Application and Selection Procedure

25 Jan 2010

The application and selection procedure consists of the following eight steps (divided in two phases):

Application for admission at a Dutch institution

1. Candidates must first apply for academic admission at an eligible Dutch institution. Admission as a PhD student is granted on an individual basis. Senior academic staff or a specific PhD committee decides whether or not an applicant will be accepted. Usually the assessment is based on the research proposal submitted by the applicant.

A candidate can apply for a PhD fellowship only after a research proposal has been agreed between the candidate and the Dutch provider.
 

Application for a fellowship

2. After receiving their letter of admission, candidates can apply for an NFP fellowship by presenting a completed NFP PhD Study application form to the Netherlands embassy or consulate in the candidate’s own country, accompanied by the necessary documentation.

Download the application form for studies starting in 2011 (128 kB)

The form can also be obtained from the Netherlands embassy or consulate.

Candidates should NOT send their fellowship application forms directly to Nuffic or to the Dutch provider, but should forward them to the Netherlands embassy or consulate in their own country.

3. The embassy or consulate assesses the application against the criteria for eligibility listed above. Special attention is given to:

  • whether the application stems from a multi-year agreement concluded with selected organizations;
  • the relevance of the proposed research for the candidate’s organization and country;
  • proof that the candidate’s employer and the Dutch institution support the application.

4. The embassy or consulate forwards an application that meets all of the criteria for eligibility to Nuffic, together with its own recommendations.

5. Nuffic selects the candidates who will receive PhD fellowships based on the relevance of the proposed research for the candidate’s employing organization and home country. Nuffic gives priority to applications which:

  • propose that the research project be co–supervised by an institution in a developing country;
  • have a proven link with other activities that are financed by the NFP or other Dutch government-funded activities;
  • are submitted by female candidates;
  • are submitted by candidates from sub-Saharan Africa;
  • stem from multi-year agreements concluded with selected organizations;
  • are submitted by candidates from priority groups and/or from marginalized regions, to be defined by the embassies.

6. Nuffic informs the candidates who are not eligible or not selected as well as the Dutch embassy and the Dutch institution of its decision. The Dutch institution informs all selected candidates about the outcome through the Dutch embassy in their home country.

7. Nuffic awards the grant to cover the fellowship to the Dutch institution.

8. The Dutch institutions administer the fellowships. They pay each fellowship holder a monthly allowance for the duration of the PhD or a maximum of 4 years; they make logistical arrangements, and give guidance to the fellowship holders.
 

Three-year rule

Please note that as of the 1 November 2009 NFP application deadline candidates are not allowed to have received a fellowship in the three years prior to the start of the proposed short course or master’s degree programme.