The Graduate School of Medical Sciences (GSMS) may offer different opportunities to you as a prospective PhD student. Support ranges from locating potential supervisors to tailor-made advice in line with the funding structures you may have access to. The international section of the GSMS is able to provide assistance in case of questions in regard to options 1-5 as outlined below.
1. PhD Scholarship Applicants (external funding)
Many of our international PhD students have an opportunity to apply to PhD scholarships from, for example, governmental funding agencies abroad. As a PhD scholarship student, you design their project in communication with their PhD supervisor(s). The Graduate School (GS) will support your application to external funding if one of our researchers has agreed to supervise you. Moreover, the University of Groningen has a unique top-up policy for students who have successfully acquired an external scholarship.
Consult this webpage about the funding agencies the GSMS has most experience with. Note though that the listing is non-exhaustive, in case of questions, contact us.
2. Sandwich PhD Scholarships
Consult this page to find out more about the ins- and outs of Sandwich PhD funding.
In this section we particularly want to highlight the opportunities that are offered as part of the Abel Tasman Talent Program (ATTP). Within ATTP, we offer funded Sandwich PhD Scholarships in collaboration with Strategic Partners. Students usually pursue the first two years of their PhD training at their home university, followed by two years spent at the University of Groningen/University Medical Center Groningen where their thesis is completed. You will be supervised by at least two supervisors, one at each institution. The UMCG PhD supervisor must follow the instructions available here to apply to ATTP Sandwich PhD funding.
ATTP Sandwich PhD structures are very flexible, and may lead to a double or joint doctoral degree, but in any case a single doctoral degree with a PhD thesis defended at the University of Groningen.
For more information: contact the Graduate School
3. (Research) Master to PhD
The most talented students who have completed one of the 2-year selective master programs at the GSMS have the opportunity to apply for a fully funded 3-year PhD education and training program. In the final stages of your master you will write and defend your own PhD project proposal. The most excellent projects are awarded funding.
4. GSMS 3-year PhD scholarships
NOTE THAT NO POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN 2023 DUE TO BUDGETARY RESTRICTIONS!
The UMCG, via the GSMS, each year may decide to make funding available for 3-year PhD scholarships. Positions are awarded in a competitive call for applications. In the period 2016-2020 an average of five scholarships have been awarded annually. Details about the 2020 call for applications (closed) you may find here.
In general, note that:
- Any calls are usually published in April/May of each year
- Applicants should have obtained their master's degree in the final two years before submitting their application
- Applicants should have performed a research internship (the equivalent of) a minimum of 5 EC under the supervision of a UMCG researcher
The contact person for more information about GSMS PhD scholarships is prof. dr. Nico Bos.
5. Self-funded PhD
Consult this FAQ page that is particularly relevant to prospective students who do not hold a European nationality, to find out more about this option or contact the Graduate School.
For more information on the following two PhD opportunities we would like to refer to the websites and/or contact persons listed below under points 6 and 7.
6. Regular 3 or 4-year PhD positions
Individual researchers or research groups may offer 3 to 4-year PhD positions if they have acquired personal or project grants, for example from the EU (H2020), the Dutch national research foundation (NWO/ZonMW), Industry, or another source. PhD researchers on these types of grants, if selected, will usually be employed and thus receive a salary for the duration of the PhD project. Applying to such a position resembles applying to a regular job.
Information on these types of positions does not reside with the Graduate School but may be found on the UMCG website. Alternatively, you may contact the PhD supervisor of your choice directly to inquire about opportunities.
7. (D)MD/PhD Program
The (D)MD/PhD program offers students the opportunity to combine their (D)MD and PhD training to ultimately obtain a (D)MD and PhD degree. In this program students spend an additional two years (i.e. 6+2) on scientific research alongside their regular medical or dental educational program. The (D)MD/PhD is very flexible and gives students the possibility to, in addition to their clinical training, develop a wide variety of research skills and competences in their field of interest.
Note that this option is open to students who have enrolled in the Groningen (D)MD program. An international version of the (D)MD/PhD is part of the ATTP Sandwich PhD as outlined under point 2, see for example this international MD-PhD program with partner Universidad de Antioquia.
More information: Dr. Sophia Bruggeman