Choosing a PhD-program
During a 4-year program, PhD students conduct a research project, resulting in a PhD thesis and/ or a series of articles in scientific journals. PhD students work under the supervision of a professor (‘promotor’).
During the PhD program, PhD students take courses at the GS-LS, resulting in highly qualified and well trained PhD's.
How to get a PhD position in Utrecht?
Generally, PhD candidates are recruited by public advertisement. In the recruitment procedure candidates compete for a PhD-position. For positions, see the link below.
In addition, unsolicited applications from high potential candidates with an appropriate master degree are welcomed. Talented candidates with a strong motivation to obtain a research position at the Graduate School of Life Sciences are advised to contact the PhD programme coordinator of their specific field of interest. Foreign candidates, who wish to inquire about PhD positions should first contact the Office of International affairs of the UMC Utrecht (i.c.j.wilson@umcutrecht.nl).
Exception:
'PhD program Cancer Genomics & Developmental Biology'
As of January 1st 2010, the PhD program 'Cancer Genomics & Developmental Biology' will select PhD students for PhD positions via their 'Graduate Rotation Programme'. Master's students seeking to do a PhD project in one of the CGDB research groups are encouraged to apply for this programme. Rotations will take place in the spring of 2010. Selected students are expected to start their PhD in September 2010. For more information and online application: www.cgdb.nl.
Registration in UMC Utrecht
First, PhD students select a PhD program that fits their research project or interest, together with their (co)promotor. The coordinator of that specific PhD program will provide them with the information they need to register and guide through all their requirements during the next years.
To register in a PhD program, PhD students have to register in 2 seperate databases: the database of the Utrecht University (Hora Est) and the databse of the Graduate School of Life Sciences (TSA database). Both registrations have to be completed
within 3 months after starting your PhD.
1. Hora Est (Metis): The first database is an online database called 'Hora Est'. This is the database of the Utrecht University and is compulsory for all PhD students. Whitout registration in Hora Est, you can't earn your doctoral degree at the Utrecht University at all. Register in Hora Est using ’Form 1: Request for Exemption and Admission to Doctoral Studies’.
The printed version of this form (the original version) must be send to the secretary of the dean of the UMC Utrecht (Address: Mw. M. van Rijn, Correspondence: D01.343), including all signatures, a copy of your passport and a copy of relevant diplomas. Foreign students sometimes have to fill out some more documents; this procedure is clarified at the Hora Est-website. This printed original version has to be signed by the PhD student and all its supervisors (max: 2 supervisors). More details can be found at the Hora Est-website. For Hora Est, a login is required. The first login is accessible for everyone, after registration, you get a personal login.
2. Training and Supervision Agreement (TSA): The second registration is in the registration for the Graduate School of Life Sciences. For this registration, PhD students have to fill out a 'Training and Supervision Agreement (TSA)'.
This TSA (see download below) registrates the quality and content of your PhD. It specifies the rights and duties of the PhD student and his/ her supervisors with respect to education and supervision during the 4-year program. During PhD studies, you must update your ‘PhD training and Supervision CV’ regularly, including supervision interviews and a portfolio of your educational activities.
The TSA must be signed by the PhD student, the supervisors and the chairman of the PhD program. The original TSA is kept at the department of appoinment (by the coordinator or the student himself); a copy is send to the secretary of the dean for central registration (Address: Mw. M. van Rijn, D01.343). For more information about filling out your TSA, please contact the PhD-coordinator of your PhD program.
Whitout registration in the Graduate School of Life Sciences by filling out your TSA, you will not recieve the GS-LS certificate at the end of your PhD.
In case of Exception...
When PhD students or their supervisors want or need to deviate from the standerd procedure mentioned above, please contact the coordinator of your PhD program for more information or contact onderzoeksbureau@umcutrecht.nl.