Scholarship PhD

Many of our international PhD students have an opportunity to apply to PhD scholarships from governmental funding agencies abroad. As a PhD scholarship student, you design the project in communication with your PhD supervisor(s). The Graduate School (GS) to which your potential supervisor is affiliated can support your application to external funding if they have agreed to supervise you. Moreover, the University of Groningen has a unique top-up policy for students who have successfully acquired an external scholarship.

Letter of Acceptance

In our experience, most funding agencies will ask for a (conditioned) Letter of Acceptance to prove that you will be registered at the University. To grant an LoA, each GS has its own procedures. Generally, everyone must follow two steps:

1. Find a possible supervisor, have an interview and agree on a possible trajectory.
2. Submit the research proposal agreed with your supervisor, along with your CV and proof of English proficiency (exceptions possible) to the GS. Some GSs may also ask for additional documentations, such as masters diploma and/or transcripts.

Note that, if a start date is required, this should be at most 4 months from the announcement of the results.

Specific requirements for each funding agency must be consulted at their own websites. A summary for ANID , CAPES , CONAHCYT , COLFUTURO , MINCIENCIAS , and Sapiencia can be found in each link.

LoA templates are available for GS officers according to their specific requirements of some agencies. Please request them with the UG Representative in Mexico, Sofía Marcado.

When to apply?

Enrollment and acceptance in the UG is rolling, meaning there are no strict deadlines or a delimited application period. However, most funding agencies have pre-set calendars. Candidates are responsible for keeping those dates in mind.