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Admission to a PhD track

Different PhD tracks are available for different PhD candidates. Information is given here about the types of tracks, the admission requirements and the administrative steps to be taken.

The conditions and administrative procedures can be different per faculty (see your faculty tab or Graduate School website).

Types of PhD tracks

Leiden University has different types of PhD tracks and different types of PhD candidates, namely:

PhD candidates with an employment contract with the university PhD candidates without an employment contract with the university

The rights and responsibilities of the PhD candidate may be different for each type of PhD track. The most important rights and responsibilities per PhD track are shown here.

Leiden University also offers the possibility of conducting the PhD research at both Leiden University and another university (within or outside the Netherlands): a joint doctorate degree.

Admission to the PhD track

If you would like to follow a PhD track, you will need to have a master’s diploma, or to have passed the ‘doctoraal’ examination. In some cases you can ask the Dean for exemption from the education requirement using this form; this is necessary if you have a foreign diploma. 

You will also need two people to supervise you. At least one of these will be your supervisor (promotor): a full professor or senior lecturer (US: associate professor; in Dutch: UHD) with ius promovendi at Leiden University. The second will be another supervisor, or a co-supervisor with a PhD (without ius promovendi). 

There are two ways to come into contact with a supervisor: by responding to a PhD vacancy or by making contact directly. In the latter case, you may be asked to write a short research proposal first. In consultation with the academic director or head of department, the envisaged supervisor will state whether they are willing to act as the supervisor. The Dean will then appoint the envisaged supervisor to act in this capacity, and will appoint a second supervisor or co-supervisor on behalf of the Doctorate Board.

See also the PhD Regulations for more details of the admission requirements.

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