THE PhD PROGRAM

Requirements for a PhD study at the Hollenweger Center

There are 4 criteria for students to engage in a PhD-study.

1. One needs to have obtained a Master's degree from a university accredited by the Vrije Universiteit. The equivalence of the diploma with Dutch standards is necessary.

2. The study results have to be very good and the Master's thesis has to be of outstanding quality.

3. Needed are two letters of recommendation from teachers of the university where one has acquired the MA.

4. A Ph.D. thesis proposal is required. Please use our application form.

It is possible to follow the research master route to prepare MA students for a PhD project. See for more information the websites of the Faculty of Theology and the Faculty of Social Sciences.

In order to evaluate the academic qualities, we ask for a curriculum vitae, and copies of the Master's thesis, of the acquired diploma's and of the course list with marks. The MA thesis will be read by the professor who is to act as supervisor. The admission as a Ph.D.-student is the decision of this professor, considering the four criteria mentioned above and in consultation with the faculty board of professors. Obtaining a degree takes four years of full-time study and research. During that time independent though supervised research must be done and a thesis must be written. The thesis is evaluated by a committee of experts and - when accepted - defended during a one-hour public ceremony. A dissertation may be written in one of the modern languages. No enrollment fee is needed, and the candidate is not enrolled as a student. Though candidates must spend research periods in the Netherlands, e.g. for special courses and for contact with the supervisor, it is not necessary to stay in the Netherlands during the whole four year period. Neither is it necessary for PhD students to learn the Dutch language. For academic communication a sufficient knowledge of the English language is required, though.

Although we do not give scholarships we would like to help aspiring PhD students with funding. Contact us: hollenwegercenter@fsw.vu.nl