Status of PhD students

The Netherlands is one of the few countries in Europe, or indeed anywhere in the world, where PhD students have employee status: they are employees of the university. In many other countries, they are treated as students, or have to pay for their time as PhD students through a scholarship. PhD scholarships are not unknown in the Netherlands either, but they are used, among other things, for covering the costs of PhD student salaries.

The primary task of PhD students is to conduct research, leading to a thesis. Another important aspect of the programme is to attend and give lessons. It is agreed at the start of the programme which course elements are compulsory.