Admissions
The Graduate School of Spatial Sciences (GSSS) welcomes applications from highly motivated candidates interested in pursuing a PhD at our faculty. All prospective PhD candidates should meet a high academic standard. We expect candidates to have earned above-average grades in their Master’s or MPhil degrees, with a GPA typically above 7.0 on a 10-point scale. We offer two main pathways for admission.
1. Applying for an advertised PhD position
PhD positions funded by the university or through external grants (such as from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) or the European Union (EU)) are regularly advertised on the university's vacancies page.
A selection of applicants will be invited for one or more interviews with an assessment committee, which will then select the most suitable candidate for the position.
2. Self-funded or externally funded PhD application
If you have secured your own funding or an external scholarship, you can apply directly for admission to the Graduate School. This is also the pathway for candidates who have secured funding from their home country or an international scholarship program.
An admissions committee, composed of the GSSS director and representatives from the Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI), will review your application. To be considered, you must follow the application checklist below.
Application Checklist
To apply, please send the following documents to: gradschool.fss@rug.nl. Only complete applications will be considered.
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Component
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Explanation
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Check?
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|---|---|---|
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Copy of ID
|
Copy of a valid ID card or passport.
|
Yes/No
|
|
Copies of certificates and transcripts |
Legalized copies of your university degree certificates and transcripts of records for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
|
Yes/No
|
|
Curriculum Vitae
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CV: information about your background, education, work experience, etc.
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Yes/No
|
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Research proposal |
A detailed research proposal outlining the study's background, research questions, preliminary methods, and a timeline. Please follow this format
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Yes/No
|
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Motivational letter
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A letter detailing your motivation for applying to the University of Groningen/Faculty of Spatial Sciences, your chosen research topic, and any relevant experience living and working abroad.
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Yes/No
|
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Referees
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Please provide contact details for three referees.
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Yes/No
|
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Proof of funding
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PhD candidates with a scholarship: a copy of your scholarship award letter as soon as you receive it. This is the ONLY document that may be sent at a later stage.
PhD candidates with other external funding: evidence/statement that sufficient funding is available to complete the research project within a realistic timeframe.
|
Yes/No
|
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IELTS or
TOEFL iBT
test report
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IELTS or TOEFL test results. IELTS requires a minimum overall score of 7.0 and at least 6.5 in each component. TOEFL requires a minimum overall score of 94-95 (Internet-based) or 587 (paper-based), with minimum section scores of 21 or 550 respectively. Native English speakers and Dutch candidates with a VWO certificate are exempt. |
Yes/No
|
|
Brief report of online or
in-person meeting |
Report on meeting with the intended supervisor. All applicants must have at least one meeting, either online or in-person, with their intended supervisor(s). This meeting will cover the research proposal, the candidate's qualifications and the PhD programme.
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Yes/No
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| Last modified: | 30 September 2025 3.50 p.m. |