PhD Support

Are you looking for support during your PhD studies? Here is a helpful guide for PhD students on Support Services for PhDs at the University of Groningen.

If you feel you could use some support during your studies, you can always contact your PhD coordinator, someone at your Graduate School, or talk to your supervisor. If you need specific help, the university offers confidential support depending on your situation.

• I feel stressed
• I want to feel more confident
• I procrastinate
• I work too many hours
• I am afraid for a burnout
• I want to talk about my supervision
• I want to plan my future career
• I am not sure I want to go on with my PhD
• I feel lonely
• I feel depressed
• I am ill and unable to work

*Please note: The courses may be offered through more than one department. We are in the process of integrating our course offerings. For courses where more than one option is listed, please feel free to choose the course which best fits your situation.

Departments which offer support for PhDs:

• Health, Safety and Sustainability/ Arbo, Millieu en Duurzaamheid (AMD)
• Student Services Centre (SSC)
• Human Resources (HR)

Links below will take you to webpages outside of the Groningen Graduate School site. You may need your student number or personnel number to log in.

I feel stressed.

Do you feel stressed a lot of the time and want to do something about it? There are several options available within the university:

• Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR)
  • Student Services Center (SSC)
• Work Life Balance course (SSC)
• PhD Support (SSC)
• Time management (HR Department)
• Health Check (AMD)
• Individual coaching sessions
  • AMD
  • SSC

I want to feel more confident.

Do you sometimes feel insecure or anxious? Depending on where your insecurity comes from, there are several options available at the university. Some courses provide support on how to manage your PhD, others are more about stress management and coping with anxiety:

• Project management (Provided by your Graduate School)
• PhD Support Group (SSC )
• Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR)
  • Student Services Center (SSC)
• Individual coaching sessions
  • AMD
  • SSC

I procrastinate.

Do you find it difficult to keep focused at work? Do you often feel like "What have I really done today?" when you go home? There are several options available at the university:

• Project management (Provided by your Graduate School)
• PhD Support Group ( SSC )
• Time management ( HR )

I work too many hours.

Do you work more than 50 hours a week and do you want to learn to work more productive and have more time to relax? There are several options available at the university:

• Project management (Provided by your Graduate School)
• PhD Support Group ( SSC )
• Time management ( HR )
• Work Life Balance ( SSC )

I am afraid for a burnout.

Do you feel stressed and find it difficult to relax? Do you sometimes feel like you are not able to cope with everything anymore? There are several options available at the university:

• Mindfulness, MBSR
  • SSC
• Work Life Balance course ( SSC )
• Heart Coherence ( AMD )
• Individual coaching sessions
  • AMD
  • SSC

I want to talk about my supervision.

Sometimes your work is compromised by having a difficult relationship with your supervisor. You are not the only one. Find someone to talk to about it, so that you can do something about it in a constructive way:

• Confidential advisor
• Individual coaching sessions:
  • AMD
  • SSC

I want to plan my future career.

No idea what to do after your PhD? Not sure you want to pursue a career in academia and want to consider your options? There is a series of workshops or individual coaching sessions available for you:

• Career Perspective Series
• My Future Career ( HR )
• Individual career coaching sessions ( HR )

I am not sure I want to go on with my PhD.

Do you have doubts whether you want to go on with your PhD? Find someone to talk to:

• Individual career coaching sessions ( HR )

I feel lonely.

Doing a PhD can be a lonely business, especially when you come from another country. Please feel free to talk about it and make a plan together to come into contact with other people:

• PhD Support Group ( SSC )
• Individual coaching sessions
  • AMD
  • SSC

I feel depressed.

Do you feel depressed lately and it doesn’t seem to go away anymore? Please make an appointment with your GP to get advice or to talk to someone:

• Make an appointment with your general practitioner (Don't have a doctor in Groningen? Click here to find out more on finding a doctor.)
• Individual coaching sessions
  • AMD
  • SSC

I am ill and unable to work.

If you are ill for more than a month, please report this to the coordinator or your Graduate School.

• Report sick to your Graduate School coordinator or PhD supervisor.