Doctoral school

To be eligible for the 2026 Amsterdam UMC Scholarship:

• You hold a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Medicine, Medical Informatics,
  Biomedical Sciences or Social Sciences from the University of Amsterdam or VU University Amsterdam, which you obtained after 1 January 2025 or will obtain before January 2027,

or

• You hold an MSc degree from another Faculty or University, which you obtained after 1 January 2025 or will obtain before 1 January 2027, and you have completed a scientific internship (wetenschappelijke stage) at Amsterdam UMC, through one of the UvA or VU University Faculties mentioned above, or in one of their affiliated research institutes, NKI, Sanquin, NIN-KNAW, or GGD Amsterdam as part of your curriculum.

And all of the following:

• An Amsterdam UMC professor will act as your PhD supervisor (promotor), which is confirmed by an official letter;
• Your research will be performed mainly at the Amsterdam UMC, or in an Amsterdam UMC affiliated research institute (at least 75% of the time);
• Your research will lead to a PhD dissertation to be defended at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Amsterdam or at the VU University of Amsterdam;
• You will start to work on your PhD trajectory no later than 1 March 2027;
• If you would like to apply and you have already started a PhD trajectory, send an email to the Doctoral School, asking whether you can participate, stating the start date of your PhD trajectory.

Application

To apply for an Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarship, you must submit the following documents, in one PDF document in the following order:

• A letter explaining your motivation to apply for this Scholarship and how you fulfil the indicated requirements (in English);
• The Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarship Application Form 2026 (below), including your research proposal and a financial paragraph (the Reseach BV consultant (AMC) or business controller (VUmc) of the Department of your supervisor can assist you);
• Your curriculum vitae, including the course transcript of your Master’s degree or equivalent (cijferlijst) issued by the Faculty student administration, and a list of your publications;
• Written confirmation from your intended PhD supervisor (promotor) that he or she is willing to act in that capacity.

The research proposal can be prepared jointly with your intended PhD supervisor, who must sign it for approval. The application form includes a description of your research project, the name of the Amsterdam UMC department at which you will perform your work, the name of the PhD supervisor, and a budget with the estimated total costs of your research, including the proportions to be met from the scholarship and from elsewhere, such as the department or external sources.

Note: The Amsterdam UMC PhD Scholarship is a personal grant. If the PhD candidate leaves the Amsterdam UMC or abandons the approved research before the end of the contract term, the scholarship lapses.

Submission

Nominations can be submitted from 1 September to 1 November 2025.

Proposals should be sent as a single*.pdf file (please note the set order of the documents listed under 'Application') by e-mail to the Doctoral School.

Note: After sending in your submission, you will receive a confirmation of receipt from the Doctoral School within two weeks. If not, please contact us!

Selection

The committee members review all applications and select which candidates will be invited for a half-hour interview. Based on the interviews, it is determined which candidates will be nominated to the Executive Board for a PhD Scholarship. The Executive Board decides on the awarding of the Scholarship to four candidates.

By November 26 at the latest, candidates will be informed whether or not they will be invited for an interview and, if so, when they are expected. The interviews will take place at the AMC location.

Please note that the interviews will take place in the mornings of December 1 and December 4.