For young researchers

Are you a Master student and looking to continue your academic career with a PhD? Or would you like to stay in academia after your PhD graduation? Sometimes you need funding to start your PhD-project or your post-doc project.

Please find here more information and options for you to consider.

Fund your PhD-project

Sometimes phd-candidates have to bring their own research funding in order to start their desired phd-project. Find here several suggestions on where to find this funding.

Apply for a PhD Job Opening
In the University of Twente, a lot of PhD-positions become available though regular job openings. For instance, this is made possible because a researcher at the UT will start a large project and has funding to hire PhD-students to complete the project.
UT Vacancies
Academic Transfer
Find a PhD or fellowship
The are multiple options to pursue funding for your PhD-project through networks or initiatives.
Promovendi Netwerk Nederland
Find a PhD
Study in Holland
Through Funders
The Dutch Research Council (Nederlandse organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - NWO) has opened a new Mosaic programme that will allow MSc-students at a Dutch university to apply for funding for their PhD-project in the Netherlands.
NWO Mosaic 2.0

Finished (almost) your PhD: what's next?

Are you in your third or fourth/final year of your phd, or did you recently finish your phd? Are you curious to find out what is out there to aid you in continuing your academic career?

For young researchers there are unfortunately limited options available in grants; for most applications you need to hold a tenure track or permanent position to be eligible as main applicant. However, most personal grant schemes are also tailored for young researchers, irrespective of physical age or current position.

Your CV
One of the most important criteria for personal grants is your CV, even more so in the personal grants for young researchers. Funders would like to determine whether you hold potential for becoming an excellent researcher with vision for your research field. This will be reflected through your output, but also in actions with elements such as visibility, passion, recognition and independence. This means not only your publications or awards are important, but also activities such as communication, collaboration, teaching & supervision, dissemination & organisation and mobility play a role in this assessment.
Some elements are small things which can be easily undertaken and added to your CV. However, most actions require a longer trajectory to accomplish and need the support of someone in close surroundings in the university to help you accomplish this.
Reach out to your supervisor about your ambitions in a timely manner. He/she will be able to help you in actions and output that will boost your CV. In addition, the UT Grants Office (grants-office@utwente.nl) can discuss with you or provide tools to explore which actions will help you to create a competitive CV for personal grants.
Grants for young researchers
Join the information session aimed at young PhD-graudates or last-year PhD-students "Getting ready for your first personal grant" provided by the UT Center for Training & Development. This information session will discuss all personal grants for your stage of career and the most important elements in their applications. UT-SBD Grants Office provides tailor-made support for each of the funding schemes.
Getting ready for your first personal grant
UT-SBD Grants Office provides tailor-made support for each of the funding schemes.
NWO Rubicon - For researchers between 0-1 year after PhD.
This mobility grant aims to encourage talented researchers at Dutch universities to dedicate themselves to a career in postdoctoral research in a prestigious foreign research institution. After 12-24 months you return to the Netherlands.
VENI - researchers between 0-3 years after PhD.
This personal grant allows young researchers in all research areas to conduct independent research and develop their ideas at an institute in the Netherlands.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship - researchers between 0-8 years after PhD
This individual postdoctoral mobility fellowship is primarily aimed at promising early-stage researchers to strengthen the researchers profile through a tailor-made training program at a foreign, European institute or university.
NWO OPEN COMPETITION SCIENCE – XS - all researchers with a PhD
This grant is open for university employees across the line: from postdoctoral researchers to full time professors. It is meant for encouraging curiosity and new ideas in research as part of promising, high-risk projects.

Last edit: 16 April 2025

Fund your PhD-project

Finished (almost) your PhD: what's next?

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