PhD structure in the Netherlands

The Netherlands offers a strong research environment. If you choose to pursue a PhD degree in the Netherlands, you will benefit from a supportive academic culture, world-class expertise, and internationally oriented research community. 

There are four PhD pathways in the Netherlands:

 Employed
 Scholarship
 Externally financed
 Own resources

In the schedule below, you can check as which type of PhD candidate you will be registered when you arrive at a university in the Netherlands.

Structure PhD

Paid PhD positions are typically announced by Dutch universities, and a PhD candidate in such a position is selected and employed by the given university. In addition, universities accept ‘funded’ PhD candidates with their own research projects; such PhD candidates, who typically receive a scholarship from an external institution, are funded through an external employer, or are self-funded by their own resources. 

Irrespective of the PhD type, admission requires a master's degree and a solid research proposal. All PhD candidates must meet the same research quality criteria regarding their dissertations and receive the same type of PhD diploma upon successful graduation.

For general information on PhD study in the Netherlands, you can visit: 

 PhD | Study in NL
 Information for Researchers | EURAXESS
 Kennisbank | Promovendi Netwerk Nederland
 A beginner's guide to Dutch academia | De Jonge Akademie