Your PhD programme at UT

Most PhD researchers in the Netherlands are paid employees, often working directly for the university. Research projects are defined by the chair of the research group, and for these projects, graduate students are recruited to carry out the research.

You can apply for a regular PhD position at our vacancies website. All relevant additional requirements are described in the respective vacancy descriptions. For international applicants, additional language requirements (see box above) apply.

Another way of enrolling on a PhD programme at UT is by arranging your own funding, for example, using a scholarship or sponsorship from your employer. In this case, all research projects are initiated based on proposals submitted by graduate students as part of their application procedure.

Please note: we will only consider a proposed research plan after you have made clear that an application to a scholarship provider or any other way of funding has been submitted or planned. UT cannot offer fellowships or similar funding for PhD candidates. The department of your envisaged promotor may be able to help you with a letter of academic eligibility to apply for (scholarship)funds.

If you're funding the PhD track yourself, you can contact the intended promotor under whose supervision you want to obtain your doctoral degree directly. You must, however, first have completed a relevant Master's degree and meet all other admission requirements to start a PhD phase.

How to apply with your own funding

To be considered for a PhD project under your funding or with a scholarship, you need to contact the head of the research group you would like to join, indicating your qualities, intended research topic and motivation (at least the first three items on the list below).

The intended promotor must indicate interest to become your promotor. In that case, you can start to complete all documents listed below. You may ask the department of the prospective promotor for a letter of conditional admission (i.e. academic eligibility), that you may use to apply for a scholarship. If the final decision of the intended promotor, and the faculty dean is positive, the department will register you as a guest researcher and arrange your arrival (including your visa).

Necessary documents

• Statement of interest and motivation
• Curriculum Vitae (listing the time of education/degrees and work experience and any relevant scientific publications)
• Outline of research proposal (2 pages)
• If English is not the native language, language requirements (see above) apply. 
• Two letters of recommendation from scientists who are familiar with the candidate’s academic work and can judge his or her potential as a PhD student
• Copies of exam results (both bachelor's and master's) and transcripts of certificates
• Optional: Copies of (up to 5) scientific works, including master's thesis
• Name of the provider to whom you have applied/will apply for funding or who has granted already

Fees

As a contribution to the costs of a PhD programme, fees do apply for PhD candidates who are not employed by the university. These fees can be paid by the PhD candidate or an external sponsor, like a scholarship provider or an employer

The UT fee policy for non-employed doctoral candidates distinguishes two kinds of fees:

• Tuition fee: a fixed annual contribution of € 3,000, to help compensate for the basic costs of a doctoral programme. This tuition fee gives access to:
  • The UT library facilities and ICT facilities (such as open access publications, an e-mail account, use of various software licenses and data storage).
  • The UT Social Safety Support Structure and PhD/EngD counsellors.
  • Supervision by promotor and co-promotor(s).
  • Enrolment in the Twente Graduate School (TGS)
  • Courses taken for the 30 EC doctoral education programme.
  • Use of a flexible workplace and general campus facilities, if necessary.
  • The doctoral defence ceremony as described in the UT Doctoral Regulations
  • A financial contribution to the printing costs of the thesis
• Bench fee: an optional, annual contribution that faculties may charge to help compensate for additional research-related costs, like the use of expensive lab facilities. Since these costs vary per candidate and research project, bench fees differ accordingly.

Before the start of the PhD programme, agreements will be made with the PhD candidate and, if applicable, with the external sponsor about the payable fees and to whom they will be charged. The agreed fees are also recorded in a doctorate agreement with the PhD candidate.

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