Types of PhD positions
These are the different types of PhD positions at the University of Groningen.
Scroll down or click on the links for more information about each type of PhD Position.
Employed PhD positions
PhD candidates with employee status are generally given a four-year employment contract with the UG. They almost always apply to work on existing research projects and they also have a teaching obligation to other students.
When you are interested in a position as an employed PhD candidate, you can look for employed PhD positions at the UG and also for employed PhD positions at the UMCG.
External PhD scholarship positions and the Top-Up program
If you have already secured funding for a PhD project and would like to do this at the University of Groningen, you can contact the coordinator of the Graduate School of your interest. Check the PhD research programmes to find information about the specific research subjects of each Graduate School and the names of the coordinators.
The University of Groningen welcomes international PhD students with a competitive scholarship from their home country and wants to create the best possible conditions for them to perform well during their PhD research. To this end, depending on the height of the scholarship that the PhD student brings with him/her, the university will top up their scholarships to an amount that represents the Dutch minimal income.
Letter of Acceptance
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:
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Find a potential supervisor, have an interview and agree on a possible trajectory.
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Submit the research proposal agreed upon with your supervisor, along with your CV and proof of English proficiency to the GS. Some GSs may also ask for additional documentations, such as Master 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.
For more information about PhD scholarships in Latin-America, please look here.
Externally financed PhD positions
In some cases, an employer is willing to invest in an employee by making them an offer to pursue a PhD trajectory. In practice, this means that the employer ‘pays’ for the PhD trajectory with time (e.g. two days a week) that the PhD candidate can allocate to the trajectory. In case you are considering a PhD trajectory within this construction, please consult the respective Graduate School to learn more about the opportunities.
Self-funded PhD positions
In some cases, you might decide that you want to pursue a PhD trajectory in your own time at your own costs. We call these trajectories ‘self-funded trajectories’. Since they are self-funded, the application procedure is also not centrally organized at the UG. Instead, you are encouraged to reach out to a potential supervisor to discuss the possibilities.
Sandwich PhD positions
A Sandwich PhD is a type of doctoral programme that involves conducting research at two different institutions or locations and under the co-supervision of researchers at both of the institutions. Typically, the student spends the first part of the programme at their home institution, and then they spend a period of time (usually between 6-24 months) at a different institution or location, where they conduct research in collaboration with a supervisor or research group.
The Sandwich PhD programmes provide opportunities for students to gain international experience and exposure to different research environments, as well as to develop an international network of contacts in their field. It can also be a way to access specialized equipment or expertise that may not be available at the home institution.
At the University of Groningen (UG), we foster three main types of Sandwich PhDs: single degree, double degree, and joint degree. The requisite is that the trajectory is co-supervised by a researcher at the University of Groningen or University Medical Center Groningen, and by a reseacher at a partner university. The main differences between the three types are that:
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With a single-degree trajectory, the student will conduct research at a partner university as a guest. Only one diploma will be conferred with the Groningen seal.
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With a double-degree PhD the student will receive a degree from the UG and a partner institution with two (different) diplomas. Most times, one single thesis will be produced but sometimes it must be defended at the two institutions separately.
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A joint-degree program will grant the student one degree in the name of the two universities, given that the trajectory to obtaining it has been systematically agreed upon by the two institutions.
When it comes to the funding of a sandwich trajectory, it is depending on the specific construction the two universities decide on. Other said, a sandwich PhD trajectory can be held in the form of an employed PhD position, but it can also be an external scholarship, a self-funded position and any combination of positions. It is al depending on the funding opportunities that reside within the two universities that will collaborate on the trajectory.
Furthermore, we have some established partners with whom we collaborate on a regular basis when it comes to sandwich PhD trajectories. As such, take a look at the following initiatives:
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For more information on UG Sandwich PhD programs with a partner in Latin America, look at the webpage of ISR.
| Last modified: | 11 November 2024 1.07 p.m. |