Research Vouchers

The Research Voucher program provides prospective students with an excellent opportunity to explore the UMCG, its research facilities, and the social environment of the city of Groningen. Similarly, it allows prospective supervisors to make an informed decision about accepting a new student for subsequent degree studies.

For Whom

The GSMS Research Voucher award policy targets prospective students from academic partners who intend to apply to an ATTP Sandwich PhD position, or those considering an externally funded research master's or (sandwich) PhD program (e.g., CSC,SECIHTI (formerly CONAHCYT), LPDP, ANID/Becas Chile, Colfuturo) at the UMCG. Only applications from candidates in these categories will be considered.

We consider applications from:

• Late-stage undergraduate students or graduates, particularly those eligible for a direct PhD
• Master's students or graduates
• Early-stage PhD candidates 

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following documentation, converted into a pdf (max. size 1 MB), to the Graduate School at least three months in advance of their scheduled research internship:

• Application form (template available for download below)
• Curriculum Vitae (in English)
• Transcript of records
• Proof of English proficiency
• In case you are enrolled in a study program at another institution: Letter of approval from the relevant authority at your home institution that you have permission to travel to Groningen for your internship

Moreover, in case you are a prospective master student (MMIT, IMIM, or CPE):

• Include a notification (copy of email communication) from the Research Master (RM) Team at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences that they support your application to the RV.

The Research Master team will carry out a preliminary review of your educational background. In case they have assessed that you likely are admissible, they will support your RV application. Note that this support under no circumstances implies a subsequent obligation to admit you. The RV rightly serves informed decision-making at a later stage. Get in touch with the RM Team via gsms@rug.nl.

Check out the Q&A section about Research Vouchers here.

Supervisor Evaluation

As part of the Research Voucher selection process, a supervisor evaluation is mandatory.

Before an internship can be approved, the prospective host supervisor should interview the candidate to discuss research interests, the feasibility of the proposed internship, and potential future collaboration. Following this conversation, the supervisor is asked to complete a Supervisor Evaluation Form.

This evaluation helps GSMS assess:

• the candidate’s academic preparation and research potential
• the feasibility of the proposed internship
• the candidate’s suitability for potential future PhD training at GSMS

Please note that a positive match with a supervisor does not automatically guarantee that the internship can be supported, as final decisions also depend on the availability of Research Voucher funding.