Obtaining a PhD position without being employed by Utrecht University

Utrecht University offers very limited opportunities for applicants who are not employed to obtain a PhD. Only in exceptional cases do highly talented and motivated applicants gain admission to a PhD programme.

If you are not employed by Utrecht University, you can obtain a PhD in various ways:

A PhD on a scholarship

These scholarships can come from foreign governments, international organisations or Dutch funds for foreign PhD candidates.

Please note that Utrecht University has stopped participating in the NFP PhD scholarship programme in 2014.

A PhD as an employee of another employer

This is an option for employees of a university of applied sciences who have been given a PhD voucher.

A PhD as an external PhD candidate

In this case, you will work on your dissertation in your own time under the guidance of a Utrecht University professor. You will need to find a supervisor yourself. Once you have found a supervisor, the two of you will develop and agree on a plan of work.

If you already have a scholarship or PhD voucher, or if you want to do a PhD as an external candidate, please read more at the website of the relevant Graduate School. There you will find specific information about opportunities, requirements and entry criteria.

Proposal

When your research proposal meets the stated requirements and fits in with existing programmes, you should send your proposal to the secretary or contact person for the Graduate School or focus area in question. Make sure your proposal clearly and firmly explains the rationale for the choices you made. Please note that PhD applicants have to demonstrate mastery of English before being accepted into their respective programmes.

Financing your PhD

Most PhD candidates will be employed by the university. If we cannot employ you, you can look for funding in your own country or apply for private scholarships.

More information

Read more on the Euraxess website about fellowships and grants. For information about funding for studying in the Netherlands, go to Grantfinder. There you will find information about scholarships, eligibility criteria, and other relevant information.

China Scholarship Council

Utrecht University and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) have an agreement, which enables outstanding students from China to receive a grant to obtain their doctoral degree in Utrecht. To qualify for a CSC grant, PhD candidates undergo a special selection procedure, in which both Utrecht University en CSC participate. 

Are you a Chinese student and interested in obtaining your doctoral degree in Utrecht? Please contact the Graduate School that is relevant for your research field:

• Information form CSC
• Standard format letter of acceptance