The PhD Degree is the highest degree awarded in the Netherlands. PhD candidates carry out a programme of independent research and additional course work, culminating in production of a PhD thesis within four years.

PhD candidates in the Netherlands are usually not considered to be students who study within a framework of a well defined and structured PhD programme. Although this may change in the future, PhD students are still exempt from paying university tuition fees.

 

The Leiden University Institute for Philosophy distinguishes between three categories of PhD positions:  

1. Funded position: PhD candidates have an appointment at the Faculty of Humanities, either financed by the University, or by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), or by any other grant awarded to a staff member of the Faculty or the Faculty as such.
2. Non-funded position: PhD candidates conducting their PhD research by other financial means, such as a personal grant, personal funds or through part time employment elsewhere. They profit from University and Faculty facilities and are bound to the 4-year trajectory (full time), and a 7-year trajectory (part-time).
3. External PhD candidates are those who plan to defend their PhD thesis at the Institute for Philosophy, but conduct their PhD research elsewhere. There are no time limits involved, and no University facilities available. External PhD candidates can legally have no teaching obligations and no Leiden University grants.