Application

How to apply for a PhD Position at Wageningen University?

Step 1:
Read the PHD Brochure (PDF)

Step 2:
Choose one of the Graduate Schools of Wageningen University who can best facilitate your PhD research. The research subject must fit in the research programme of the Graduate School.

Step 3:
Contact the Graduate School of your choice and send the documentation listed below. The Graduate School will evaluate your qualifications and will examine if the preliminary research proposal fits the research programmes of the Graduate School. After a positive evaluation, the Graduate School will forward your preliminary research proposal to a professor of Wageningen University for further review. You can also download (PDF) a checklist of the required documentation.

1. a letter motivating the application
2. a preliminary research proposal (about two A4), that should include

    • a problem definition
    • research questions
    • the proposed methodology, linked to the research questions
    • up-to-date literature references.

3. a Curriculum Vitae, including information on the applicant's

    • education
    • research experience
    • list of publications

4. Proficiency in the English language. PhD candidates from non-Anglophone countries are required to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language ( TOEFL or British Council, IELTS). This certificate is not a requirement for PhD candidates who have completed their higher education with English as the language of instruction.

Requirements:

    • IELTS: 6.5 , with a minimum of 6.0 for each (academic) module.
    • TOEFL: 580 points for the written TOEFL, 237 points for the computer based TOEFL and 92-93 points for the Internet based TOEFL. All are to be supplemented by results of the Test of Written English (academic TWE). The minimum score required for this test is 5.0
    • Submitted test results must be dated within 24 months prior to an application to the PhD Programme.

5. a photocopy of a diploma of higher education

    • Minimum requirement: equivalent of a Masters degree.
    • Also include transcripts of academic records
    • if not in English or Dutch, an additional official translation is required Minimum requirements: equivalent of a Masters degree

6. references from at least two supervisors/professors, with information regarding the applicant's performance on the Masters programme and the applicant's prospects for finishing a PhD in the area of application.

7. photocopy of your (valid) passport

8. information on funding The possibilities for PhD students to acquire funding from Wageningen University are very limited, so applicants who arrange their own funding have much better chances of being accepted as a PhD student. Graduate Schools will not assist in finding funding sources.

Step 4:
After a positive evaluation by the Graduate School of your choice, the Graduate School will forward your preliminary proposal to a prospective supervisor of Wageningen University for further evaluation. Evaluation criteria are:

  • the applicant's education (at least at MSc level)
  • the experience of the applicant as an independent researcher
  • the publications already written by the applicant
  • the scientific quality of the preliminary proposal
  • the originality of the preliminary proposal
  • the strategic fitting of the applicant's research topic into the research programme of the Graduate School, in the area of interest of the supervisor and in the research field of supervisor's research group
  • the capacity and expertise that the Graduate S.chool and research group have available
  • the applicant's fluency in English
  • the available funding
  • for Sandwich PhD students: the CV of the supervisor in the home country.

The supervisor will contact the applicant for a detailed proposal. Applicants cannot proceed further until their research proposal has been approved by the WU-supervisor(s). As Wageningen University receives many PhD applications and research proposals, this process may take some weeks.

Step 5:
Registration and Arrival. After your arrival in Wageningen, two administrative formalities must be dealt with as soon as possible:

A PhD candidate is required to register (yearly) at the Central Student Administration (CSA). As proof of registration, a PhD student will receive a PhD student card. The CSA can mediate in matters concerning residence permits, registration, health insurance, finance, housing and other personal matters. At the Central Student Administration, a PhD candidate can collect an information package about living in the Netherlands and Wageningen.

  
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