If you have any questions regarding the admission requirements or application procedure, check whether we have answered them already below.
Application process
The general application deadline is 15 January 2025. However, some PhD vacancies may have different deadlines, as specified in each project description. For further details, visit the PhD vacancies page.
You may apply for a maximum of two projects. Any additional applications will be invalidated. Both projects can be within the same specialisation.
No, you are not expected to contact the project supervisors yourself (unless indicated otherwise in the vacancy announcement). They will contact you if they have any questions or wish to schedule an interview.
No, there is no application fee.
No, you are not required to travel to Rotterdam. Online interviews (via MS Teams or Zoom) can be arranged as an alternative to in-person meetings.
Selection results will be communicated to applicants approximately two months after the application deadline, around mid-March.
We kindly ask that you refrain from inquiring about your application's status before the selection period is complete. All applicants will be notified of the results in due time.
Good to know before you decide to apply
Typically, PhD projects begin in September with the start of the academic year. However, exceptions can be made in certain cases. For instance, if you are selected but will only receive your master’s degree officially in September, you may start your PhD in October or November. Other exceptions may also be possible.
Unfortunately, this is not possible.
We do not charge tuition fees to accepted PhD candidates.
ERIM's Full-time PhD programme is available only on a full-time basis. If you are interested in ERIM's part-time PhD programme, please visit the part-time PhD webpage.
Our PhD positions are fully funded in accordance with Dutch labor laws, so there is no need to fill out scholarship forms. A salary is automatically granted upon admission.
No, ERIM does not provide housing facilities. Incoming international staff can refer to EUR's website for tips on finding housing.
No, we do not support the sandwich model.
Documents and academic background
You are required to submit two reference letters. Note that only academic reference letters will be accepted. Once you submit your application, your referees will receive an automatic email from us requesting their reference letters. Please inform your referees that you have provided their contact details and that we may reach out to them. While we ask for two references, you may include a third reference if you wish.
Certified copies can be issued by your university, a notary, a sworn translator or at a City Hall.
Yes, you can apply. In this case, you need to submit the most recent (provisional) official list of grades instead of the final transcript. However, please note that a PhD appointment can only be made once your master’s degree is formally obtained and your final study results are excellent.
To be eligible for ERIM's PhD programme, you need a four-year Dutch scientific university degree (MSc or MA) or its international equivalent. We conduct equivalency checks on non-Dutch degrees as part of the standard admission procedure. If there are any doubts, we consult the Admissions Office at EUR for an assessment of your educational profile. You can refer to Nuffic's website to estimate the equivalency of your degree.
The required educational background for the ERIM's PhD programme is a four-year Dutch scientific university degree (MSc or MA) or its international equivalent. MBA degree holders may apply, but please note that an MBA does not guarantee admission to a PhD programme in the Netherlands. This is primarily because MBA programmes, even highly ranked ones, tend to be more practically oriented than academically focused. If your MBA programme includes a graded master’s thesis as a standard part of its curriculum, you may have a better chance of being considered for admission to a PhD programme in the Netherlands.
ERIM does not conduct preliminary assessments, so please do not send your documents via email. We cannot evaluate your eligibility over the phone or through email.
GRE and TOEFL/IELTS
Yes, a valid GRE test is required (all 3 sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing).
A valid GRE test is required (all 3 sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing). Successful applicants typically perform among the top 10% of test-takers on the quantitative part of the GRE. Applicants with a Q score below 160 will not be considered.
For the TOEFL iBT test, a score of at least 100 is required. For the IELTS, at least a 7.
Yes, we accept results from the online versions of the required tests, with the exception of the online IELTS. Please ensure that the official score report is sent to ERIM.
Yes, you may re-take the tests. If you achieve a higher score, the admissions committee will consider your best results.
Official results typically take around three weeks to process. However, unofficial test results are available immediately after the test. You can submit your unofficial scores in your online application before the official results arrive.
No, we only accept official GRE test results.
Yes, applicants are required to provide a TOEFL or IELTS language test result regardless of whether they have taken the GRE.
It is possible to apply without GMAT/GRE scores; however, we will seek additional evidence of excellence, such as very good grades (top 15%) in your previous degrees (GPA), degrees from renowned universities, a strong master’s thesis, research experience, publications, or other outputs that demonstrate scientific engagement.
You may also apply for a waiver from TOEFL/IELTS if the medium of instruction for your entire university education (bachelor's and master's programmes) was English. In this case, please include an additional letter along with your application and ensure that you attach any relevant documents. The final decision on the waiver request will be made by ERIM.
In general, ERIM requires applicants whose native language is not English to submit TOEFL or IELTS test scores. However, if the language of instruction for your entire university education (bachelor's and master's programmes) was English, you may submit a request for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver. The final decision on the waiver request will be made by ERIM.
No, we only accept TOEFL or IELTS test results.
No, we do not accept the TOEFL ITP test.