Here you can find information on regulations and contacts for issues relating to PhD trajectories at the VU and on relevant facilities.

General information on the PhD programme at the VU

VU Serviceportal

Research & Impact Support Portal

Regulation regarding reimbursement expenses

Within each department of the Faculty of Science, there is a graduate school, which organizes the support and training of our PhD candidates. Within these graduate schools, one or more PhD coordinators manage most of these tasks, and inform PhD candidates and supervisors on PhD policy.

Most departmental graduate schools are associated with national research schools for collaboration and training of PhD candidates.

Tasks PhD coördinator (in Dutch)

Departmental graduate schools and PhD coordinators

National research schools associated with departmental graduate schools

The graduate schools of the Faculty of Science are dedicated to creating a supportive environment and a successful experience for all our PhD candidates. The regular PhD candidates receive supervision from at least one daily supervisor (‘co-promotor’) and one promotor. All supervisors working at VU Amsterdam are obliged to follow the basic training course Supervising PhD candidates. This also applies to experienced supervisors, unless they receive permission from the head of the department to follow a customized trajectory.

Independent PhD candidate advisors, appointed in all departments, monitor the progress and well-being of the PhD candidate during the PhD trajectory, and optionally refer to other support at VU Amsterdam or the faculty.

PhD supervisors starting page

Golden rules for supervision

Expectations PhD candidate and supervisor(s)

Profile and tasks PhD candidate advisors

PhD candidate advisors of the different departments

Information on training courses, including those for supervisors

As providers of knowledge and understanding, it is essential that researchers maintain research integrity following five principles: honesty, scrupulousness, transparency, independence, and responsibility. An example of this is that they should endeavor to ensure a fair allocation and ordering of authorship in academic reports.

All PhD candidates are required to take the course on Research Integrity of the Doctoral Schools of the Faculty of Science. Preferably, the course is taken in the first year and no later than the second year.

Netherlands code of conduct for research integrity (VSNU, 2018)

Academic Integrity policy and complaints procedure VU

Authorship (presentation)

Research integrity course Doctoral Schools of the Faculty of Science

A PhD position is an intensive and not a regular job. It is advisable to team up with the active and large community of PhD candidates at the VU Faculty of Science, and enjoy this exceptional time.

Yet, support may be needed, and do not hesitate to contact one of the many supportive contacts at the VU, see below. The PhD candidate advisor offers independent and expert support to all PhD candidates. With the PhD candidate advisor, the PhD candidate can exchange views on the PhD programme, work environment, well-being, progress, and other issues. The PhD candidate advisor can refer the PhD candidate to other support and/or advice at the VU.

There are PhD councils operating at departmental, faculty and university level, which represent PhD candidates, communicate on policy matters concerning the PhD trajectory , and, occasionally, organize social events. In addition, there is the national network for PhD candidates (PNN).

On a frequent basis, a survey among PhD candidates is held to give direction to further improvement of the supervision, training, working environment and well-being of all PhD candidates.

Profile and tasks PhD candidate advisors

PhD candidate advisors of the different departments

Help, support and advice for PhD candidates

PhD council Science Faculty

PhD council regulations

PNN, national network for PhD candidates

Survey faculty PhD candidates (2020)

Survey faculty PhD candidates (2023)

The PhD trajectory usually takes three to four years. The PhD trajectory ends with the completion of a thesis and a defense.

The VU Doctorate regulations cover regulations for different aspects of the full PhD trajectory, such as admission to the PhD programme, thesis and defense, and the responsibilities and authority of those involved in the programme.

The VU Doctorate Regulations apply to all PhD candidates, regardless of their type of appointment.

Start PhD

During PhD

After PhD