phd university amsterdam

PhD Research

• PhD trajectory
• Courses for PhD candidates
• PhD projects
• PhD Council

Becoming a PhD student at Amsterdam Business School?

The Amsterdam Business School aims to conduct and high-quality international research and offers teaching that meets international standards at a high-level. We regularly offer PhD positions for outstanding candidates who want to pursue an academic career in the inspiring and challenging academic environment of our school and who are willing to contribute to its lively community. Currently about 60 PhD candidates are working on their PhD research at Amsterdam Business School, running the gamut of business and management disciplines.

At the University of Amsterdam Business School there are two main ways to start a PhD trajectory: through the Tinbergen Institute and on a vacant project. Furthermore, we sometimes accept open applications. Most PhD students are employed by faculty as PhD researcher in a full-time position with all the benefits of employment, including a good salary. The entry into such a position is either through one of the research master programmes of the Tinbergen Institute (see below) or directly in an open vacancy. Another route is by submitting a research proposal either as a student on a scholarship (such as the China Scholarship Council Programme) or e.g. with employer funding for those working in a R&D department in another organisation.

The Amsterdam-Rotterdam Consortium for Graduate Education (ARC), a joint initiative by t he University of Amsterdam (UvA), Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) provides 2 important PhD programmes that prepare for a research trajectory at Amsterdam Business School. 

• An intensive 2-year research master in Economics, Econometrics and Finance. Students who pursue a PhD in finance are selected from this research master at the Tinbergen Institute.
• The research master in Business Data Science has a strong focus on data science related to multiple business fields. Students who pursue a PhD in e.g. Operations Management are selected from this research master. 

Both Master's programmes prepare students for a subsequent 3-year PhD trajectory with a state of the art course programme with rigorous training in the core subjects and tools of economics, econometrics and finance in the first year and specialisation in one of the many fields of research through field course work and the research master thesis in the second year. At the end of the programme, students are matched with a supervisor based on their research interests. Students who are assigned a supervisor from ABS have the opportunity to start the PhD trajectory at our school. 

• Read more about the Research Master in Economics, Econometrics and Finance
• Read more about the Research Master in Business Data Science

Most PhD positions will be published on the vacancy website of the UvA. Requirements, which vary by position, will be published in each vacancy. The educational programme for these PhD candidates at our school consists of an individualised course trajectory that each PhD candidate shapes, in consultation with his or her supervisor and the Research Institute director. This approach enables education tailored to the needs of each individual candidate and project. This model is in place as we have PhD candidates from very different backgrounds in different research sections as well as many different research topics, ranging from leadership and accounting to marketing and entrepreneurship, and the methods and disciplines they need to be trained in are too different to combine in one single programme. Many interesting and excellent course options are available for PhD candidates and since the programme is highly individualised, even very specific courses as well as summer schools from other top-institutions, even those abroad, can be selected.

• Read more about our vacant positions
• Read more about our tailor-made educational programme

Candidates who wish to pursue a PhD on a specific topic (usually related to their work environment) and who are financially self-supporting (e.g. with company funding or a formal external scholarship) can apply for an external PhD trajectory. The first step is to match the candidate and proposal with a supervisor at Amsterdam Business School in the relevant field. If a supervisor has been found, a similar trajectory as for those on a vacant position is followed and a tailor-made educational programme will be compiled.

• Learn more about our PhD trajectory for external PhD candidates
• Read more about the tailor-made educational programme
• Find vacancies for PhD candidates in the overview of UvA vacancies

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

PhD research

How to become a phd student.

The main route to becoming a PhD student at the Amsterdam School of Economics is to follow the intensive 2-year Research Master's programme at the Tinbergen Institute (TI). The aim of this excellent Master's programme in economics, econometrics and finance is to prepare students for further academic research. In the 2 nd year of the Research Master's programme, students are usually assigned a supervisor, based on their research interests. Students who are assigned a supervisor from ASE have the opportunity to apply for a PhD position at our School.

For fields not covered by the TI, and for specific projects, vacancy announcements are posted on the website of the University of Amsterdam.

Candidates who are financially self-supporting (usually those who wish to pursue a PhD next to an appointment in a company or elsewhere) can apply for an external PhD. The conditions are stated in below document 'External PhD students ASE'.

Tinbergen Institute

Tinbergen Institute (TI) is one of Europe's top graduate schools and research institutes in economics, econometrics and finance. The institute uniquely combines the best of 3 leading universities in the Netherlands: the University of Amsterdam (UvA), VU University Amsterdam and Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). TI offers a Research Master's programme in Economics (with 3 tracks: Economics, Econometrics and Finance) as well as PhD opportunities under expert supervision by our international research fellows. With 30 nationalities in the institute and 70% of our students coming from abroad, Tinbergen Institute provides a truly international experience. The 3 universities also work together in the joint Research Master's Business Data Science .

PhD Council

At the beginning of 2021, the UvA Economics and Business PhD council was started. It represents the interests of all PhD candidates at the Faculty of Economics and Business, from both the Amsterdam School of Economics and the Amsterdam Business School. Aim of the council is to be a sounding board for organisational developments within the faculty that concern PhD candidates. In addition to this, they want to stimulate interaction and communication between PhD students at different sections and departments.

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

Application and Admission

Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research / AISSR

Application procedure

Check out the available PhD positions at the UvA vacancy portal.  

Private funding

If you submit your own research proposal you should be aware of the following:

• Which topic would you like to explore?
• Which programme group would you like to join?
• Which supervisor do you have in mind?
• What funding is obtained to cover the associated fees?
• How does your time plan roughly look like?

If a PhD project is financed by the University of Amsterdam or through a grant awarded to the University by a third party, the PhD degree is conferred by the University of Amsterdam.

Fees for scholarship and external PhD candidates

PhD candidates who are not employed by the University of Amsterdam  but receive a scholarship, pay a fee of €4.545 up to €15.000 annually (depending on the specific situation). This fee covers a variety of costs such as the selection procedure, supervision, PhD training (core courses, seminars) and a small research budget.

Self-funded external PhDs can ask for a tuition fee waiver, but still need to bring their own budget to cover costs of living (see explanation below).

Scholarship PhDs

If you have obtained a scholarship to pursue your PhD, please provide additional information about the conditions.

External PhDs

What funding is obtained to cover the monthly allowance for the duration of the PhD trajectory (in general 4 years, full-time)? When you will be residing in Amsterdam this minimum monthly allowance is rated at €1,717.

Scholarship and self-funded external PhDs will need a research budget of at least €9,000 for the whole PhD trajectory.

For the complete information regarding external PhD’s, please check out the PhD Admission Manual. 

Admission criteria

The minimum requirements  for all PhD candidates are:

• Master’s degree, or academic degree that is equivalent to Dutch final university examination

English language proficiency test

(one of listed)

• TOEFL Internet-based test (minimum total score 100, minimum score on each component: 22) Paper-based test (minimum total score 600, minimum score on each component: 57)
• IELTS (minimum total score: 7.0, minimum score on each component: 6.5)
• CAE and CPE (minimum score: C)

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

ASH PhD programme

• Becoming a PhD candidate
• Practical information
• PhD training
• Pilot study
• ASH dissertation award
• Social Safety

If you are interested in joining ASH either as an employed or self-funded candidate, please consult the website of the Faculty of Humanities by following the link above.

PhD candidates employed by the Faculty

Some PhD candidates are employed by the Faculty of Humanities for their PhD project. Sometimes the funding is made available by EU or NWO grants, sometimes the Faculty offers PhD positions. These are advertised on the  UvA vacancies list  and/or on the ASH website .

Externally or Self-funded PhD candidates

Self-funded PhD candidates bring their own funding either by having a job on the side, or a stipend, loan or grant from another source. These PhD candidates are entitled to a small research budget, library access, e-mail facilities, supervision, and they have access to the programmes offered by the research school to which they belong. We do not charge tuition, but the PhD candidate must ensure the support of two supervisors, at least one of them having the ius promovendi.

More information for PhD researchers

Cookie consent.

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

Application and Admission

Psychology Research Institute / PsyRes

Application procedure

Check out the available PhD positions at the UvA vacancy portal. 

• UvA Vacancy Portal

Private funding

If you submit your own research proposal you should be aware of the following:

• Which topic would you like to explore?
• Which programme group would you like to join?
• Which supervisor do you have in mind?
• What funding is obtained to cover the associated fees?
• How does your time plan roughly look like?

If a PhD project is financed by the University of Amsterdam or through a grant awarded to the University by a third party, the PhD degree is conferred by the University of Amsterdam.

Fees for scholarship and external PhD candidates

PhD candidates who are not employed by the University of Amsterdam but receive a scholarship, pay a yearly tuition fee of €3000,-. This fee covers a variety of costs such as the selection procedure, supervision, office space, and a guest appointment.

Scholarship PhDs

If you have obtained a scholarship to pursue your PhD, please provide additional information about the conditions.

External PhDs

What funding is obtained to cover the monthly allowance for the duration of the PhD trajectory (in general 4 years, full-time)? When you will be residing in Amsterdam this minimum monthly allowance is rated at €1,664.

Admission criteria

The minimum requirements  for all PhD candidates are:

• Master’s degree, or academic degree that is equivalent to Dutch final university examination

English language proficiency test

Non-native English speakers have to submit one of the following tests. No other tests are accepted. Please note that only international, not institutional tests are accepted. Original test scores should be sent either by the testing institution or by the student to the Admissions Committee.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Required score: at least 7.0 on the academic module, with a minimum score of 6.5 for the separate components of the test.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Required score: at least 100 (internet based test) with a minimum score for the separate components of the test: Reading: 24 Listening: 22 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24
• Cambridge International Examination Required score: at least 190 on C1 Advanced.

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

PhDs in the Humanities

PhD candidates at our faculty are member of one of the research schools . Therefore, if you want to join our faculty as a PhD candidate, please read the descriptions of the six schools and choose one. In this section you can find all the information you need if you want to apply for a PhD position, the training we offer our candidates and all other practical matters.

Becoming a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Humanities

PhD Training

Some Practical Matters

PhD Council

Psychological service for PhDs

Well-being and Social Safety

Phd skills | advanced academic writing: follow-up, phd skills | introduction new phd candidates on campus, phd skills | introduction new phd candidates online, cookie consent.

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

Institute for Logic, Language and Computation ILLC

Institute for Logic, Language and Computation

• Kort niet op universiteiten want schade is te groot
• 27 September 2024, Master of Logic defense, Yilun Wang
• (Updated) 27 September 2024, Current Affairs Meeting & ILLC Autumn Colloquium 2024
• 3 October 2024, Logic and Interactive Rationality (LIRa), Giuliano Rosella

Prof. Khalil Sima'an Professor of Computational Linguistics

Partnership, illc people in the media.

Theoretical Computer Science

In theoretical computer science, our research is characterised by a focus on fundamental questions regarding the design and analysis of algorithms. We investigate problems motivated by applications in physics, economics, and AI.

Language and Music Cognition

The Language and Music Cognition unit uses computational models and artificial intelligence to study questions of semantics and meaning, both linguistic and musical, and tests the behavioural implications of these models for speakers, signers, musicians, readers, and listeners.

Epistemology and Philosophy of Science

Researchers in this unit focus on the use of computational models and analytic methods coming from logic, probability theory and game theory to address a number of topics in formal epistemology and in the methodology and philosophy of science broadly conceived.

Formal Semantics and Philosophical Logic

The research focus of this unit is the study, through the application of formal tools, of information transfer and communication through meaningful language use, as well as of key philosophical problems. The unit brings together researchers who are a leading force within formal semantics and pragmatics and within philosophical logic.

Mathematical and Computational Logic

The unit focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of the nature of information and the processes of reasoning and computation. While being best known for our work in intuitionistic and modal logic, we cover most of the classical areas of mathematical logic such as set theory, computability theory, category theory, proof theory and algebraic logic.

Natural Language Processing and Digital Humanities

Research in the Natural Language Processing and Digital Humanities unit focuses on automated analysis, interpretation and generation of human language and their extension towards language technology. Our work encompasses a range of topics within natural language processing (NLP), such as syntactic parsing, computational semantics and pragmatics, discourse processing, dialogue modelling, machine translation and multilingual NLP.

Master of Logic

The MSc in Logic is an international and interdisciplinary Master's degree offered by the University of Amsterdam. It is organized as part of the Graduate Programme in Logic (GPiL) by the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC). The Graduate Programme offers courses and research training in foundations of mathematical and philosophical logic, and their applications in computer science, linguistics, and cognitive science.

PhD Programme

The ILLC PhD programme, organised by the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) at the University of Amsterdam, is a four-year programme designed to support and guide PhD candidates in their track to become highly qualified scientific researchers in the areas described by the institute's research mission. PhD candidates are given the opportunity to benefit from a rich scientific programme as well as a tailor-made transferable-skills programme.

Practical matters for ILLC members

Illc room / equipment reservations.

PhD at the University of Amsterdam

Contrary to the situation in many other countries, PhD students in the Netherlands become employees of the university. PhDs are usually not required to follow classes and can concentrate on their research project through the 4 year PhD period. However, they are expected to teach as e.g. Teaching Assistants for about 10% of their time. This is often in the form of leading Tutorial or Lab sessions for BSc and MSc students. They will also participate in supervising BSc and MSc thesis research projects.

Requirements to enter a PhD

In order to enter the PhD program at GRAPPA, applicants will have to have completed an MSc in Physics and/or Astronomy or a closely related field at a recognized university. A good command of English is also required and computing skills are typically also strongly desired. Depending on the opening, additional competences may be necessary.

Employment Details

PhDs have an employment contract with the University of Amsterdam. They obtain a temporary contract for 38 hours a week for a duration of 4 years. The Initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after a satisfactory evaluation it can be extended for a total duration of 4 years. The employment should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2.325 to €2.972 (scale P) gross per month in 2020, based on fulltime employment (38 hours a week), exclusive of an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

For more information please refer to University of Amsterdam website .

Nikhef's PhD vacancies are advertized at  https://www.nikhef.nl/en/vacancies/ .

What does a doctorate involve?

As a PhD candidate, you will make an original contribution to science and scholarship. A doctoral programme usually lasts four years (full-time) but in some cases, a programme may be shorter or longer. Some doctoral programmes take just three years full-time, while for some external PhD candidates, who carry out their doctoral research alongside or after their work, it may take more than four years.

Original and independent research 

During the doctoral programme, the emphasis lies on performing original, independent research with the help of a supervisor and a co-supervisor. As a PhD candidate you may also have teaching responsibilities, you will take specialised and more general courses and you will attend conferences. The aim of obtaining a doctorate is to acquire the skills you need to carry out independent academic research.

Doctoral thesis 

At the end of your doctoral programme, you will present your results in a doctoral thesis (dissertation). Once your supervisors have approved your thesis, it will be submitted to a Doctorate Committee for assessment. If the assessment is positive, you will be asked to defend your doctoral thesis before this Committee. The successful defence of a doctoral thesis results in a doctorate (PhD degree).

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to measure, optimise, and ensure the proper functioning of the website. Cookies are also placed in order to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept' to agree to the placement of all cookies; if you only want to accept functional and analytical cookies, select ‘Decline’. You can change your preferences at any time by clicking on 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of each page. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .