how
to apply

Please read carefully the requirements and eligibility criteria for both doctoral programme schemes. Candidates can only apply for a project that they are eligible for. The eligibility criteria are comprehensively detailed in our Guide for Applicants. 

To be eligible, at the deadline of the call, the candidate must fulfil the following mandatory criteria

• Hold an MSc degree in the discipline associated with the research topic.
• The candidate’s full-time equivalent research experience must be less than four years, measured from the date when the candidate obtained the degree entitling them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the candidate is recruited, even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged.
• The candidate must not hold a doctoral degree.
• Additionally, to apply for the EMPOWER PhD Programme scheme, you must fulfil the MSCA mobility criteria: The candidate may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the deadline of the call. Time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention, compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

Moreover, other criteria for the candidates are:

• During their academic path, have shown research excellence either through high grades and/or an outstanding thesis.
• Being able to work in a multidisciplinary team in an international environment, and also to work independently.
• Have excellent English communication skills, both verbally and in scientific writing.
• Suitability for scientific entrepreneurship and to potentially develop business related skills.

These are documents/information required to be submitted on the web-based application form.

1. A motivation letter, which can be submitted either in a writing format with max of 1 page or a video format of the duration of max 2 min with max size of 100 MB.
2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV), including the following information: complete name, date of birth, current location, education, list internships and thesis (subject, name supervisor, grade, etc.), publications (if applicable), work experience (if applicable), scientific interests, complementary qualifications, achievements and other relevant information with max of 2 pages in total.
3. A copy of MSc diploma(s) (or a letter from university stating the expected graduation date) and grades (with explanation of the grading system).
4. At least one/two signed recommendation letter(s), dated no longer than 1 year before the application deadline, with contact information of the referee(s). If your referee(s) is only able to give a reference letter just under request by Wetsus, please contact us beforehand at phdpositions@wetsus.nl.

Please compile all the application documents in one single PDF file (except the motivation video), named with first and last name of the candidate. Additionally, see our application guidelines for the application documents checklist.

Only applications that are complete, in English, complied with the application rules, and submitted via the application webpage before the deadline, will be considered eligible. Please do not send your application to the email address of the listed academic and Wetsus supervisors.