Routes to the award of a PhD

Admission for PhD candidates is highly selective and based on academic merit. To be considered for the PhD degree programme, you must obtain an internationally recognized high-quality Master’s degree in a related field.

Other requirements include a solid PhD proposal and proficiency in English. Your application will be considered by the Admissions Board, which decides which students are eligible for the programme.

Internal and external candidates

A distinction is made between internal and external candidates. If you applied for a PhD position advertised by the university, you are an internal candidate (I). The finances are provided by the university in the form of a grant acquired by the university from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO, or European grants, etc.

If you approach the university, either bringing your own money or after acquiring funding (e.g., through an international grant program), you are an external candidate (II)

I. Advertised PhD positions, Internal PhD

Such positions become available through research awards held by members of the teaching and research staff at the university. The university publishes these vacancies throughout the academic year on the internet and elsewhere. For the latest information, please see all PhD positions at the Faculty of Law.

You must make a formal application via the channels stipulated in the advertisement. If you are accepted, you will start writing your dissertation under the supervision of two professors. Needless to say, these PhD positions are hugely competitive.

II. Candidates holding scholarships (scholarship PhD) or self-funded (external PhD)

An external PhD student is defined as someone who performs doctoral studies without being employed by the Faculty of Law.

External PhD students with a scholarship from their own country can apply year-round but should start preferably on 1 September. It is also possible to be considered as an external PhD without funding or scholarship.

Regarding admission to the PhD and the quality of research and dissertation, the same requirements apply to all PhD candidates. External candidates must also comply with the PhD regulations and administrative procedure.