In The Netherlands, aside from a brief spell between 2016 and 2022 (the "PhD Scholarship Experiment"), universities are only allowed to fully fund PhD candidates from their own resources if they contract candidates on an employment basis. This however does not mean that the university does not enroll PhD students: many foreign PhD students enroll at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences with a scholarship from external agencies. The University of Groningen (UG) ensures that these type of PhD candidates can fully focus on their PhD research by providing a top-up of their external scholarship (conditions apply). This FAQ section serves to resolve common doubts regarding this policy.
Important Note: The agreement between the University of Groningen and the local tax authorities, enabling us to implement top-ups in their current form, expires on 1 September 2024. The shape of the Top-Up program beyond that date is expected to be confirmed by 1 June 2024 at the latest.
Q: Aren't all PhD candidates considered students?
A: Not in The Netherlands, where the dominant system has for a long time been one of "employee PhDs". This means that prospective PhD candidates had to apply to a PhD vacancy that called for people to apply to a pre-defined research project. The selected applicant subsequently was hired by the university and received a monthly salary for the duration of the project (in most cases, four years). The Netherlands internationally pertains to a minority of countries where employee PhDs are the norm.
Q: Are all PhD candidates in The Netherlands employed by the University?
A: No. The Netherlands has always known a "dual" system in which PhD candidates were either employed by the University if they had successfully applied to a PhD vacancy, or PhD candidates were considered students if they had obtained an external grant from, for example, non-Dutch national governments. The salary received by employee PhDs is standardized in so-called "collective labor agreements" for universities (CAO by its Dutch acronym). The scholarship received by PhD students however differs in accordance with the terms & conditions set by the international scholarship provider, and it is up to the student to accept these conditions.
Q: What was the Dutch "PhD Scholarship Experiment"?
A: In 2016, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science for the first time allowed the University of Groningen to enroll PhD students with university funding via a so-called "PhD Scholarship Experiment". A total of 850 students enrolled in the period 2016-2018. In February 2020, the Ministry extended the experiment, allowing UG to enroll another 650 students who should finish their UG-funded PhD trajectory by September 2024. The Ministry cancelled the experiment in 2022: no new candidates may enroll under this scheme from 1 January 2023 onwards, and all UG-funded PhD Scholarship students should have finished by 1 September 2024.
Q: What is my monthly allowance as a PhD Scholarship student with a UG top-up?
A: As a PhD student admitted to the PhD program at the University of Groningen, you receive a standard net combined amount well above the requirements for immigration. Note that the benefits of any top-up program for new candidates enrolling as of 1 September 2024 is yet to be confirmed (expected by 1 June 2024 at the latest).
The following conditions apply to the scheme that runs until September 2024:
- you have acquired an external grant to carry out a PhD project at UG as a result of a selective process and are admitted to the UG PhD program;
- the external grant is UG-approved scheme qualifying for the top-up (see below); less familiar external grants may be subject to further review by the Graduate School and the UG PhD Scholarship Desk;
- if approved, UG top ups your scholarship to the standard if your grant meets the minimum requirement set by the Dutch immigration authorities (IND; see self-funded PhD);
- if your scholarship amount is less than the IND minimum requirement, it is up to the Graduate School to decide whether they will compensate for that difference;
- unless otherwise agreed upon, you are only entitled to receive a top-up during the period of PhD research at Groningen while you receive your external scholarship.
The implication of admission is that you will receive the PhD scholarship standard. This way, the large majority of UG PhD students receive the same benefits, the only case in which this would not apply is if the scholarship provider awards a scholarship that exceeds the UG standard.
Approved schemes that automatically qualify for the UG top-up are ANID, CAPES, CONAHCYT, CSC, FAPESP, LPDP, Minciencias, and scholarships of similar organizations in other countries. The top-up award decision remains the full authority of the Graduate School, in close consultation with the UG PhD Scholarship Desk.
Q: What happens with the Top-Up program as of September 2024?
A: In December 2023, we are not yet sure. The agreement between UG/UMCG and the tax authorities will need to be renewed in order to continue the Top-Up Program. The GSMS is keen to ensure that admitted candidates, also as of 1 September 2024, have access to a (combined) standard monthly allowance of at least the immigration requirement. The implications of the expiration of the agreement may be that:
- There could be changes in the standard (combined) monthly allowance.
- UG might introduce minimum requirements for external scholarships to qualify for the Top-Up, possibly reducing the number of eligible candidates.
This webpage will be regularly updated to reflect the latest developments. Notably, the GSMS is committed to ensuring the continuity of PhD collaborations with its international Partners.