GROW 2024 PhD program for international students

GROW (Graduate Research on Worldwide Challenges)

Tell me about the Award

We are a network of internationally collaborating Dutch universities with long-standing collaborations with our partners on the African continent.

We will be launching an international PhD program that offers tomorrow's leaders a unique opportunity to conduct innovative, high-quality research related to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals on the African continent.

Doctoral students will be supervised by world-renowned professors, supported by societal players and academics from our African partners. With these projects, we aim to make a real contribution to understanding and resolving urgent global challenges.

For GROW, five leading Dutch universities have teamed up with 22 African academic and 17 non-academic partners to raise funds for 51 four-year PhD positions with applicants from all over the world to pursue scientifically challenging research that, in one way or another, links low- and middle-income levels. Income Countries (PRFI) in Africa with Europe. Funding has been granted from the European Union's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND program. Opportunities are manifold, with grants available in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, and engineering. The Triple-I design of the GROW program offers PhD students the opportunity to build an advanced and evolving set of scientific and complementary skills that they will take with them as they pursue high-flying careers in a world in the making. ever more complex and interconnected.

Who can apply?

No doctorate: Eligible candidates must not hold a doctorate on the date of recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally obtained the title of doctorate will not be considered eligible.

Nationality: Candidates of all nationalities and countries of origin are eligible, unless national, international or European legislation or embargoes prohibit specific (combinations of (sub)disciplines and) countries of origin. Nominated doctoral candidates must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the co. -application deadline. Compulsory national service, short stays such as vacations, and time spent as part of a procedure to obtain refugee status under the Geneva Convention113 are not taken into account.

Entry requirements: Applicants must have obtained a university degree qualifying them to enter a doctoral program in the Netherlands (Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Laws (LLM)). The degree must be less than 10 years old before the call deadline. The eligibility window can be extended by 6 months per child for the mother, (additional) maternity or paternity leave (actual duration up to 6 months per child), medical specialist training (3 years), compulsory and reserve military service (actual duration ), or for refugees/researchers at risk (up to 3 years). Supporting documents must be attached to the application.

Enrolment: The applicant must be available for full-time enrolment in the host institution's PhD program in the Netherlands; any suspensions for family or personal reasons will be discussed with the granting authority.

English language certificate: PhD candidates must have a high level of English (if they are not native speakers). The level of English of shortlisted candidates may be assessed at the selection interview, and a compulsory successful test may form part of the Go-No Go decision after the first year of the project.

Affinity with Africa: PhD students must demonstrate a strong link with the African continent and/or an understanding of the context of low- and middle-income contexts.

Networking: After selection, we expect PhD students to actively participate in program events, such as training/networking events and awareness-raising activities targeting different audiences. Applicants are familiar with and adhere to the principles set out in the Commission's recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers.

No doctorate : Eligible candidates do not need to hold a PhD at the date of recruitment. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally obtained the title of doctorate will not be considered eligible.

Nationality: Candidates of all nationalities and countries of origin are eligible, unless national, international or European legislation or embargoes prohibit specific (combinations of (sub)disciplines and) countries of origin. Nominated doctoral candidates must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the co. -application deadline. Compulsory national service, short stays such as vacations, and time spent as part of a procedure to obtain refugee status under the Geneva Convention113 are not taken into account.

Entry requirements: Applicants must have obtained a university degree that qualifies them to enter a doctoral program in the Netherlands (Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Laws (LLM)). The degree must be less than 10 years old before the call deadline. The eligibility window can be extended by 6 months per child for the mother, (additional) maternity or paternity leave (actual duration up to 6 months per child), medical specialist training (3 years), compulsory and reserve military service (actual duration ), or for refugees/researchers at risk (up to 3 years). Supporting documents must be attached to the application.

Check Cattolica Africa 2024/2026 scholarship program

Enrolment: The candidate must be available for full-time enrolment in the host institution's doctoral program in the Netherlands; any suspensions for family or personal reasons will be discussed with the granting authority.

English language certificate: PhD candidates must have a high level of English (if they are not native speakers). The level of English of shortlisted candidates can be assessed at the selection interview, and a compulsory successful test could form part of the Go-No Go decision after the first year of the project.

Affinity with Africa: PhD candidates will need to demonstrate a strong link with the African continent and/or an understanding of the context of low- and middle-income contexts.

Networking: After selection, we expect PhD students to actively participate in program events, such as training/networking events and awareness-raising activities targeting different audiences. Applicants are familiar with and adhere to the principles set out in the Commission's recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers.

Which countries are eligible?

Applicants of all nationalities and countries of origin are eligible, unless national, international or European legislation or embargoes prohibit specific (combinations of (sub)disciplines and) countries of origin.
Doctoral candidates must demonstrate a close link with the African continent and/or an understanding of the context of low- and middle-income contexts.

How many awards? 51

What is the advantage of an Award?

The GROW program is a four-year international PhD program that offers tomorrow's leaders a unique opportunity to conduct innovative, high-quality research under the supervision of world-renowned professors on pressing issues affecting the people of Africa, and to make a real contribution to understanding and solving global problems. These include the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

How long will the award last? 4 years

How to register: The application portal is now open. Click here

Learn more about the GROW program and how to apply during the webinar on December 5, 2023, from 10am to 12pm CET. Click here to register

What is the application deadline?

January 31, 2024 at 23:59:59 CET.