Check this page to learn more about the support and advice options available to PhD candidates at a VU level. Below you will find more information about the support system at the Graduate School and faculty level.

PhD advisors

The Graduate School program managers are also PhD advisors. Both PhD candidates and PhD supervisors can contact any of the Graduate School program managers if they face issues (preoccupations about your PhD, well-being, your relationship with your supervisors or other members of your research environment). See Who is who for contact details.

PhD advisors serve as an accessible first point of contact. If you want, you can talk confidentially. Feel free to reach out to them whenever necessary, and they will listen to you and guide you on who to contact next, if required.

Confidential counsellors

PhD candidates who are experiencing or have witnessed issues relating to bullying, harrassment and situations of social unsafety, can contact the VU Confidential Counsellors. Confidential Counsellors are professionally trained to help you talk through and navigate your distressing experience and are legally bound to confidentiality. They are there to help you explore your options, explain the procedures and support available within the university, and provide the information you need to make an informed decision. 

More information on confidential counselors is here, or you can contact them directly by emailing confidentialcounsellors@vu.nl. 

Mediation

The VU mediation pool offers mediation and counselling when friction arises between employees. If you have a dispute with a colleague (such as your supervisor or manager), consider turning to the mediation pool for help. Under the guidance of an experienced mediator, you can enter into a conversation with the other person. Read more here or contact the mediation pool directly at mediation.personeel@vu.nl.

Are you an external PhD? Contact one of the PhD advisors instead.

PhD support

Occupational Social Work (OSW) offers advice and short-term counseling to employees who are at risk to get sick for work and/or private reasons. That may be functioning problems, dismissal, reorganization, problems in collaboration (with colleagues or management), inappropriate conduct, and traumatic events at work. It also covers work/life balance issues, relationship and family problems, coping with grief and loss, and other psychological problems. The occupational social worker is bound to professional secrecy. The counseling is voluntary and confidential. For more details, check here. 

Are you an external PhD? Contact one of the PhD advisors instead.

Head of Department

PhD candidates and PhD supervisors can contact the Head of Department to raise issues. We advise to reach out to the Graduate School as well for any friction between supervisory teams and PhD candidates. 

Procedure for PhD candidates and supervisors in case of an issue in a PhD trajectory 

For internal and external PhD candidates, and for supervisors, there is an extra procedure at GSSS in addition to the VU Doctorate Regulations. The purpose of the GSSS procedure is to resolve any problems in the working relationship between the PhD candidate and supervisor and vice versa in an easily accessible and satisfactory manner. Please consult the Procedure for PhD candidates and supervisors in case of an issue in a PhD trajectory for more information.