Welcome to Leiden University. Perhaps you already know that the university has 7 faculties and that you can end up in the city of Leiden or The Hague? And do you know that our university is the oldest of the Netherlands and what the motto Praesidium Libertatis means?

PhD candidates at Leiden University or Leiden University Medical Center are invited to join a centrally organized PhD introductory program: Inform & Connect.

PhD candidates at Leiden University must be admitted to one of its Graduate Schools. The admission procedure varies between Graduate Schools. See the general information about PhD admission. There are different forms of studying for a PhD. And you may choose to do a double doctorate at Leiden University.…

PhD candidates come in all shapes and sizes, from those with an appointment at the University to dual PhDs who have a job outside the University. Here we explain which PhD places we have at Leiden University, so you can quickly see which type suits you.

Apart from the PhD regulations, Leiden University also employs the PhD guidelines that lay down the minimal requirements for the supervision, training and available facilities for PhD candidates.

Leiden University strives to accommodate young talent, which is why it does its best to create an inspiring environment for PhD candidates. With the University Training Programme for PhDs, we offer a degree programme that is both complete and challenging.

Please find below an overview of the steps in the formal procedure leading to the public defence of a PhD dissertation. If the text below is not entirely consistent with the applicable regulations, the text of the regulations will apply.

Are you a PhD candidate, and is there something you’d prefer to discuss with someone other than your thesis director or supervisor? The confidential counsellor for PhD candidates is here to help. You can speak to him/her in confidence and receive advice. If you experience symptoms of physical or mental…

Your PhD studies culminate in a ceremony. The thesis defence is the most important part of the ceremony, and your supervisor or co-supervisor also delivers a eulogy about your work. Find out about the PhD ceremony and what is expected of you as a PhD candidate.

If you wish to obtain a PhD at Leiden University, you first have to be admitted to one of the Graduate Schools. This means that you have to meet specific requirements, including a prior education requirement.

You have chosen to do a PhD at Leiden University. The PhD Regulations, which were established by the Doctoral Board, specify what you must do to be granted a place on a PhD programme.

Personal development

Research, Communication

All defences will take place in the Large Auditorium.

In some cases, PhD candidates are permitted to follow a PhD track that involves conducting research and receiving supervision at two institutions: Leiden University and another university. On this page, you can read what forms of agreement there are.

Research, Working effectively

Research

Research

Management, Research, Working effectively

Research

Career development, Didactics

Career development, Didactics

Communication, Research

If you are granted permission to defend your thesis at Leiden University, please take into account the rules concerning the PhD ceremony. Below you find an overview of the practical matters.

Conference

Research

Career development

Career development

Are you a PhD candidate, and is there something you’d prefer to discuss with someone other than your thesis director or supervisor? The confidential counsellor for PhD candidates is here to help. You can speak to him/her in confidence and receive advice. If you experience symptoms of physical or mental…

The outline agreement proposed by the new cabinet will have serious consequences for higher education and research. If the plans go through, there will be significant cutbacks in our sector. We will keep you up to date with developments on this page.

Research

Research

Research

Communication, Research

Research

The Graduate School of the Faculty of Humanities conducted a survey of its PhD candidates and their supervisors in spring 2023. What is going well? And what could be improved? The results are now known.

‘If it rains later, then I’ll take the car.’ In order to reason, we use sentences containing ‘if’ every single day. But how does that work exactly in the Dutch language? Alex Reuneker wrote his 628 page dissertation on the subject. Ceremony on 26 January.

Welcome to the Graduate School of the Faculty of Humanities. On this website you'll find a wide range of information you might need as a PhD candidate. If you have any further questions, please contact the Graduate School Office.

In recent weeks, all PhD students and supervisors have received an invitation for a PhD survey. Why was this survey launched? And what happens to the results? Director of the Graduate School Marian Klamer explains why it is worth setting aside 15 minutes to take part in the survey.

Sinéad Mulcahy recently started the Europaeum Scholars Programme, a two-year policy and leadership course for a group of thirty talented and committed PhD candidates from universities across Europe. She is already enthusiastic – both about the programme and her fellow scholars. ‘I would like to bring…

Black-and-white photographs filled with solemn young men and distinguished professors line the walls of the Grand Auditorium. Young women are missing from the photos; women rarely obtained PhDs 50 years ago. And this article is about that group, the PhD candidates between 1966 and 1972, who were invited…

Personal development, Working effectively

On 5 May we celebrate freedom, a basic human right that should not be taken for granted. We asked international students and staff what it means to them.

At the beginning of this month, the PhD regulations and the guidelines for PhD tracks have been revised. The main revisions can be found below.