Graduate School of Psychology and Neuroscience
The Graduate School of Psychology and Neuroscience (GSPN) is an umbrella organisation for all PhD candidates of the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN), comprising about 90 internal and over 100 external PhD candidates, and still growing. The Graduate School optimises education and training of PhD candidates, organises an annual research day and workshops, facilitates and monitors the quality and progress of research projects, and organises social activities for PhD Candidates and Postdocs.
Trainings & workshops
Almost all education within the GSPN is focused on training PhD researchers within the context of their chosen topic and needs. PhD candidates at GSPN have access to courses from:
- FPN Research Masters
- FPN affiliated Research Schools
- Graduate Schools @UM
- the University Library
- the UM Language Centre
- Staff Career Centre

Affiliated research schools
Besides the membership in the Graduate School of Psychology and Neuroscience, PhD candidates can be affiliated to various FPN institutions and associated research schools. Many institute and school courses are also open to PhD candidates who are not members. Research Schools include:

Research laboratories
FPN has extensive research laboratories with cutting-edge equipment and apparatus, such as EEG labs, eating labs, psychopharmacology labs and non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) labs (incl. TMS). Measurements for ultra-high-field MRI research can be performed at Scannexus. PhD candidates employed by or posted at our faculty can use all facilities, and externals PhD candidates can send a request for use of the research laboratories to the lab coordinator. In addition, FPN has an instrumentation and engineering (IE) and a research support department (RSD) to assist researchers. For more information click here.
Rules and regulations
Different labs have different rules and regulations. To reserve a lab, first check Resource Booker for availability, then contact the coordinator to make a reservation.

Confidential Advisors
FPN PhD students who are confronted with undesirable behaviour (sexual harassment, aggression, violence or discrimination) or unequal behaviour, or who are involved in a conflict in their working situation may contact the confidential advisors for assistance. The confidential advisor is:
Sjaan Nederkoorn
c.nederkoorn@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31 43 388 19 25
Caroline van Heugten
c.vanheugten@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31 43 388 42 13
Vacancies
All PhD vacancies are posted on
Academic Transfer
Regulations for Promotion
- Regulation governing the attainment of doctoral degrees
- Promotiereglement UM
(Dutch version: in case of conflict this version will be referred to)
