SBE offers several PhD pathways, each with its own funding structure, admission process, and appointment conditions. These include:
- Internal salaried PhD positions
- External part‑time PhD trajectories (self‑funded)
- Scholarship‑funded PhD trajectories
These pathways differ in employment status, financial arrangements, and institutional responsibilities. Internal candidates are employed by the School, external candidates pursue their research alongside professional commitments, and scholarship‑funded candidates follow the conditions set by the awarding organisation.
Across all pathways, SBE maintains consistent academic standards and high‑quality supervision. SBE currently hosts approximately 100 internal, 100 external, and 30 scholarship PhD candidates.
1. Internal Salaried PhD Positions
Programme Structure
The standard programme lasts 4 years. Some positions may be 3‑year trajectories, but only for candidates who already hold a research master’s degree.
Internal PhD candidates:
- conduct research and write a PhD thesis
- teach for approximately 20% of their appointment
- follow a structured training programme
All candidates complete at least 30 ECTS of coursework at ABRI, TI, or BDS. The detailed training programme is defined at the start of the trajectory in the Training and Supervision Plan (TSP), in consultation with supervisors and the PhD Candidate Advisor. Candidates with a relevant research master’s degree may be exempt from the training requirements. Each PhD candidate has at least two supervisors.
Application
Internal PhD candidates are employees of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and are affiliated with one of the graduate schools (Tinbergen Institute or Amsterdam Business Research Institute). They fall under the collective labour agreements of the university. PhD candidates may apply via our vacancies. Vacancies are published on:
Admission Requirements
- A university master’s degree with excellent grades in business, economics, or related fields (e.g., psychology, sociology, industrial engineering, applied mathematics).
- A proactive research orientation.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
2. External Part‑Time PhD Trajectories (Self‑Funded)
Programme Structure
The part‑time PhD programme is designed for professionals who wish to pursue a PhD alongside their employment. It is intended for candidates with a strong interest in academic research and the motivation to complete a PhD while maintaining professional commitments.
The goal is to enable candidates to write and defend a PhD thesis within a maximum of 10 years, supported by structured guidance throughout the process.
SBE offers two formats:
A. Structured part‑time programmes (annual cohort)
These programmes follow a fixed curriculum with modular components delivered to a yearly cohort:
B. Individual part‑time programme (flexible pace)
Candidates conduct research and complete training at their own pace, in consultation with their supervisors. They complete at least 30 ECTS of coursework at ABRI, TI, or BDS. The training programme is defined in the Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) at the start of the trajectory.
Application
Structured programmes
Application information is available on the programme websites:
Individual part‑time programme
Applications are accepted year‑round. Candidates submit the following documents to Graduateschool.sbe@vu.nl:
- CV
- Master’s diploma and transcripts
- Short research proposal or research interests
- Motivation letter
- List of preferred supervisors
Information about research at SBE can be found on the research portal and academic departments pages.
Fees
- €5,000 per year for the first 4 years
- €1,000 per year thereafter until completion (up to a maximum of 10 years)
The fee covers training, VUnet‑ID, email address, and administrative support.
Fees for the structured part‑time programmes are listed on their respective websites.
Admission Requirements
- A university master’s degree with excellent grades in business, economics, or related fields.
- Demonstrated affinity with academic research.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- A good match with one of SBE’s research programmes and potential supervisors.
- Financial independence.
3. Scholarship‑Funded PhD Trajectories
Programme Structure
The standard programme lasts 4 years. Scholarship‑funded candidates write a PhD thesis and complete coursework. All candidates complete at least 30 ECTS of coursework at ABRI, TI, or BDS. The training programme is defined in the Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) at the start of the trajectory. Candidates with a relevant research master’s degree may be exempt from the training requirements.
Each PhD candidate has at least two supervisors.
Application
Candidates with scholarships from organisations such as CSC, LPDP, or international universities may apply for admission. SBE does not provide scholarships.
Admission is based on:
- the quality of the CV
- the research proposal
- the match with potential supervisors
Important: The scholarship must comply with the requirements set by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service.
Admission Requirements
- A university master’s degree with excellent grades in business, economics, or related fields.
- A proactive research orientation.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English (TOEFL 100, IELTS 7).
- A research proposal.