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.
Please note that you need the support of a supervisor at our faculty before you can apply as a self-funded or externally funded PhD candidate. It is your responsibility to find and contact a suitable prospective supervisor. You can use this page to identify experts who might be a good match for your research.
Application Checklist
To apply, please send the following documents to: gradschool.fss@rug.nl. Only complete applications will be considered. Please note that the assessment process of your application might take up to four weeks and that, if a visa is needed, a visa procedure might take about three months.
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Component
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Explanation
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Check?
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Copy of ID
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Copy of a valid ID card or passport.
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Yes/No
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Copies of certificates and transcripts |
Legalized copies of your university degree certificates and transcripts of records for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
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Yes/No
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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.
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Yes/No
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English language
test result
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Applicants are required to demonstrate sufficient level of English language proficiency in the form of a standardized test result. Accepted tests are IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1/C2, Pearson Academic, and LanguageCert Academic. Minimum required scores:
Native English speakers, as well as Dutch candidates with a VWO certificate, are exempt. |
Yes/No
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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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