site www.academictransfer.nl .

Relation with VU after PhD Regardless of the career path taken after receiving the PhD, all PhD candidates are offered a lifelong relationship of mutual benefit by inviting them to join the alumni network and remain part of the VU community.

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PhD education

A PhD programme at HIMS takes 4 years of independent research, supervised by a professor. Most PhD candidates in the Netherlands are employees of the university. As a PhD student, you contribute to the development of knowledge in your field of expertise. The programme is concluded by a thesis (dissertation) and/or a series of articles in scientific journals.

• Current open PhD positions are listed among the vacancies at HIMS. 
• An overview of theses by HIMS PhD students can be found in our thesis galleries .
• The University of Amsterdam provides more information on obtaining a PhD .
• For self-funded or scholarship PhD students (bursaries), HIMS offers limited opportunities. More information can be found on our bursaries page .

Research schools

The Dutch PhD trajectory includes courses taught within the framework of national research schools. These are collaborative research and PhD training institutions in specific domains. HIMS participates in two of these:

• Holland Research School of Molecular Chemistry (HRSMC) HRSMC is a consortium of three Dutch Universities: the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the VU University Amsterdam (VU) and Leiden University (UL). It provides an extensive training programme for PhD students in inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry, crystallography and mass spectrometry. More information can be found on the HRSMC website .

Netherlands Institute for Catalysis Research (NIOK) NIOK is a virtual institute consisting of Dutch university groups active in all areas of catalysis. It fosters the advancement of both higher education and research and stimulates collaboration between scientists of different disciplines and Universities. NIOK also acts as the platform and sparring partner for national and international contacts on catalysis with academia, industry and government. More information can be found on the NIOK website .

Other PhD education initiatives

Adding to the education in the framework of the national research schools, HIMS researchers are also involved in other initiatives providing PhD education:

• COAST-ANAC PhD Education Program The Dutch national organisation for COmprehensive Analytical Science and Technology (COAST) offers courses for PhD students who want to broaden or deepen their knowledge in analytical science techniques. Courses are offered throughout the year, as summer courses or as a one -or two-day topical courses on weekdays and/or Saturdays. Read more on the COAST-ANAC website .
• MolSim school This yearly school on Molecular Simulation of the Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling teaches its participants to understand and apply molecular simulations; to obtain insight in the underlying theory; and to develop skills by carrying out elementary simulations. Read more on the MolSim website .
• PhD skills development Besides gaining scientific knowledge and research skills, PhD candidates are expected to develop communication skills, personal effectiveness and didactic skills. To this end, the Faculty of Science offers a skills development programme. More information can be found at the staff pages (for current PhD students only).

Guide: Doing a PhD at the University of Amsterdam

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Open call for five fully funded PhD projects at the AISSR

18 December 2023

Our goal is to assemble a diverse and exceptional cohort of candidates. We aim to recruit candidates with a broad range of epistemologies, disciplines, and backgrounds. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to join the AISSR’s PhD program and embark on their individual research projects under the supervision of AISSR faculty members.

Applications will be assessed according to three criteria:

(1) Quality, significance, and feasibility. We are in search of proposals that hold the potential to deliver groundbreaking insights. Applicants should provide a clear and comprehensive plan for how these insights will be generated.

(2) Fit with the AISSR. The proposals should align well with existing research and expertise within the institute to promote synergy and ensure high-quality supervision.

(3) Diversity, broadly defined. We are looking for candidates with distinct profiles and expertise, perspectives, and backgrounds and the potential to help shape the future of the social sciences.

An interdisciplinary committee, comprising representatives from all four departments within the AISSR, will evaluate the applications.

Who are we looking for ?

You are an ambitious and talented researcher with a passion for the craft of social science research. You are excited about your research project and have a clear, feasible plan on how to conduct this research. You are committed to contributing to the academic community in different ways, from helping with the organization of activities to participating in interdisciplinary debates. You have excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

If this vacancy appeals to you, but you are uncertain whether you might be the person we are looking for, please do consider applying. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates and specifically from people from backgrounds underrepresented at the AISSR.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a master's degree or equivalent within the social sciences by September 1st 2024.

What can we offer you?

We offer a temporary employment contract of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of four years. The initial employment is for one year and the preferred starting date is September 1, 2024. Following a positive assessment, this term will be extended by a maximum of three years, which should result in the conferral of a doctorate. You will attend courses offered by the AISSR and the Graduate School of Social Sciences as part of the PhD program. In addition to doing research, publicizing your findings, and participating in academic events, you will be involved in teaching (roughly 10% of your time).

For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” applies. Your salary will be €2,770 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,539 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week and in keeping with the  Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities . We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

17 March 2024, 23:59 (CET).

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Becoming a self-funded PhD candidate

Fees and requirements.

Starting a PhD at the Faculty of Humanities as a self-funded candidate is a two-step procedure, starting at the research school. First, candidates need to be admitted by a research school: see the application procedure below. Then, they are contacted by the Faculty in order to start the admission procedure to the UvA doctoral programme. All PhD candidates need to be admitted to the UvA doctoral programme by the Doctorate Board and need to meet the requirements set by the Doctorate Board in the Doctorate Regulations . One of these requirements is that the candidate should have obtained a Master’s degree.

The Faculty of Humanities does not regard PhD candidates as students. Once accepted, self-funded candidates automatically receive a full tuition waiver. 

There are no set requirements at the Faculty of Humanities for the level of English a candidate has to have; therefore, we do not have any requirements to provide an IELTS, TOEFL etc. score. However, a very good command of English is highly recommended and a candidate’s level of English will be assessed by the supervisors and research school based on the submitted research proposal.

Application

In order to join the Faculty of Humanities as a self-funded PhD candidate you need to take the following steps:

• Read the Research Programmes of the research schools on the website and decide which school you want to join, depending on how your project fits with or contributes to the programme of this school.
• Choose a potential supervisor from the members of the research school and contact them by sending an email and a first short draft of your proposal.
• Once you have found one supervisor willing to supervise you and your project, together you should look for a second (and possibly third) supervisor. Again, please note that at least one supervisor should have the  ius promovendi;  all full professors and some associate professors hold the  ius promovendi . 
• Rewrite the proposal according to the advice provided by the supervisors: see the guidelines for the full proposal below. 
• Ask your supervisors to write a short statement confirming their commitment to the project, with an argumentation on how the project contributes to the programme of the research school (max. 250 words).
• Send the proposal, including a CV, your address, copies of your BA and MA diplomas and grades, a copy of your passport, and your supervisor's statements by email to the coordinator of the school.
• The research school will inform you whether your application has been accepted, needs to be resubmitted with revisions, or has been rejected.
• Upon acceptance, you will be admitted to the research school as a new PhD candidate for a probationary period of max. 18 months. After 12-18 months, your progress will be evaluated by your supervisors and the director of the school on the basis of a so-called pilot study; only if you pass the pilot study, your affiliation as a PhD candidate will be renewed.

Research proposal for self-funded PhD candidates 

In the Netherlands, scholars are expected to prepare specific proposals, in which central questions, aims, theoretical premises, concepts, the corpus to be studied and proposed methods are described in some detail. General outlines are considered too undeveloped and therefore turned down almost immediately. This requirement is based on the idea that candidates have completed a (research) MA and that the PhD is the core activity and goal of the student. 

Proposal guidelines

Please strictly follow the format below to prepare your full proposal.

1. Supervisors

For each project there need to be two supervisors, one of whom should have the ius promovendi 

• Supervisor 1:
• Supervisor 2:

2. Name PhD candidate

3. Curriculum Vitae PhD candidate

• Full address details
• Relevant professional information
• Publications, other relevant academic output (presentations, reviews)
• Grants, honours, etc.
• Relevant language skills

4. Title of research proposal

5. Summary (max. 250 words)

Please provide a brief summary of the project.

6. Project proposal (max. 2,500 words)

Please outline the following in your proposal.

• Object(s) of research and main aims/objectives of the project
• Research questions or hypotheses
• Theoretical approach and methodology (min. 400 words). Please provide detailed information regarding your data/sources: how will these be obtained/selected and analysed?
• Scientific importance of the proposed project (min. 400 words). Please provide a ‘state of the art’ of the field and explain how the project will advance the understanding of the object(s) of research and the scientific field(s) with which you engage.
• Importance of the proposed project for the Research School
• A work plan or planning for the project. Please specify a starting date and prospective completion date, as well as completion dates for important output (chapters, articles, data collection, etc).
• A bibliography of important scholarly work your refer to (nb: the bibliography does not count towards the word limit)

7. Motivation for doing PhD research (max. 300 words)

Please provide your motivation for doing scientific research and any relevant experience you have for carrying out the proposed project. 

8. Recommendation by the supervisors   (max. 250 words)

Both supervisors are requested to write a short statement confirming their commitment to the project and the candidate.

9. Research budget

Self-funded PhD candidates are entitled to a research budget of €4,500 for costs related to presenting papers at conferences and doing fieldwork, including travel and accommodation costs, and for the production of the final manuscript (printing, editing). Please provide a short breakdown of how you are planning to use this research budget.

10. Data management

Will data be collected or generated that are suitable for reuse? Yes/No

If yes, a data management plan must be made and presented here; see https://rdm.uva.nl/en/introduction/rdm-introduction.html for more information.

11. Research ethics

Will human test subjects and/or interviewees be involved in the research? Yes/No

If yes, please provide details here; and please make sure to seek the approval of the Ethics Committee of the Faculty for your project after your admission: see https://aihr.uva.nl/about-aihr/ethics-committee/ethics-committee.html for more information.

12. Previous research experience

Are you currently working towards a PhD degree elsewhere or have you worked towards a PhD degree at another institution? Yes/No

If yes, please provide details: at which institution do or did you work towards a PhD degree, for how long, and are you or have you formally been admitted to a doctoral programme?

13. Funding

Will you receive any sort of funding (e.g. a scholarship, grant, fellowship, ...) to work towards a PhD degree at the Faculty of Humanities? Yes/No

If yes, please provide details; particularly what kind of funding (private or public) you will receive and from whom, how much (per month or year), for how long, and whether any particular conditions have been set for you to receive the funding (e.g. yearly reports, the completion of the dissertation within a particular amount of years, etc.). 

Please send the above information, together with a copy of your passport and a copy of your BA and MA degrees and grades (transcript) to the coordinator of the research school of your choice by e-mail.

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PhD at the University of Amsterdam

Contrary to the situation in many other countries, PhD students in the Netherlands become employees of the university. PhDs are usually not required to follow classes and can concentrate on their research project through the 4 year PhD period. However, they are expected to teach as e.g. Teaching Assistants for about 10% of their time. This is often in the form of leading Tutorial or Lab sessions for BSc and MSc students. They will also participate in supervising BSc and MSc thesis research projects.

Requirements to enter a PhD

In order to enter the PhD program at GRAPPA, applicants will have to have completed an MSc in Physics and/or Astronomy or a closely related field at a recognized university. A good command of English is also required and computing skills are typically also strongly desired. Depending on the opening, additional competences may be necessary.

Employment Details

PhDs have an employment contract with the University of Amsterdam. They obtain a temporary contract for 38 hours a week for a duration of 4 years. The Initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after a satisfactory evaluation it can be extended for a total duration of 4 years. The employment should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2.325 to €2.972 (scale P) gross per month in 2020, based on fulltime employment (38 hours a week), exclusive of an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

For more information please refer to University of Amsterdam website .

Nikhef's PhD vacancies are advertized at  https://www.nikhef.nl/en/vacancies/ .

Doctoral school

Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarships

In 2025, five Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarships will be awarded to excellent students in (and limited to) Medicine, Medical Informatics, Biomedical Sciences or Social Sciences

Submit your nomination as from 1 September to 15 December 23.59 (these dates are not yet final)

The Amsterdam PhD scholarships are financed from core government funding. The amount of the scholarship (271kE; amount of 2024) covers most of the costs of a four-year appointment as Research Trainee (Onderzoeker in Opleiding) at the Amsterdam UMC

Requirements

To be elegible for the 2025 Scholarships, you hold a degree in Medicine (MD or MSc), a master in Medical Informatics, Biomedical Sciences or Social Sciences from the AMC/UvA or VUmc/VU, which you obtained after 1 January 2024 or will obtain before 1 January 2026

You hold an MD or MSc degree from another faculty or university, which you obtained after 1 January 2024 or will obtain before 1 January 2026, and you have taken a student research placement (wetenschappelijke stage, scriptie or werkstuk) at the Faculty of Medicine UvA or Faculty of Medicine VU University, or affiliated research institutes NKI, Sanquin, NIN-KNAW, or GGD Amsterdam as part of your curriculum, for which you obtained a good mark

And all of the following

You have explicit agreement from an Amsterdam UMC professor to act as your PhD supervisor (promotor)

• Your research will be mainly done in the Amsterdam UMC, or in an Amsterdam UMC affiliated research institute (at least 75% of the time)
• Your research will lead to a PhD dissertation to be defended at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Amsterdam or VU University Amsterdam
• You are able to start to work on your PhD trajectory not later than 1 March 2026
• If you would like to apply and you have already started a PhD trajectory, send an email to the Doctoral School, asking whether you can participate, stating the start date of your PhD trajectory

Application

To apply for an Amsterdam UMC PhD scholarship, you must submit the following documents, in this set order, in one PDF document :

A letter explaining your reasons for applying and how you fulfil the requirements (in English)

• The Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarship Application Form 2025 (below), including your research proposal and a financial paragraph (the supervisor department's AMR consultant (AMC) or business controller from your department (VUmc) can assist you)
• Your curriculum vitae, including the course transcript of your Master’s degree or equivalent (cijferlijst) issued by the faculty student administration, and a list of your publications
• Written confirmation from your intended PhD supervisor (promotor) that he or she is willing to act in that capacity

The PhD Scholarship Application form 2025 will be added here later

The research proposal can be prepared jointly with your intended PhD supervisor, who must sign it for approval. The application form includes a description of your research project, the name of the Amsterdam UMC department at which you will perform your work, the name of the PhD supervisor, and a budget with the estimated total costs of your research, including the proportions to be met from the scholarship and from elsewhere, such as the department or external sources

Note: The Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarship is a personal grant. If the PhD candidate leaves the Amsterdam UMC or abandons the approved research before the end of the contract term, the scholarship lapses

Proposals should be sent as a single*.pdf file (please note the set order of the documents listed under 'Application') by e-mail to the Doctoral School

Note:  After sending in your submission, you will receive a confirmation of receipt from the Doctoral School within two weeks. If not, please  contact us !

Selection of the candidates will be performed in two phases. The first selection round will be performed by a selection team of experienced researchers based on your application file. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview for the second selection round done by the interviewing committee, in the first week of February. This committee will finally select the candidates based on this interviews

Notification

all candidates will receive notification by e-mail from the Doctoral School and learn whether they are nominated, as expected now, in week 3 of January

First selection round (committee members):                          

• Now expected to take place in week 2 or 3 of January  

Second selection round (interviews):

• Now expected to take place in week 1 or 2 of February (between 9.00 and 15.00)

After the interviews the applicants will be informed personally

Back to "PhD Trajectory"

• Netherlands
• Eindhoven University of Technology (TUe)
• Posted on: 9 September 2024

PhD - AI to combine and model Electromagnetic Noise Footprint (EMNF) in PCB Tracks (DC4)

Job Information

Offer description.

At the faculty of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology, a PhD-position is available within the PATTERN project, a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network funded by the EU. The position is open for appointment during the course of 2025, with a duration of 48 months hosted by TU/e, and includes a 2-4 months secondment at KU Leuven (BE) and Idiada (CZ).

We are looking for you!

Do you want to be trained to take up a key position mixing electronics and AI for medical electronic equipment? While being part of a prestigious MSCA doctoral network working on the embedding of existing AI technology into a the design for electromagnetic interference in medical equipment? This is your chance!!

This Doctoral Candidate (DC) first goal will be to unravel a structural understanding of the exchange of parasitic energy a PCB Tracks with its environment using AI tools. The so-called EMNF (ElectroMagnetic Noise Footprint) comprises a set of characteristic curves obtained from stand-alone measurements on a PCB. A second goal will consist in exploring how to combine two or more EMNFs. The work will support an optimization (within the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework) of PCB routing by combining EMNFs.

Research Programme Description

PATTERN – European Doctoral Network Enabling Artificial Intelligence for Electromagnetic Compatibility consortium is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101169295 and UKRI. It groups 9 hiring Universities: Eindhoven University of Technology (NL), University of Twente (NL), KU Leuven (BE), Universiteit Gent (BE), Tomáš Baťa University (CZ), Technische Universität Hamburg (DE), CNRS (FR), NOVA University of Lisbon (PT) and De Montfort University (UK). PATTERN will create a long-lasting, multidisciplinary, academic-industrial network for doctoral training, with leading European industry and academia, to achieve a breakthrough in the design of innovative EMI solutions, throughout their lifecycle, with AI acting as the key enabler of a new design philosophy. For this inclusion to occur, each DC will develop through their research the missing dedicated components, tools and techniques, and apply them to a representative set of EMI solutions under development. This hands-on training is supplemented with several scientific professional courses and an immersive training where the DCs can fine-tune their skills for the Jobs of tomorrow, while addressing the societal challenges of the PATTERN program.

About Universities and companies hosting this position

• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is a world-leading research university specializing in engineering science & technology. The Department of Electrical Engineering is responsible for research and education in Electrical Engineering. The discipline covers technologies and electrical phenomena involved in computer engineering, information processing, energy transfer, and telecommunication. The department strives for societal relevance through an emphasis on the fields of smart sustainable systems, the connected world and care & cure. The TU/e is the world’s best-performing research university in terms of research cooperation with industry.
• KU Leuven is the largest university in Belgium and a LERU Charter member. In Horizon 2020, KU Leuven currently has more than 330 approved projects, and is in 11th place for European institutions hosting ERC grants, which is a manifestation of the three pillars of KU Leuven: research, education and service to society.
• IDIADA CZ, a.s. is part of the Applus+ corporation, in particular the Spanish company IDIADA, which currently employs more than 2,500 professionals in Spain and its branches in 12 countries in Europe, South America and Asia. They are one of the most experienced and strongest suppliers of comprehensive development solutions in the automotive and engineering industry in the Czech Republic.

Where to apply

Requirements.

We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:

• You are creative and ambitious, hard-working, and persistent.
• You have a MSc degree or you will have it by the end of 2025 in electrical engineering or any other relevant program.
• You have theoretical and applied knowledge or interest in Machine Learning, Data-driven modelling,  and/or electrical engineering (with electromagnetism).
• You have good communicative skills, and the attitude to partake successfully in the work of a research team.
• You have a good command of the English language (Spoken and Written).

Additional Information

The successful candidates will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Doctoral Researchers. The nominal (gross) amount includes (at least) a living allowance (€3400 per month, country coefficient applies to allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States), a mobility allowance (€600 per month), and a family allowance (€660 per month, if applicable). Deductions will apply for social security contributions and/or taxes according to the applicable national laws of the country were the recruiting organization is located.

• Supported researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
• Recruited researchers can be of any nationality and must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. For ‘International European Research Organisations’ (IERO), ‘international organisations’, or entities created under Union law, the researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment in the same appointing organisation. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent by the researcher as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video .

All applications proceed first through the on-line platform . Candidates apply electronically for one to maximum three positions and indicate their preference. Candidates provide all requested information including a detailed CV ( Europass format obligatory), a motivation letter and transcripts of bachelor and master’s degree. During the registration, applicants will need to prove that they are eligible (mobility criteria, and English language proficiency). The deadline for the online registration is 30 Sept. 2024.

The PATTERN Recruitment Committee selects between 32 and maximum 48 candidates for the Recruitment Event which will take place Online (Mid-November 2024). The selected candidates provide a 20-minute presentation and are interviewed by the Recruitment Committee. Candidates will be asked about a given domain relevant peer-reviewed paper (prior to the recruitment event) to test their background/profile for the DC position.

Prior to the recruitment event, online interviews between the Supervisor(s) and the candidates are recommended, along with online personality tests.

The final decision will be communicated after the Recruitment Event (End-November 2024). The selected DCs are expected to start their research as quickly as possible in 2025.

All the parties are dedicated to promoting the role of women in science, and, therefore, explicitly encourage women to apply for this position.

For more information about the project and any informal enquiries, please contact Dr. Ir. Anne Roc’h ( [email protected] ).

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page .

Work Location(s)

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Funding and scholarships

If you are employed as a doctoral researcher by the UvA, you can sometimes apply for an additional grant to carry out fieldwork abroad, for example. Once you have completed your doctoral programme, you may also be able to apply for a grant to pursue an academic career after graduation.

A wide range of different grant options is available. Some of the more popular scholarships are listed below. This list is in no way comprehensive. You are therefore advised to contact the coordinator of the Graduate School or research institute that covers your discipline. They will be able to advise you on the most relevant grant providers in your specialist field.

PhD-related fees

In some cases fees can be charged to external PhD candidates, external scholarship providers and/or funding parties. Examples are fees to help fund workspaces, research facilities, training and education. If this is the case, these fees and any exemptions will be mentioned on the webpages of the relevant faculty or research institute.

General grants

Dutch grant providers, dutch charity funds, european grant providers, us grant providers, cookie consent.

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