Application to a paid position is in response to an advertisement by the University. Vacancies are advertised on the Leiden University websites and other online channels. They become available through external research funding (e.g. from NWO or EU), with the University acting as a grant-holding institution and employer. Alternatively, positions will be available through special projects at the department, faculty or university level. A third option is that you receive funding through the NWO programme called ‘PhDs in the Humanities’.

• A full-time place is, in principle, a four-year appointment (or five-year 0.8 FTE part-time) with mandatory training duties of 280 hrs (in four years).
• Contract will be for one year: after ca. ten months a progress review will be carried out, deciding whether the progress has been sufficient.
• If the employed PhD position is continued, the maximum extension is three years (in a full-time position).

Contract PhDs have received a grant (usually in their country of origin), e.g. Nuffic, CSC, which enables them to conduct PhD research at our University (see the block ‘Scholarships’ on the right side of this page). The Graduate School of Archaeology does not provide PhD grants. If you plan to apply for a personal PhD (contract) grant and wish to carry out your research and graduate at the Faculty of Archaeology, you need to:

• Find a professor in the Faculty of Archaeology who is willing and able to supervise you for the whole PhD track (see research page for fields covered by the Faculty).
• Approach a professor by email and write the proposal in cooperation with your supervisor.
• You will need to have at least two supervisors
• When applying to the funding body, inform the Graduate School by emailing graduateschool@arch.leidenuniv.nl.
• If your grant is awarded, inform your Faculty supervisor and the Graduate School. See: ‘Admission to the Graduate School’.
• A full-time place is, in principle, a four-year appointment (or five-year 0.8 FTE part-time) with mandatory training of at least 280 hrs (in four years).
• Your presence at the Faculty is required for min. three days p/wk.

External PhD candidates are executing their PhD project in their own workspace, financially supported by their own means (a job, savings). There are, at present, no registration costs at the Faculty of Archaeology. If you wish to be an external PhD researcher graduating at the Faculty of Archaeology, you need to:

• Find a professor at the Faculty of Archaeology who is willing & able to supervise your PhD research for the whole track. See the research page for fields covered by the Faculty.
• Approach a professor by email with your research proposal.
• You will need to have at least two supervisors.
• Once you have written a proposal your supervisors approve, you can apply for admission. See: ‘Admission to the Graduate School’.
• Admission will be for one year: between the first and second year a Progress Review will be carried out both by your supervisors and the Graduate School, deciding whether progress has been sufficient.
• External PhD candidates are not entitled to facilities or financial support from the University / Faculty of Archaeology.

The Faculty of Archeology offers a maximum of 4 self-funded PhDs each academic year the opportunity to start doctoral research.

For admission as an internal self-funded (= unfunded) PhD candidate, you need to:

• Formulate your own research topic, suitable/feasible for PhD research. Use this form and ‘Admission to the Graduate School’.
• Find two supervisors at the Faculty of Archaeology supporting your PhD proposal.
• Send your proposal before March 1 to researchcommittee@arch.leidenuniv.nl. The Faculty Research Committee will assess your proposal.
  • The Research Committee advises the Faculty Board, which decides upon admission. 
  • The dean/GSA will decide on the submitted proposals before 1 June so the candidates and their supervisors can start on 1 September/the start of the new academic year.
  • As a requirement for positive advice, revision of the proposal may be necessary. 
• Your presence at the Faculty is required for min. three days p/wk. 
• Admission will be for one year: after ten months, a Progress Review will be carried out both by your supervisors and the Graduate School, deciding whether progress has been sufficient. A go/no go advise will be formulated by the Graduate School for the Faculty Board, who will decide upon continuation/discontinuation of the track with Faculty facilities for max. three years.