UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN
Welcoming International Talent (WIT) PhD Fellowship
full · phd
- ~€32,400 / year (est.)Gross living allowance
- Up to 36 monthsEmployment contract
- Up to ~€4,800 / year (est.)Personal research budget
- ~€3,600 / year (est.)Family allowance
- Co-funded by MSCA COFUNDEU programme
- Any nationality (Early-Stage Researchers)Who can apply
At a glance
full
Funding
€32k
Max amount
Mar 18, 2027
Deadline
All countries (open to applicants of any nationality, subject to the mobility rule)
Country
University of Groningen
Provider
The Welcoming International Talent (WIT) PhD Fellowship is a doctoral fellowship scheme run by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and co-funded under a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND grant. It aims to attract talented international Early-Stage Researchers into PhD programmes in science, engineering, and the humanities at a top-ranked Dutch university. Selected fellows receive a full-time employment contract of up to 36 months and are paid a gross living allowance of about €32,400 per year, including social security, health insurance, and pension contributions. On top of the salary, the package adds a relocation (mobility) allowance of up to €2,400, a family allowance of €3,600 per year for fellows with dependents, a personal research budget of up to €4,800 per year for materials, conferences, and publication costs, and a travel allowance of up to €2,400 per year for secondments. Candidates must be Early-Stage Researchers with no more than 4 years of research experience, meet the MSCA mobility rule, and hold at least B2 English. Because salary rates, the number of positions, and the application window are reset each call, confirm the current-cycle figures and deadline on the official University of Groningen page before you apply.
What's covered
- Gross salary (living allowance) — A full-time employment contract paying a gross living allowance of about €32,400 per year, including social security, health insurance, pension, taxes, and parental leave.
- Relocation / mobility allowance — A mobility allowance of up to €2,400 toward relocation, paid at the start of the fellowship.
- Family allowance — A family allowance of €3,600 per year for Early-Stage Researchers with a family and/or dependents.
- Personal research budget — Up to €4,800 per year for consumables, conference attendance, publication costs, and workshops.
- Travel allowance — Up to €2,400 per year toward travel and subsistence during secondments or short stays at partner facilities.
How to apply
The selection runs in stages: an initial application, an eligibility check, pre-selection, a full research proposal, evaluation, and an interview.
- Submit your application — Apply online during the submission window with your CV, qualifications, and the required forms.
- Pass the eligibility check — Applications are screened against the ESR, mobility, qualification, and language criteria.
- Reach pre-selection — Pre-selected candidates are invited to develop and submit a full research proposal.
- Submit the research proposal — Prepare and submit your detailed research proposal in the format and window specified by the programme.
- Attend the interview — Shortlisted candidates take part in an online interview before final selection.
Eligibility
Career stageEarly-Stage Researchers (ESR) with no more than four years of full-time-equivalent research experience and no doctoral degree at the deadline.
NationalityOpen to applicants of any nationality.
Mobility ruleMust not have resided or carried out their main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the three years before the deadline (MSCA rule).
QualificationMust hold a degree (from an EHEA or non-EHEA university) that grants access to doctoral studies.
LanguageAt least certified B2-level English, both written and spoken.
Exceptions to the four-year experience rule are made for documented career breaks such as parental leave, illness, or compulsory national service. Returning nationals who meet the mobility rule may also apply.
Eligible countries
All countries (open to applicants of any nationality, subject to the mobility rule)
Deadlines
2027 WIT PhD call~18 March 2027 (est.)
Selection
Selection is multi-stage. After an eligibility check, candidates are pre-selected on the strength of their academic record and fit; pre-selected applicants then prepare a full research proposal, which is evaluated by an expert panel. Final selection follows an online interview. The process is designed to identify Early-Stage Researchers with the strongest research potential and project fit, so passing the eligibility check alone does not guarantee a fellowship.
Verified sources
About the provider
The University of Groningen is a top-ranked public research university in the Netherlands, founded in 1614. Through its graduate schools and EU MSCA COFUND funding it runs the Welcoming International Talent (WIT) PhD Fellowship to attract international Early-Stage Researchers into its doctoral programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the WIT PhD Fellowship?
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It is a doctoral fellowship at the University of Groningen, co-funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND grant, for international Early-Stage Researchers in science, engineering, and the humanities.
How much does it pay?
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Fellows receive a gross living allowance of about €32,400 per year on a full-time contract, plus mobility, family, research, and travel allowances.
How long is the contract?
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Up to 36 months of full-time employment to complete the doctoral research.
Who can apply?
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Early-Stage Researchers of any nationality with no more than four years of full-time-equivalent research experience and no doctoral degree yet.
What is the mobility rule?
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You must not have lived or carried out your main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the three years before the deadline.
What English level is required?
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At least certified B2-level English, both written and spoken.
Is there extra money for families?
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Yes. A family allowance of €3,600 per year is paid to fellows with a family and/or dependents.
Is there a research budget?
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Yes. A personal research budget of up to €4,800 per year covers consumables, conferences, and publication costs.
Can I apply if I had a career break?
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Yes. Exceptions to the four-year experience rule are made for documented breaks such as parental leave, illness, or compulsory national service.
How does the selection work?
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There is an eligibility check, pre-selection, a full research proposal, expert evaluation, and an online interview before final selection.
When is the deadline?
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The submission window typically runs from mid-January to around 18 March; confirm the exact 2027 dates on the official University of Groningen page.
Where do I apply?
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Through the University of Groningen PhD / graduate school pages linked from the official WIT fellowship call.