Submitting your application

How do I access the application portal?

At the bottom right of the vacancy page, there’s a red button that gives you access to the application page. It says ‘apply now’ or ‘solliciteer nu’. Please make sure that you upload all the required documents in one bundled pdf. You can upload that pdf either to the ‘CV’ or the ‘Cover Letter’ section in the application page.

Where should I upload the bundled PDF?

You can upload all the required documents in one bundled pdf either to the ‘CV’ or the ‘Cover Letter’ section in the application page, it doesn’t matter which one.

I have accidentally submitted my application without including all the documents. What can I do?

You can edit your application by going to vacatures.uva.nl, and click on ‘view profile’ (or ‘profiel weergeven’) on the top right of the page. There, you find your profile (or you can login) and when you click ‘Jobs Applied’ (or ‘Sollicitaties’) you find the Open Call for PhD Candidates and you can edit your application. Please make sure that you upload all the required documents in one bundled pdf. You can upload that pdf either to the ‘CV’ or the ‘Cover Letter’ section in the application page.

What’s the closing time of the vacancy?

Your application can be sent until 23:59 (CET) on Sunday, March 17^th. After that, the application portal will be closed.

Other questions

Does my topic of interest match the AISSR?

Please browse through the program groups, to review how your field of interest would align with and contribute to one or more of them.

Do my six potential supervisors have to be from the same program groups I listed in my application?

The supervisors do not have to be from the two program groups you have listed. You are free to include professors from other program groups.

Do I need to include academic references and/or recommendation letters?

These are not required in this stage of the application process.

Do I need to include an English proficiency certificate?

We are looking for candidates with excellent oral and written communication skills in English. In this case, we do not request a test or certificate. However, the excellent skills should be evident through the writing sample and cover letter.

My master’s degree is not in the social sciences. Am I eligible to apply?

If your master's degree is from a field outside the social sciences or the scope of the AISSR, there should be sufficient overlap nonetheless to be eligible to apply. If this is the case and you consider applying, it is crucial that your research proposal reflects a social-scientific approach and demonstrates familiarity with social-scientific methodology. Additionally, your master’s degree should align well with your research proposal.

Can I include a writing sample that is in another language than English?

The writing sample should be in English as it should demonstrate your English language skills (amongst other things).

I already have a doctorate degree. Can I still apply?

Individuals that already hold a doctorate or are working towards a smiliar degree at another institute cannot be admitted to a doctoral programme or thesis defence. See also the doctorate regulations, article 6 – ban on second doctorate.