Short stay fellowship, 2011

Oct 28, 2010

For 2011 Utrecht University (UU), the Netherlands, offers a Short Stay Fellowship programme (3 months) for PhD candidates from its international strategic partner universities, the Utrecht University Partners (UUP’s).

UUFor 2011 Utrecht University (UU), the Netherlands, offers a Short Stay Fellowship programme (3 months) for PhD candidates from its international strategic partner universities, the Utrecht University Partners (UUP’s). Only candidates from UUP’s are eligible to submit an application.

Utrecht University Partners (UUP’s)

India
• Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
• Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
• National Brain Research Centre, Delhi
• National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Delhi
• University of Hyderabad (UoHyd)

The Short Stay Fellowship grant of €5000 is fully sponsored by Utrecht University. Selected PhD candidates from UUP’s are offered an economy class return ticket to and from Amsterdam (up to a maximum of €1150),  accommodation in Utrecht, a monthly allowance and if applicable visa reimbursement, and a medical and third party liability insurance. The grant will be paid to the hosting UU research group.  The UU faculty/research group will arrange the aforementioned practical issues and will cover for the research infrastructure and supervision costs.

Application criteria

• Candidate must be PhD candidate at a Utrecht University Partner
• Quality of application in terms of candidate (CV), recommendations, work plan, planning
• Short Stay Fellowship at Utrecht University has a clear added value for the PhD project, at this time
• Relevance of PhD project for research (not course work) at Utrecht University, e.g. link with research focus areas (www.uu.nl/research)
• Short stay adds opportunities for further cooperation between participating research groups
• Application includes all required documents

Application procedure

Applicants have to be nominated by the supervisor at Utrecht University: not the PhD candidate  but the UU supervisor will submit the complete application via email. The standard format letter of approval by the Utrecht University Faculty Dean must be included in the application and should be arranged by the supervisor. To apply for this programme the attached ‘UU 2011 Short Stay Fellowships application form’ must be submitted by the UU supervisor.
Candidates will have to start their fellowship in 2011. For formal reasons (visa etc.) the short stay of three months cannot be extended. The grant will be paid to the hosting research group. This group will take care for reimbursements etc for the Short Stay fellow.

PhD candidate

Firstly, the PhD student must identify a UU professor willing to be supervisor during the fellowship. Of course also supervisors at UU can identify and contact a PhD candidate at a UUP, or research staff at UU and a UUP can discuss potential candidates.
If there is a match between a candidate and a supervisor at UU, the candidate should fill in the application form and send it to the supervisor for approval. If the supervisor approves the application, the PhD candidate must send the supervisor:
• copy of a qualifying examination or other proof of qualification for PhD research, or a proof of participation, for at least one year, in a combined MA/PhD programme;
• copy of transcripts of graduate records or other formal overview of relevant grades;
• recent proof of required English skills (no more than two years old)**. Proof of English skills is not required for PhD candidate from UUP’s in the USA, Canada, South-Africa, India and Hong Kong;
• electronic copy of a signed letter of recommendation and approval of the suggested research in Utrecht by the home university supervisor and Faculty Dean or Head of Department or Research Institute Director (1 combined or 2 separate letters);
• application form.

UU supervisor

As soon as there are initiatives to apply for a fellowship the UU supervisor is advised to contact a policy advisor internationalisation at the Academic Affairs office of Utrecht University (info.oo@uu.nl). They will provide the supervisor with relevant information about the procedure and updated standard documents.
When the PhD candidate, the supervisor at the home university and the UU supervisor agree on the application the UU supervisor should arrange:
• a nomination letter by the UU supervisor for the application, which should describe the benefits of the fellowship for the PhD candidate, the research group at the UUP and the UU research group;
• an electronic copy of a signed (standard format) approval letter of the UU Faculty Dean. To obtain the format of this letter you can contact the Academic Affairs Office (info.oo@uu.nl).
• The UU supervisor is required to send in the complete application via email only.

Selection procedure

The UU Advisory Committee for Internationalisation will nominate candidates to the Executive Board. A final decision about selection is expected early March 2011.
The final selection of eligible candidates will primarily be based on the application criteria mentioned above. However, secondarily a fair division among UUP’s and research groups at Utrecht University can be taken in account.

Application and information

Complete applications can be sent to the Academic Affairs Office (info.oo@uu.nl) of Utrecht University, with reference ‘Short Stay Fellowship 2011 – [name candidate]’

For questions and information regarding the programme you can contact:
Utrecht University - Corporate Offices, Academic Affairs
c/o Caspar de Bok
Email: c.f.m.debok@uu.nl
Telephone: +.31.30.253.4274