Full-time PhD programme

• Introduction
• Programme Information
• Selection Criteria
• Application Process
• Tuition and Fellowships
• Career Prospects
• More Information
• Life in Maastricht
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Code of Conduct
   

 Introduction

The Full-time PhD programme on Innovation, Economics, Governance and Sustainable Development (IEGSD) at UNU-MERIT offers a world-class education, comprehensive training, and expert supervision to PhD candidates eager to explore the transformative effects of innovative technologies, public policies, and governance on global development outcomes. Situated within UNU-MERIT, the programme benefits from the vast resources, knowledge, and extensive networks of the United Nations University and its affiliated UN organisations. Its integration into Maastricht University (UM) ensures that the research conducted maintains the highest standards of academic rigor while directly addressing real-world policy challenges, leading to a doctoral degree of Maastricht University.

Our unique blend of academic excellence and policy relevance equips PhD candidates with the critical skills and knowledge to conduct their doctoral research.  The programme's research agenda focuses on public policy initiatives and key technological trends that influence sustainable development outcomes such as reduced poverty and inequality, decent work and economic growth, clean water and energy, health, education and climate action. The overarching aim is to contribute to the achievement of a broad range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by deepening our understanding of these crucial intersections.

Core Research Areas

PhD fellows contribute to the core areas of the UNU-MERIT research agenda focusing on:

- Economics of Innovation and Technology: 
Topics include the microeconomics of innovation at the firm level, structural change, trade and industrial policy, the transition to sustainable and green technologies, circular economies, and the role of science in development.

- Public Policy and Governance: 
This area examines the impact of various public policies—including social, migration, labour, and food policies—on development outcomes. It also explores governance challenges in fiscal and foreign policy, the effects of corruption, and coordination issues in areas like migration and sustainable governance.

The programme encourages the adoption of novel metrics and computational methods to address these complex research questions. It emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, contributing to both academic discourse and the development of actionable policy solutions throughout the entire policy process—from setting the agenda to implementation and evaluation.
 

Programme Information

The first year of the programme 

In the first year, PhD fellows embark on their doctoral journey through a structured programme of required and elective courses, taught by leading scholars from UNU-MERIT and partner universities. These courses, delivered in English, span two semesters beginning in September. The first semester focuses on compulsory thematic courses, providing a solid foundation in the Institute's core research areas. In the current academic year, these include i) Socio-economic Development ii) the Economics of Innovation iii) Inequality and Social Protection and iv) Policy Evaluation.   In the second semester, fellows select from a range of elective methods courses, offered by internal and external partners, allowing them to hone specific skills tailored to their chosen research focus.

Throughout this year, PhD fellows receive continuous support in refining their research proposals through regular interactions with faculty and potential supervisors. Upon the successful defence of their proposal, a formal PhD agreement is established with their supervisors and the PhD director. This agreement outlines the fellow’s research plan, personal development goals, and any additional training needs for the remainder of the programme.
 

After the first year

After the first year, PhD fellows dedicate the next three years to conducting dissertation research and developing broader professional skills. Fellows are actively encouraged to engage in seminars and research activities organized by UNU-MERIT and to present their work at high-level international conferences, fostering academic and professional growth. Throughout their PhD trajectory, fellows may opt to contribute to the Institute in various ways, aligned with their research and career aspirations. Opportunities include tutoring in the Institute’s Master’s programmes, participating in project-based research, assisting with conferences and workshops, or organizing seminars. These experiences provide valuable insights and skills, whether fellows pursue careers in academia or in other professional sectors. [Back to top]

Selection Criteria

Admission requirements for our full-time PhD track:

• A Master’s degree from a relevant academic field, including economics, political science, social sciences, and computational social sciences, with a strong academic background in one of the core disciplines of the institute. Fellows who complete their Master’s degree in spring 2024 may also apply.
• Documented theoretical and practical understanding of one or more of the topics of interest specified in the introduction.
• The position requires spoken and written fluency in English, to be demonstrated through an approved test (see section application process) for applicants from non-English-speaking countries.
   

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Knowledge of the design, development or use of data, modelling and simulation methods and their application in a topic of interest
• Proficiency in academic writing

Personal Characteristics:

We are searching for candidates who:

• Enjoy working independently as well as cooperating in interdisciplinary teams
• Have a sharp academic interest and curiosity
• Are willing to interact with societal stakeholders in shaping their research
• Are able to communicate information and results with clarity and ease, both orally and in writing
• Are in the earlier stage of their career. An indicative age limit of 32 years is softly applied.

We particularly encourage candidates from the Global South to apply. [Back to top]

Application Process

Every year, we open a Call for applications in November, with a deadline for applications on 15 February. Applications are invited from highly motivated and talented fellows, especially from the Global South. Applicants for our full-time PhD programme must complete the online application form. In addition, applications must submit the following:

1. Application letter (1-2 pages) concerning your motivation for undertaking a PhD as well as your reflections on your suitability and ambitions for the position
2. Research proposal (2-3 pages) where you present the idea for the PhD project you would like to carry out, including theoretical and methodological approach. The proposal’s focus must be linked to the above core disciplines of UNU-MERIT, but the emphasis within this is up to the candidate to suggest.
3. A complete CV with information on education and previous research experience
4. A copy of your passport (PDF or JPEG)
5. Electronic copies of certified certificates and grades, and an explanation of the grading system. Upon selection, hard copies by postal mail will be requested.
6. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must document English skills by an approved test. Approved tests are TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). We require a minimum level of 600 PBT / 240 CBT / 100 IBT for the TOEFL or 7.0 for the IELTS (native speakers of English and students who received their Bachelor’s or Master’s education in English are exempt). Maastricht University’s TOEFL code is 7102 (if you have more questions on the language tests please check the FAQ). 
7. One letter of recommendation (in English only) by a current or former professor or employer.

Application deadline: 15 February 2025

All applications will be reviewed based on the criteria outlined above and a shortlist of outstanding candidates will be made.  Before the end of March we will inform you via email in case you are not shortlisted. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we are unable to provide detailed feedback on individual applications.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview with UNU-MERIT staff and the PhD director in April. Final decisions for all shortlisted candidates will be communicated by the end of May latest. [Back to top]

Tuition and Fellowships

To enrol in the PhD programme for the 2025-2026 academic year, the following tuition fees apply:

• First year: €9000 *
• Subsequent years: €7000 *

The tuition fee includes all programme-related costs. This excludes books, specific research costs, travel costs, accommodation, and visa or residence permit costs.
*No rights may be derived from the fees published here.

UNU-MERIT PhD Fellowships

We award up to 10 PhD fellowships and waive tuition for selected candidates. This applies to the full-time track. The fellowship awarded consists of a monthly net fee of €1650 provided by UNU-MERIT for a period of four years, conditional on satisfactory progress assessed at the end of the first year. In addition, as a fellow you will receive a research budget to cover costs related to your research, such as equipment or travel.

Due to the limited availability of fellowships, we also encourage motivated candidates to apply for other scholarships. For more information you can visit the scholarships pages of the university website. You can also check for grants and scholarships at www.studyinholland.nl

The basic cost of living is around €1300 per month. If you wish to join the PhD programme without a fellowship, we will ask you to indicate to us how you will fund the first 36 months of enrolment in the programme, as part of the acceptance requirement. You will not need to include this proof in your application; we will contact you in case we need this information.

Students from the USA

Students from the USA are now entitled to use the USA direct loan system when they apply to Maastricht University education programmes. This concerns Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students. For more information, please visit this link. [Back to top]

Career Prospects

Our programme equips PhD fellows with the skills to thrive as professionals in diverse and challenging environments. Approximately 60% of our alumni continue in academia, while a large group secure positions within international organizations such as the European Union, United Nations, and World Bank. Others join leading policy research institutions.

The overview below highlights our recent (2022-24) graduates' expertise, reflected in their dissertation research and current or initial job placements.

2024 

Michelle Gonzalez Amador 
Visiting Researcher at Stanford Impact Labs and postdoctoral researcher at Wageningen University Social Sciences Group
Learning in Low and Middle-Income Countries, Essays on Education and Development Economics 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr.  Robin Cowan & Prof. Dr. Eleonora Nillesen
 
Florencia Jaccoud 
Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Camerino 
Essays on Automation and Labour Markets 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Bart Verspagen, Dr. Neil Foster-McGregor, & Dr. Önder Nomaler

Chen Gong 
Understanding the Drivers of Income Inequality in China: A Multilevel Distributional Microsimulation Analysis 
Supervisors: Dr.  Zina Nimeh, Prof. Dr. Cathal O'Donoghue &Dr. Denisa Maria Sologon
 
Hubert Nii-Aponsah 
Public Sector Development Consultant in GovTech at The World Bank 
The Future Quantity and Structural Effects of Contemporary Automation 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Bart Verspagen & Prof. Dr. Pierre Mohnen
  
Oriol Gisbert Marti 
Research Fellow at World Intellectual Property Organization 
Essays on the Structure of Supply and Demand 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr.  Bart Verspagen & Dr. Önder Nomaler
   
Michele Delera 
Senior Economist at Ecorys 
Essays on Global Value Chains, Economics Development, and the Environment 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Carlo Pietrobelli & Dr. Neil Foster-McGregor
  
Mariajose Silva Vargas 
Research and Policy Manager at Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) 
Beyond Boundaries: Integrating Refugees and Consolidating Farmland. Essays in Experimental and Development Economics 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr.  Eleonora Nillesen & Prof. Dr. Jonathan de Quidt
 
Antonio Soares Martins Neto 
Economist at the World Bank
Essays on Technology Adoption and the Labour Market 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Pierre Mohnen, Dr. Nanditha Mathew & Prof. Dr. Alex Coad

2023  

Cintia Denise Granja 
Senior Researcher at PPMI 
International Student Mobility and Attitudes Towards Inequality 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr.  Eleonora Nillesen, Prof. Dr. Robin Cowan & Prof. Dr. Ana Maria Alves Carneiro da Silva

Musa Hasen Ahmed 
Independent Consultant 
Essays on Development Economics: Climate Change, Education and Development 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Franziska Gassmann & Dr. Stephan Dietrich
 
Rumbidzai Ndoro 
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Specialist at FAO 
Exploring Unintended Responses to Social Cash Transfers through Intra-Household Decision-Making Dynamics and Women’s Empowerment in Africa 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Franziska Gassmann & Dr. Nyasha Tirivayi
 
Chuks Otioma  
Research Associate at the University of Glasgow 
Information and Communications Technology Capabilities. Innovation and Economic Performance in Africa: The role of Framework Conditions, Entrepreneurial Activity and Firm Learning 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr.  Fred Gault & Dr. Lili Wang
  
2022  

Francesca Rubiconto 
Postdoctoral researcher in the Urban Economics group at Wageningen University. 
Technical change, competitiveness, and employment. A sustainable perspective. 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr.  Bart Verspagen & Dr. Adriaan van Zon
  
Lorena Giuberti Coutinho 
Economist at the OECD 
Essays on Technology and Society, The Impacts of Algorithms and Online Mediaon Labor Market Outcomes and Political Dynamics 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Robin Cowan & Prof. Dr. Matthias Wibral
  
Godsway Korku Tetteh 
Research Associate of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab at University of Strathclyde 
The Economic Outcomes of Financial Innovation and Digital Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Pierre Mohnen, Dr. Micheline Goedhuys & Dr. Maty Konte
 
Francesco Iacoella  
Impact Evaluation Analyst at UNICEF 
Essays from Sub-Saharan Africa 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Franziska Gassmann & Dr. Nyasha Tirivayi
 
Victor Osei Kwadwo 
Governance and institutional development specialist at Maastricht University 
Inter-municipal Cooperation and Environmental Outcomes: Impact, Drivers, and Incentives 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Antonio Tavares & Dr. Tatiana Skripka
 
Hiwot Mekonnen Mesfin 
Social and Economic Policy Researcher at UNICEF 
Essays on Human and Social Capital Formation 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Eleonora Nillesen, Dr. Nyasha Tirivayi, Dr. Francesco Cecchi
 
Beatriz Calzada Olvera 
Economics Researcher at IHS-Erasmus University Rotterdam 
Extractive Industries and Structural Transformation 
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Bart Verspagen & Dr. Neil Foster-McGregor
 
Tamara A. Kool 
Researcher at Verwey Jonker Institute 
Beyond the Right to Work: Labour Market Engagement of Protracted Refugees Through a Social Exclusion Lens 
Supervisors:  Prof. Dr. Khalid Koser, Dr. Zina Nimeh & Dr. Lutz Krebs
 

More Information

Contact
PhD Director: Dr. Micheline Goedhuys
PhD Coordinator : Soha Youssef
Phone: (+31 43) 388 4449
Email: phdprogramme@merit.unu.edu

Address:
Boschstraat 24
6211 AX Maastricht
The Netherlands
 

Life in Maastricht

Maastricht is considered one of the most beautiful and safest cities in the Netherlands. It is also compact, lively and very international, which makes it a fantastic environment for students.

Residence Permit

PhD fellows who are not nationals of EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland, and stay longer than 90 days in the Netherlands are required before they come to the Netherlands to obtain a residence permit. This group of fellows often also need authorisation for temporary stay (MVV) to enter the Netherlands. Please note that not everyone who needs the residence permit also needs MVV. Nationals of one of the following countries do not apply for MVV: Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the United States, Vatican City, and South Korea.

Should the residence permit be required, the Knowledge Centre for International Staff of Maastricht University will submit a request for authorisation to the Ministry of Justice and Security as soon as possible upon acceptance to the programme. Note that the residence permit will be only issued if the correct procedure was followed in the home country..

All PhD fellows coming from abroad and staying for more than 90 days in the Netherlands are required to report upon arrival to the municipality of Maastricht (‘aliens department’) in order to obtain a residence permit and for registration. The Knowledge Centre for International Staff will help you with these issues once you are registered at Maastricht University.

Insurance

According to the Dutch law, all foreign PhD fellows must have health and liability insurance. PhD fellows may make their own arrangements (coverage by your home insurance) or opt to take insurance offered via Maastricht University. This insurance covers, among other things, medical and dental expenses and liability.

If you have private healthcare insurance in your home country, you might want to find out whether your policy also covers your medical bills in the Netherlands. If not, you will need to take out Dutch insurance.

Average living costs
The following is a realistic estimate of PhD fellow monthly expenditures (in euros).

Average living costs
The following is a realistic estimate of PhD fellow monthly expenditures (in euro).

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Frequently Asked Questions[FAQ] 

1. Doctoral trajectory

• What doctoral degree will I receive upon completion of the programme?  
  Upon successfully completing the programme, you will receive a PhD degree from Maastricht University, as the university officially awards the PhD. While UNU-MERIT is part of the United Nations University network and provides academic guidance and support, the degree itself is granted by Maastricht University.
• Is there a list of experts or researchers and their respective research fields?  
  A list of the staff members and research fellows and their research interests is available on the experts' list section of our website. The publications of all staff are available online and freely downloadable, and you can search by staff member to find out if the publications are related to your research interest.
• Can an external professor be on my supervision team? 
  According to the Maastricht University regulations, a supervisory team should consist of two to three people.  You should have at least one Full or Associate Professor from Maastricht University or UNU-MERIT, who acts as your promotor and primary supervisor. In addition to your promotor, you can have co-supervisor(s), who should at least hold a PhD, but they do not need to be full or associate professors.  
  This means it is possible to have members on your supervisory team not working in Maastricht. They need to have a PhD degree from an institution recognized by the Dutch state. Additionally, your primary promoter needs to agree to work with them on the supervisory team. In practice, discussions about your supervisory team will take place after you have been accepted for the second year of the programme.
• Are scholarships available?
  We award up to 10 PhD fellowships and waive tuition for selected candidates. The fellowship awarded consists of a monthly net fee of €1650 provided by UNU-MERIT for a period of four years, conditional on satisfactory progress. In addition, as a fellow you will receive a research budget of €3500 to cover costs related to your research.  If you have funding from a scholarship that is not the UNU-MERIT fellowship, you can join the full-time programme and conduct your research at UNU-MERIT in Maastricht.  Please note that you nevertheless have to be admitted to the programme, based on criteria of academic quality, topical fit with the research agenda and supervisory capacity on our end.    

2. Admission Requirements 

• Does my earned degree fulfil the requirements to apply for the programme?  
  If for some reason you believe that your MA or MSc is not an accepted degree, please send the pdf documents to our PhD office (phdprogramme@merit.unu.edu). We will verify your eligibility.
• What are the English language requirements?  
  As the website indicates, if you are a native speaker or studied in English for your BA or MA, you do not need a TOEFL or other proof. If you cannot be exempted from the English proficiency requirement, we need proof of your proficiency in English. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English Proficiency and Cambridge English Advanced tests.  The TOEFL code number of Maastricht University is 7102.  
• My TOEFL has expired, can I still submit it?  
  An expired copy will do. In case we need an updated one, we will let you know individually after reviewing the documents.  
• In my country, the next TOEFL exam date is after your application deadline. Can I send the exam results after the deadline?   
  Yes, you can.  In case we select you for the programme, it will be conditional on you passing the English language threshold.  
• Can I be too young or too old for the programme? 
  Age is not a hard criterion we consider when selecting the applicants, but for the full-time fellows an indicative age limit of 32 should be considered. As said, we may accept slightly older candidates if they have a strong and convincing proposal, but in general the selection of candidates for the full-time programme tends to be young. 

3. Application procedure

• What are the application deadlines? 
  The application period for the Full-Time PhD Programme opens on 15 November 2024 and closes on 15 February 2025. All documents must be submitted via the online system within this period.  
• What are my chances of being accepted in year one? 
  The selection process is competitive, as the programme receives many high-quality applications. On average for the Full-Time programme, more than 250 people apply during our annual application round. We are only able to select a cohort of up to 10 fellows each year.  
• What should the research proposal include? 
  The main objective of asking you to write a research proposal is to get a clear idea of your research interests and background. This will help us find out if we can offer the right supervision for your research project. By giving details on the literature, you plan to contribute to, the research question and the methodological approach you plan to follow, we are in a much better position to assess our supervisory capacity for your topic.  
  Therefore, ideally, the research proposal should include some of the following parts 
  (1) background to your research topic (relevance, literature to contribute to, gap in knowledge); 
  (2) research question(s); 
  (3) theoretical/analytical framework; 
  (4) methodological approach (eg qualitative/quantitative study; data sources and data collection methods). 
  
  Please note that a PhD dissertation can be written as a monograph or a collection of research articles. If you would opt for the latter, you may also readily develop a research proposal reflecting this structure, outlining about three research papers, with a brief description of the research question, theoretical framework, and methodological approach.  We are aware that you may not have this fully developed at this stage, and it is indeed part of the first-year programme to develop the proposal in greater detail. However, we encourage you to reflect on your research plans in preparation for your application and share with us your thoughts. 
   
• Should I contact a potential supervisor before applying? 
  It is not necessary nor desirable to contact staff members before submitting your application to explore their willingness to act as a supervisor. Reaching out to staff individually isn't encouraged, as our staff members cannot accommodate personal requests for supervision and cannot support you in preparing your application.  Candidates apply based on their own merits. The best approach is to thoroughly research the institute's agenda and assess if there is a topical alignment with your own research interests. When you submit your application, the PhD selection committee will evaluate its fit with the institute's focus and determine supervisory capacity.
• What are the required documents concerning the grades of my Bachelor’s and Master’s? 
  We need the grades transcript and a document explaining the grading scale (if it is not on your transcript already), as well as a certified copy of the degree.
   
  A grades transcript is a document where we can see which courses you followed during your BA and MA, and the scores you obtained.  The grading scheme informs us about the grading scales, if your grades were A-B-C, a scale 1-5, 1-10, 1-20 and at what grade you pass/fail. Our academic committee to select candidates and assess their performance uses the last two documents.  

The degree is a certified copy of the degree from your university. In case you do not have such a copy, your university can offer you one or send one directly to us. We need these documents to ensure access to the PhD programme in Maastricht and we are legally not able to allow you access to the programme unless the Dutch ministry of education approves this certified degree.

• I have original copies of my certificates. Will you accept if I make copies and certify them with a notary public for uploading with my application?  
  For the application, you can just send us regular copies but if you are accepted onto the programme, we will need certified copies.  
• Can I submit the requested original degrees past the deadline? 
  We understand that it is sometimes hard to send us originally certified degrees. We need those to be able to formally register you in the programme. Universities will send them directly to us if you request them to send us a certified copy. For the selection process, after the deadline, we will need readable pdf uploaded degrees and grade certificates. For registering you later, we will need the certified documents, but we can process your application if your documents are available in pdf format.
• Is it possible to apply before I have received all my grades for my Master’s? 
  It is not possible to start the programme without having fully completed an MA or MSc. If you can submit your grades list and indicate the date of completion, we can nevertheless take your application on board for review. You may be conditionally admitted to the programme.  You will be admitted unconditionally as soon as we have received the degree and completion certificate.  
• How can I encourage my referees to submit reference letters? 
  When you use the application form, you will enter the contact information of your referees. We automatically notify the referees and we directly ask their views on your performance. Once we have received your referee’s feedback, you will be notified that your application is complete.
• Can I schedule a call to explore if the research interests align with the University and have the University review my CV?
  Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to schedule individual calls or review CVs at the application process stage. We do have group consultation hours where you can raise particular questions you may still have.  The scheduled hours are indicated on the PhD introductory page.   We encourage you to apply directly so that your application can be considered on its own merit. 
  
  4. Practicalities  
• Do I need a visa to study at UNU-MERIT? 
  If you are a non-EU citizen, you will need a student visa to study in the Netherlands. The Knowledge Centre for International Staff (KCIS) at Maastricht University will assist you with the visa application process once you are admitted.
• Can my family join me in Maastricht? 
  Yes, your family can join you while you study in Maastricht. The Knowledge Centre for International Staff (KCIS) can assist with visa applications for family members. Be aware that you must meet the financial requirements for a family visa. re
   

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Code of Conduct

The code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers consists of a set of general principles and requirements that should be followed by employers and/or funders when appointing or recruiting researchers. These principles and requirements should ensure observance of values such as transparency of the recruitment process and equal treatment of all applicants, in particular with regard to the development of an attractive, open and sustainable European labour market for researchers, and are complementary to those outlined in the European Charter for Researchers.

Institutions and employers adhering to the Code of Conduct will openly demonstrate their commitment to act in a responsible and respectable way and to provide fair framework conditions to researchers, with a clear intention to contribute to the advancement of the European Research Area.

UNU-MERIT and its School of Governance adheres to the European Charter for Researchers as well as the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice.  [Back to top]