PhD

Why Maastricht University?

According to the Netherlands organisation for international cooperation in higher education (NUFFIC), the Netherlands ranks second worldwide in the number of publications per researcher and third worldwide in the impact of research publications. Dutch PhD research is not a study, but a serious research project that adds new knowledge to a given field. There is a high level of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional cooperation and PhDs often complete their dissertation alongside or in cooperation with their career. Such a commitment requires hard work, fortitude and, especially, the capacity to innovate, to come up with new ideas and new ways of seeing and applying knowledge. At Maastricht University, innovation is our focus.

Research is integral to education
Research is integrated into every level of education at Maastricht University. At the bachelor’s level, students are taught through the widespread use of Problem-Based Learning (PBL), in which small groups of students analyse real-world problems, conduct independent research and then share their findings. Some students take part in Research-Based Learning, a project initially piloted by University College Maastricht. Students are assigned a research project conducted under the guidance of leading researchers at the university, and put their knowledge into practice as interns and research assistants. At the master’s level, research is applied through the continued use of PBL and the writing of a master’s thesis. In addition, the university also offers research master's programmes, which are designed to prepare students for PhD studies and a career in research.

Internationalism
Maastricht University was the first university in the Netherlands with a truly international orientation. Each faculty, school and institute has extensive international partnership networks and the university encourages international research collaborations. Students and researchers have many opportunities to study and work abroad, and our graduates are eagerly sought in the international labour market and research community.