Why take your PhD at Leiden University?
- Fundamental research
- Leiden University believes that fundamental research is crucial to the development of modern society and the future prosperity of mankind. Fundamental research is typically curiosity-driven, and researchers develop their curiosity through their observations. In science and technology, unexpected outcomes or practical problems often form the basis of research into the most fundamental characteristics of nature. Fundamental research frequently leads to new insights into the essence of nature, the human mind, and the complex interactions between their elements. From this starting point, innovations, new developments and solutions to old problems emerge.
As a research university, Leiden University focuses on fundamental research and research-based education.
Leiden offers PhD tracks across all sectors
- Teaching benefits from quality research
- Leiden University strongly believes that its teaching benefits directly from the high quality research that is carried out within the University itself, and that new fundamental knowledge is new intellectual capital. In Leiden the latest academic insights are immediately integrated into the courses.
- PhD training takes place in specials schools
- In general, PhD training takes place in local graduate schools and in cross-boundary research schools. Both types of schools are centres of high quality research, where researchers from different countries, universities and non-academic institutes collaborate, and where special attention is paid to the training of researchers to PhD level.
As well as the possibility of an employment contract, PhD candidates also enjoy many other benefits:
- Excellent training opportunities / Careers advice tracks + courses
- Assistance with finding subsidies and funding
- Assistance in obtaining a visa, work permit, etc.
- Support with subsequent activities (for example: applications for Veni subsidies, coaching, etc.)
- In Leiden there is the Leiden PhD Council (LEO) and the Dutch Network of PhD Candidates (PNN), both of which promote the interests of PhD fellows, including in such areas as employment conditions, information access, etc.
Graduate schools
- Extensive high-level international contacts
- Leiden University strongly promotes active worldwide co-operation. Top research increasingly means joining forces across boundaries; these may be the boundaries of departmental disciplines, of faculties and of the University itself. Leiden has a firmly established international position among the top research institutes abroad in many fields.
The University is one of the founding members of LERU (the League of European Research Universities). Many international researchers and students work and study here, and the University enjoys numerous valuable and fruitful contacts with academic establishments abroad. Naturally, as fits such an international environment, our working language is English.
In short, Leiden offers an attractive learning and research environment with extensive high-level international contacts across all fields of research.
Partnerships & Collaborations
- Young, dynamic and stimulating
- Leiden University aims to create an inspiring atmosphere where researchers and students can operate independently and in line with the views described above.
PhD candidates in Leiden are appreciated as a young, dynamic and stimulating group of researchers, and their contribution to the University’s research is highly valued.
- World-famous collections
- Our University libraries have world-famous collections and are very well equipped. In addition, Leiden boasts 12 prominent museums, all with special collections.
University libraries
Museums
- Great scholars and scientists
- Several great scholars and scientists have brought fame to Leiden University, including four Nobel Prizes: Einthoven (Physiology/Medicine), Kamerlingh Onnes, Lorentz and Zeeman (Physics). Critical fundamental discoveries have been made in Leiden:
- refraction of light (Snellius)
- the electrical capacitor (the "Leyden Jar" (Van Musschenbroek)
- the molecular basis of thermodynamics (Van der Waals)
- electron theory (Lorentz)
- superconductivity (Kamerlingh Onnes)
- electro-cardiography (Einthoven)
- the structure of the galaxy and the origin of comets (Oort)
- 11 Nobel laureates have been affiliated with Leiden University as faculty members or students, or by obtaining their PhD here
- Einstein held a special Chair in Leiden, co-operating with De Sitter on the Expanding Universe
- philosophers like Spinoza and Descartes were able to develop their ideas in Leiden
- Linnaeus wrote his famous Species Plantarum in Leiden; he is regarded as the father of modern taxonomy
- Leiden enjoys an extensive collection of Japanese books and works of art collected by Von Siebold, as well as instruments and natural history specimens
- Snouck Hurgronje, a world-famous Islam and Arab specialist
- Etcetera
Great scholars and scientists
Laureates
- At the forefront of cutting edge scientific and high-tech developments
- As a complement to this centuries-old cultural tradition, Leiden is currently at the forefront of cutting edge scientific and high-tech developments. The Leiden Bioscience Park is the largest in Europe. According to a recent investigation by the European Commission, Leiden University ranks alongside Oxford and Cambridge as the academic top of the European Union. The most prestigious research award in the Netherlands is the Spinoza Prize. With 22% of all Spinoza Prizes to date having been awarded to Leiden researchers, Leiden’s standing as a top research institute is clearly demonstrated. ESTEC, located in the Leiden urban region, is Europe's largest space centre, collaborating intensively with the University's astronomy department and the spacecraft industry based close to Leiden University.
- Leiden is a dynamic, friendly, historic and well situated city
- Leiden is a typical university city, hosting the oldest university of the Netherlands (founded in 1575). University premises are scattered throughout the historic city centre and the many Dutch and international students living and studying in Leiden give the city its relaxed and lively atmosphere. Leiden is a dynamic and friendly city, an urban community bustling with life with an outward-looking, international character. It is an attractive town, as both the city and the region offer an extensive and diverse range of amenities. Leiden is located just eight miles east of the North Sea and dune coast, close to lakes and in between the cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht. Leiden has excellent connections by train and car. It is just twenty minutes by direct intercity train to Schiphol, Amsterdam International Airport, and 4 hours by direct intercity to Paris.
Leiden university city
