Pursuing Your PhD at the University of Groningen: Opportunities for Latin American Candidates  

At the University of Groningen (UG), there are several pathways to pursue a PhD. These differ in funding structure and research setup, but all lead to the same academic degree and are embedded within one of UG’s Graduate Schools. 

The UG Representative Office primarily tailors its support to two main types of PhD candidates, both may be eligible for co-funding from UG:

1. Full PhD Candidates with an External Scholarship

These candidates bring their own external  funding, typically from national scholarship agencies, to cover a full PhD trajectory of three to four years. They are not employed by UG but are formally admitted to a PhD program and supervised by UG faculty.

One key advantage of this route is the flexibility it offers: candidates can often design their own research project in close consultation with their supervisor, ensuring strong alignment with their academic interests and goals.In Latin America, this route is frequently used by candidates funded through organizations such as ANID (Chile), SECIHTI (Mexico), and SENACYT (Panama)

2. Sandwich PhD Candidates

The term Sandwich PhD refers primarily to the structure of the PhD trajectory, rather than the specific funding source. These projects involve joint supervision and research conducted at both UG and a partner institution abroad. Candidates typically spend between 6 and 24 months at each institution throughout the course of their PhD.

This structure often, but not exclusively,  results in a double or joint PhD degree, depending on the formal agreements between the institutions involved.

Many candidates in this category also receive external scholarships. Co-funding opportunities for Sandwich PhDs are more diverse and widely available. UG works with a broad range of scholarships that support this model. For example, CAPES, CNPq, and FAPESP in Brazil; Colfuturo in Colombia; and other national scholarship schemes in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and other countries. 

In fact, Sandwich PhD collaboration is a cornerstone of UG’s international strategy, particularly in Latin America. These trajectories not only benefit individual candidates but are also designed to foster long-term academic partnerships and sustainable connections between researchers at both institutions.

The UG Representation Office for Latin America works closely with many of our partner institutions and Graduate Schools at UG to coordinate Sandwich PhD application processes.

If you are a prospective Sandwich PhD candidate, it is important to start your preparations early: preferably a year in advance, but at least six months before your intended start date at the institution of your second enrollment.

We encourage you to get in touch with us as early as possible to learn more and begin preparing!

Top-Up Program

Candidates who receive an external scholarship and who are admitted to the UG PhD program may be eligible to receive a Top-Up of their scholarship. UG is one of the few Dutch universities to provide such a scheme. Consult the representative office to learn more about opportunities and conditions.

Find a Supervisor

All PhD candidates – regardless of funding type or trajectory – must be accepted by a qualified supervisor, affiliated with one of UG’s Faculties. 

This means that finding a (co-)supervisor is a key first step in the application process. If you are interested in pursuing a PhD at UG, we recommend reaching out early on with a clear research idea and supporting documents.

To get in touch with a potential supervisor in Groningen, we encourage candidates to complete:

• Our Academic Matchmaking Form (download it here)

• A CV in English

Contact

Have questions or need support? Reach out to the UG Representation Office for Latin America via latinamerica rug.nl.

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information provided, it is subject to change. No rights may be derived from the contents of this page. For the most up-to-date and official information, please consult the relevant UG office directly.