Universitas Groningen, Belanda, setiap tahun menawarkan 20 hingga 25 beasiswa S3 kepada kandidat berprestasi melalui program beasiswa Ubbo Emmius. Melalui program beasiswa ini kandidat yang terpilih dapat mengajukan proposal proyek berdasarkan inspirasi / ide mereka sendiri. Besarnya beasiswa yang ditawarkan mencapai € 20,000 per tahun.

Kualifikasi :

• Mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan S2 yang di akui secara internasional
• Menguasai bahasa Inggris

Batas waktu aplikasi hingga 1 Mei 2009.

Ubbo Emmius (UE) PhD scholarships provide students with a generous level of annual funding for a four-year period of PhD study. Between 20-25 scholarships are offered each year to excellent students, on the basis of their talent, motivation and past academic achievements. The application procedure is organized by the GGSS. PhD students funded via this procedure will receive substantial freedom in designing their own projects. In this way, we will provide a unique opportunity for talented, creative and ambitious students to pursue their academic goals. UE scholarship applicants may draw inspiration from suggested project ideas or submit their own independent project proposals. If selected, they are free to change the project aims and supervision scheme to best suit their academic needs. Please contact the Graduate School Office if you have questions about the programme.

UE 2009 SCHOLARSHIPS

We have now posted all projects suggested for the UE 2009 scholarship programme. Applications will be accepted in the period from 3 April until 1 May 2009.

OVERVIEW

This year, 17 PhD scholarships are available from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMNS). 8 additional PhD scholarships are available for joint projects with the Faculty for Medical Sciences (UMCG/FMW). Such inter-faculty projects come in two ‘flavours’. In the ’single’ version, a single PhD student has multiple thesis advisors (at least one from each faculty) and spends part of his or her time at FMNS and part at the UMCG/FMW. In the ‘twin’ version, two PhD students (one associated with each faculty) join forces and work hand-in-hand on two closely related projects.

Project offerings

Interested students can apply with their own research ideas and find a faculty mentor thereafter, or they can draw inspiration from one of the projects proposed by members of our research institutes. An overview of project possibilities can be found under the menu options at left.

Application guidelines

Students are invited to submit application materials for the first selection round by 01 May 2009 . A complete application package will include a CV, letter of motivation and academic transcripts (undergraduate and master’s level coursework). Additionally, 2-3 reference letters should be sent directly to the Graduate School Office. These letters should be written by individuals who know the candidate well enough to speak to their level of suitability for independent PhD research, and can describe personal qualities which will contribute to future success in a scientific career.

Selection of candidates

Candidates for the UE scholarships will be selected in two rounds. In a first round (deadline 01 May 2009), about 50 candidates will be selected on the basis of application materials including a letter of motivation, academic transcripts, and several reference letters. Each of these candidates will then be asked to contact a potential thesis advisor and to write a PhD proposal (similar to the proposals of the NWO Toptalent Programme). In a second round, a definite selection will take place on the basis of the application materials, the project proposal, and a (tele ‑ )interview. The final selection of candidates will occur in late June 2009, at which time potential supervisors (promotors) will express their willingness to host the candidate. Students awarded UE scholarships are expected to enrol as a cohort in the fall of 2009.

Scholarship and tuition

Students who are offered an UE scholarship receive ca. € 20,000 per year. This financial support provides a monthly income sufficient to cover housing and living expenses in Groningen . Additional funding to cover travel costs and visa fees is typically available for foreign students. Ubbo Emmius scholarship recipients are classified as “fellowship PhD students” (bursalen) in the University of Groningen ’s educational scheme. This means that they are not employees, but independent research fellows pursuing a post-graduate degree.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates for the UE Programme undergo two rounds of a competitive selection procedure prior to acceptance. Although absolute requirements cannot be set for an international applicant pool, successful candidates are expected to have demonstrated intellectual abilities that are well above average. Furthermore, they should have a track record of active participation in research-related activities which speaks to their ability to do self-directed work. Scientific creativity and independence are important assets, since UE students have the opportunity to design their own PhD project.

The criteria for acceptance include:

• an internationally-recognised Master’s degree in the relevant scientific field
• marks that clearly identify the candidate as belonging to the top 10-15% of her/his cohort
• demonstrated oral and written communication skills
• good command of the English language
• outspoken motivation to pursue a scientific career
• excellent letters of recommendation

Please see the application procedure section for a detailed description of the steps required to participate in the scholarship competition.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Students interested in applying for an Ubbo Emmius Scholarship should begin by defining their research interests. Students should contact potential supervisors to learn more about suggested projects and the supervisor’s research vision. In the case of a truly “independent” project proposal, it still helps to contact an individual who might be interested in becoming a research mentor. If you cannot locate such an individual, feel free to contact the Graduate School Office for assistance.

P rospective students applying for the 2009 UE Programme will undergo two rounds of competition. In the first round, they must submit an application package detailing their academic background and prior achievements. In the second round, a selected group of the best students will be invited to submit a short project proposal (on an application form provided by the graduate school) and give an interview presentation.

This year, there are 17 UE scholarships available for projects within the Faculty of Mathematics and Naturals Sciences (FMNS) and 8 joint UE scholarships for projects involving a close collaboration of FMNS with the Faculty of Medical Sciences (UMCG/FMS). Here we describe the application procedure of the 17 scholarships at FMNS. The procedure for the 8 joint scholarships is similar, but the selection is performed by a separate committee involving members of both faculties. Moreover, the second round of selection may differ slightly from that described below.

Round 1 – Application package

The admission procedure for the UE Programme is carried out centrally, by the Graduate School Office at the Groningen Graduate School of Science (FMNS). The Graduate School Office can answer your questions about practical issues such as validity of foreign diplomas, language requirements, visa regulations and financial aspects. For the first round, applicants should used the forms provided under the menu item APPLY NOW. Applicants should follow the instructions for assembling their application package and submit their materials electonically to ggss.ue@rug.nl . The application package for the first round includes:

• a letter of motivation from the candidate (VERY important!!)
• a complete curriculum vitae
• copies of all relevant academic diplomas
• official university transcripts – These should include a list of all courses taken, the credit hours, the final grade received, an explanation of the grading system used, and an indication of the student ’s rank within her/his cohort (including cohort size).
• certification of proficiency in English (not required for Dutch candidates, native speakers or candidates who completed a Master’s programme with an English curriculum)
• 2-3 letters of recommendation (three preferred) – Referees should submit confidential letters of recommendation directly to ggss.ue@rug.nl (or mail them to the Graduate School Office), making use of the form provided at APPLY NOW .

Round 2 – Project proposal and interview

The second selection round is only relevant for the top 50 students who have been invited to participate. With the help of prospective supervisors, students should write a brief project proposal introducing their topic of interest and providing an outline of questions they hope to address in a four-year PhD project. Project proposals will follow the structure of a form provided for this purpose (online soon). A detailed plan of experiments is not necessary. The proposal best serves to highlight the student’s understanding of the topic, methods involved, its impact (novelty, societal value, etc.) and the potential scope of research to be undertaken. Faculty mentors should assist with this task, but allow the prospective students’ individual contribution to take centre stage. The selection interview will include a brief (10-15 minute) PowerPoint presentation, which gives the candidate an opportunity to describe and answer questions about their proposed research.

Application deadlines

The first-round application deadline is 1 May 2009 . Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all of the requested items above are received by the Graduate School Office of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences on or before the deadline. These rules will be strictly enforced, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Students will need to submit all first-round materials electronically using the online system OIEM. In the event that hard copies are the only option, please request prior approval from the Graduate School Office and explain the reason. Extreme care should be taken when faxing or sending files attached with e-mail. Applicants are strongly advised to submit their complete application materials well ahead of the deadline so that any omissions can be corrected in time. The Graduate School Office will confirm receipt of your complete application package.

SELECTION AND ADMISSIONS

Selection procedure

The Admissions Committee of the Ubbo Emmius Scholarship Programme will make the first selection of 50 candidates from the total applicant pool in May 2009. During this round the committee may request additional information from a candidate. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to make sure that they can be reached by telephone or e-mail on short notice. All candidates will be notified of the committee’s decision (either positive or negative).

Applicants who have passed the first round will be invited to write a brief project proposal outlining the four-year PhD project they hope to perform at the University of Groningen . Subsequently, candidates get the opportunity to explain their research plans and to defend the proposed approach in an interview with the selection committee. These interviews, which will take place in June & July 2009, constitute the second and final round of the competition. When possible, we will invite candidates to visit the university and reimburse travel and lodging expenses. In other cases, a “tele-interview” may be conducted. A final decision will be made by 15 July 2009 .

After the final competition round, prospective supervisors will be informed of the outcome by the Graduate School Office. To ensure that scholarship funding is sufficient to cover the student’s living expenses, and that support for the research itself (i.e. consumables, bench fees, etc.) is available, supervisors and research institutes will need to make a firm commitment to hosting the student. Once this has occurred, accepted candidates will be notified.

Following acceptance

The successful candidates will be offered admission to the Ubbo Emmius Programme and the scholarship associated with it. Candidates must make a decision to accept or reject the offer within 14 days. There are two reasons for this: (1) it provides an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to offer the position to another candidate in the event that the candidate rejects the offer; and (2) obtaining the necessary visa by 1 September 2009 can be difficult due to the lengthy procedure. The University Office of Academic Affairs and International Relations (AZIS) will assist foreign students with their visa applications. The Graduate School Office will advise students with regard to moving and housing arrangements in Groningen.

SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION

All students admitted to the Ubbo Emmius Programme are guaranteed a scholarship of ca. € 20,000 per year. This financial support, which is detailed below, provides a monthly income more than sufficient to cover housing and living expenses in Groningen .

UE scholarship recipients are classified as “fellowship PhD students” (bursalen) in the University of Groningen ’s educational scheme. This means that they are not employees, but independent research fellows pursuing a post-graduate degree. This distinction is typically of little importance for foreign students under the age of 30. However, Dutch nationals and students who are married, have children, or are over age 30 may require additional financial support.

Financial support

Here, we give an indication of the financial support that an UE student can expect to obtain. No rights can be derived from the information below. As of 2009, the support consists maximally of:

• a net income of ca. € 1,600 a month
• visa costs and related costs for obtaining the visa (e.g., translating documents)
• incoming flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
• costs of train trip from Schiphol to Groningen
• costs of residence permit

We note here that the Dutch authorities require non-EU students to have an income of at least € 800 a month at their disposal in order to qualify for a residence permit. On financial matters, you can also contact the Graduate School Office.

UE scholarship students receive funding for a four-year research programme. However, a system of progress reviews is in place to ensure that both students and supervisors perform their roles is a satisfactory manner. For the student, continuation of the scholarship in the second year is contingent upon a positive evaluation at the end of the first year. This evaluation is based on a meeting between student, supervisor and external advisor, as well as a written progress report. For the supervisor, the first-year evaluation of UE students is an important milestone, because it verifies that the research project fits the student’s long-term academic goals. In rare cases where a change in supervision is necessary, students will typically not lose their UE funding, but new arrangements will have to be made.

PROJECT

• Project ideas (FMNS)
• Project ideas (joint FMNS-UMCG)

APPLY NOW!

Applicants should make use of the forms provided by the Graduate School to apply for the first round of the UE 2009 scholarship competition.

The procedure is as follows:

1) Download the application form. This form can be opened and edited using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader [DOWNLOAD] . If you cannot use this file format for technical reasons, you may download the RTF version instead.

2) Fill the form out and save your changes. If possible, please combine all documents as a single pdf and RENAME the file as: YOURLASTNAME_APP_UE09. If you must send us a series of separate files, name them in sequence (e.g., YOURLASTNAME_d1_UE09, YOURLASTNAME_d2_UE09, etc.)

3) E-mail the application materials back to the Graduate School Office at the address: ggss.ue@rug.nl

* In the case of the reference form, please instruct your referees to fill out the form confidentially and send it directly back to us. They should RENAME this file as: YOURLASTNAME_REF_UE09

• Application form [PDF]
• Reference form [PDF]