PhD programme
Students with a (bio)medical master’s degree can follow a doctoral programme at a university medical centre in order to obtain the highest academic degree, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
In this programme, PhD students are trained to become independent researchers. For some time now, all university medical centres have structured their researcher training programmes into so-called graduate schools. Through joint subject-specific and methodological courses, PhD students receive education of guaranteed quality and prepare themselves for their future careers, whether within or outside academia. In addition, the graduate schools enable them to build a social network.
Through their PhD programmes, PhD students contribute to better and more accessible healthcare, new knowledge in their field and a healthier and more prosperous Netherlands. This makes them extremely valuable to Dutch society, both within and, ultimately, outside academia.
Facts and figures
More than 12,000 PhD students are employed or otherwise affiliated with Dutch umcs. Ultimately, PhD students obtain their PhD degree from their affiliated university. Each year, approximately 2,000 PhD students graduate from umcs and continue their careers in healthcare, science or elsewhere in society.