Allocation PhD-scholarship

Information for MD/PhD students appointed until round June 2016 and from round October 2018 onwards: Click here

If an application for a MD/PhD programme is approved, the student will be nominated for a PhD scholarship as an MD/PhD scholarship student.

Uitkering beurs over tijdens de onderzoeksperiodes
Een MD/PhD traject is een traject dat bestaat uit maximaal de laatste 2 studiejaren (24 kalendermaanden) uit de Masterfase van het reguliere onderwijsprogramma gecombineerd met 2 jaren (24 kalendermaanden) wetenschappelijk onderzoek (promotie-studentbeurs). Voor een MD/PhD-student zijn in totaal twee volledige beursjaren beschikbaar welke tijdens de 24 onderzoeksmaanden maandelijks worden uitbetaald. Gedurende deze onderzoeksperiodes dient de MD/PhD-promotiestudent uitgeschreven te staan van de geneeskunde- of tandheelkunde-opleiding.

MD/PhD scholarship
MD/PhD- students will be PhD-scholarship-student for a maximum of four years. A PhD scholarship student is a student and not an employee. This means that the student does not have an employment relationship.
The scholarship is paid in monthly instalments during the 2 research years (24 calendar months) in accordance with the taxation scheme of a fictitious employment contract. The UG/UMCG withholds income tax and social security contributions. The amount of the scholarship is set so that students receive approximately €2027 bruto per month (approximately 1700 euro netto). This amount is adjusted annually on the basis of the CBS consumer price index. No periodic increases or secondary benefits are applied (as in a normal employment contract), nor will the PhD scholarship students receive pension premiums, an end-of-year bonus, or holiday pay. The scholarship amount will not be adjusted if a student is faced with additional expenses due to personal circumstances such as the care of a partner and/or children.

Training and Supervision Plan
Part of the agreement between UG/UMCG and a PhD scholarship student involves a Training and Supervision Plan (TSP). This plan sets out the goals and deadlines for the student's training and research. Students are required to keep to the TSP and the deadlines set out in it. Students will need to adjust their working hours to the operating and working hours of the research group that is hosting their PhD programme if this is required in order to meet the terms of the TSP. Students follow the teaching plan set out in the TSP and are responsible for ensuring that they successfully complete it before the PhD ceremony. Part of this teaching plan is the 'Career Perspectives' learning pathway, which will help students prepare for their future career as a PhD graduate, in or outside the academic world. The Graduate School determines the extent of the teaching plan. For MD/PhD-student 15 ECTS are required. Students will receive a certificate from the Graduate School upon successful completion of the teaching plan. PhD scholarship students cannot be obliged to provide teaching to other students; however, they may be required to follow teacher training as part of their curriculum, including supervised teaching practice.

Holidays
PhD scholarship students are not obliged to report attendance or non-attendance. They may distribute their time as they see fit and do not have fixed working hours or holidays. The students are required to draw up agreements on attendance with their supervisors and inform them if they are unable to meet these agreements.

Employment elsewhere

PhD scholarship students are permitted to do paid work for other organizations alongside their PhD programme. However, they are not permitted to work part-time for the UG/UMCG (e.g. as a teacher). In all circumstances, the PhD scholarship student is required to give precedence to the terms of the TSP and applicable deadlines.

N.B. Certain paid work that is carried out in addition to the PhD scholarship programme may have consequences for income tax contributions, rent and healthcare allowances, etc. Students should make sure to inquire about the consequences of any paid work they wish to do in addition to their programme. The UG and UMCG are not responsible for any claims for repayments or other consequences.

Unforeseen circumstances and Illness
Should a student be unable to graduate within the term of the agreement due to unforeseen circumstances, then the term of the agreement may be extended, on condition that the student can reasonably be expected to graduate with satisfactory results within this extra term. Examples of unforeseen circumstances include pregnancy or an unexpected absence due to the illness. The student can submit a request for an extension to the Junior Scientific Masterclass in consultation with their primary supervisor. If a student expects to require an extension, it is important to contact the primary or day-to-day supervisor and the Junior Scientific Masterclass (Dr. J.M. van der Mark) in good time and explain the reason for the request.

Social security, insurance and allowances
The UG and the UMCG apply all applicable social security legislation to PhD scholarship students. PhD scholarship students can apply for rent, healthcare and childcare allowances and the Dutch child benefit if they meet all the applicable conditions (see below). PhD scholarship students are required to take out a Dutch health insurance policy (some exceptions apply). These students are also strongly advised to take out third-party liability insurance.
PhD scholarship students can apply for rent, healthcare and childcare allowances during their stay in the Netherlands. Students must make sure that they meet the applicable conditions before applying for such allowances. The tax authorities may demand repayment of allowances received in error even after many years have passed and regardless of whether the person still lives in the Netherlands. This can amount to thousands of euros. The UG and the UMCG accept no responsibility in these instances (For more information, visit http://www.belastingdienst.nl/toeslagen/).
PhD scholarship students with children are, under certain circumstances, entitled to child benefit. For more information, visit https://www.svb.nl/int/nl/kinderbijslag/.

More information
http://www.rug.nl/education/phd-programmes/phd-scholarship-programme/conditions-application/

Bonus (the exact regulations concerning the bonus within the PhD scholarship is not yet known. The intention is to keep a bonus)
A full 4-year MD/PhD programme consists of 2 years from the regular Master’s programme combined with 2 years of research. MD/PhD students who manage to complete this tough programme within the allocated time (48 months) receive a performance-related bonus in addition to their scholarship. The bonus is paid in the form of a gross bonus of EUR 6000,-. When the programme is not completed within the allocated time the bonus will be reduced with 10% for each month of delay, which means 90% for completion within the allocated time + 1 month, 80% within the allocated time + 2 months, etc. etc.. When the programme is delayed with more than 6 months the MD/PhD student will not receive a performance-related bonus. As is stated in the award-decision, the end date of the scholarship is the benchmark.

For MD/PhD candidates who have less than 2 years of their medical training to complete when they begin the MD/PhD programme, the following provision applies: the period within which the PhD thesis must be finished if the student is to be eligible for the bonus depends on the remaining training time plus the two funded research years. The work plan (distribution of clerkships and research), included in the application for the MD/PhD programme, and the end date are the benchmarks.

Finally
If there are any question or problems do not hesitate to contact the Junior Scientific Masterclass, Dr. J.M. van der Mark (j.m.van.der.mark@umcg.nl of 050-3616830)