4 PhD types at FHML/MUMC+ (4)

4. External PhD candidate

A PhD candidate falling under the category ‘External PhD candidate’ has no employment contract at Maastricht University or the Academic hospital (MUMC+) and receives no salary. The main goal is to obtain a PhD degree at FHML and agreements have been made about this with a supervision team (promoter and at least one co-promoter). The external PhD candidate is not facilitated in this by means of a Scholarship or time/funding of an employer, which is the main difference compared to a ‘Contract PhD candidate’. Examples are a retired person or someone working on the PhD research in addition to job hours. Generally, the promoter demands that the PhD candidate should provide for his/her own living expenses and resources to do the PhD research. External PhD candidates generally receive distant supervision (by email, telephone, skype) and perform the research elsewhere in the Netherlands or abroad. In most cases, a local supervisor is added to the supervision team.

This person should have access to the School or Institute’s (research) facilities and courses. The PhD candidate and supervision team make tailor-made agreements in the Personal Research Plan and Training & Supervision Plan about the planning of the PhD trajectory, according to the available time and resources for the PhD trajectory. In order to become an external PhD candidate, one should first make sure that one disposes of sufficient time and subsistence resources and then be accepted by a promoter of one of the Schools or Institutes of FHML with expertise on the topic of the proposed PhD research, who is confident that the candidate has the abilities, diplomas and dedication to complete the PhD trajectory successfully. Please approach the PhD coordinator of the appropriate School/Institute first for the exact procedure.