In the three or four year PhD programmes, students conduct their own research while the Graduate School provides a balanced mix of expert supervision, tailor-made postgraduate training and the freedom to pursue your own ideas within relevant research themes. In some cases part of the research is carried out abroad and many international PhD candidates are welcomed for short stays as well. The results are written down in a PhD thesis. In almost all cases a thesis contains a number of papers published in scientific journals. After a successful defence, you will be awarded with an internationally highly esteemed PhD degree. In addition to the full-time programmes, variants are possible: e.g. combining a PhD training with work outside the university environment.
How to apply for a PhD position
Admission for PhD candidates is highly selective and based on academic merit: your best preparation is successful completion of one of our Graduate School Master’s. In fact, most two year research masters are part of the Graduate School and prepare students to write a PhD proposal. A successful proposal can result in a PhD project to be executed in the research group of your own choice for an additional period of three years. You can find information about the possibilities of this 2+ 3 years tracks at the websites of the respective Graduate Schools.
Another possibility is that you are currently looking for a PhD position and/or funding. There are several options to apply for a PhD position at the university of Groningen. These options are:
Applying for a PhD position within a set research theme
At the website of the RUG you can find available PhD positions under Job Opportunities at the RUG and the Job opportunities at the UMCG (website for job opportunities). A number of PhD positions are usually posted there. Please be aware that these positions are within a set research theme or are part of a larger research project. To obtain a position posted on the Job opportunities website you need to officially apply. The application procedure is explained in the advertisement.
Applying for an open PhD position within a Graduate School
Some Graduate Schools organise application rounds for ‘open’ PhD positions. Interested candidates with the appropriate education can apply for these ‘open’ positions. Open means that you can formulate your own research proposal as long as it fits with the disciplines and research expertise of the Faculty where the Graduate School belongs to.
Applying for a PhD position within a Graduate School with your own funding
If you have funding of your own to perform a PhD project and you would like to do this at the University of Groningen please look at the website of the Graduate School of your interest and expertise how to apply for a position.
Applying for a PhD position in other situations
When your own ideas for a PhD project do not match the positions that are currently offered you can always contact the coordinator of the Graduate School of your interest. They can inform you if there are alternative possibilities to accommodate your proposal.
Specific information about the different opportunities for PhD positions in your field of expertise can be found at the website of the Graduate School that fits with your interest.
Funding
When you apply for an available position, and are accepted, funding will be arranged for you. Details are included in the description of the available position.
The University of Groningen is also committed to recognizing excellence in academic achievement through scholarships for PhD candidates. In some cases these are reserved for candidates from our partner universities within set research projects, however, some are open for all applications. It is best to apply in agreement with the PhD coordinator of the Graduate School covering your field of interest.
