The first steps
Does pursuing a PhD at the VUB appeal to you? To obtain a PhD, you must enrol in a doctoral programme. Are you curious about what the VUB has to offer? We will provide you with all the information you need about your path as a doctoral student at the VUB.
Your Doctoral study programme Doctoral Education and Doctoral Schools
How to find a supervisor
Finding the right supervisor is an essential step in starting your PhD (doctoral) or at VUB. You can explore VUB’s academic expertise in several ways: browse activeresearch groups to find a thematic match, review researchers' expertise and publications, or check open positions to join an existing research project. At the same time, consider the research environment: VUB invests heavily in shared core facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, providing you with the tools and platforms needed tosupport advanced work across disciplines.​
Funding for your research
There are a few ways to fund your PhD research. You can apply for a personal fellowship, which allows you to develop your own project in collaboration with a VUB supervisor. You can join a funded research project or become a teaching assistant, combining teaching duties with your doctoral studies. Alternatively, it is possible to pursue a self-funded PhD, often combined with a job outside the university.
Support at VUB
To help you navigate the funding landscape, VUB offers dedicated support throughout the application process. Our expert teams assist with​ identifying suitable funding opportunities, preparing applications and providing training and workshops, including interview preparation.
We are here to guide you every step of the way.
Support | International researchers
Are you an international researcher starting your career at VUB?
Find out what to expect when joining our university - from contracts and onboarding to support services. Get practical guidance on living in Belgium as an international researcher - everything you need to feel at home in Brussels​
Welcome at VUB Life in Belgium
Health and wellbeing on campus
At VUB, your well-being matters - because a healthy mind and body are essential for academic success. Discover our resources designed to help you stay safe and healthy on campus. ​
Career development and training
At VUB, we offer optimal support to our students, researchers, and staff. Thus, everyone has the opportunity to develop and follow their own path. Discover our training and development offer for VUB staff in VUB LRN.
Doctoral Defense
Read the Central PhD Regulations to check whether you meet the (faculty) requirements to submit your PhD. Here you will also find the composition of the jury, the consultation and assessment procedure and more. For more practical guidelines, read your faculty's Roadmap.
When submitting your doctoral thesis for defence with your faculty, you will need also need to submit the form Digital submission of doctoral thesis. This form states all the rights and obligations of the PhD candidates and VUB regarding digital submission of a dissertation
