PRESS RELEASE - International scholarship PhD candidates are deeply concerned about their financial situation and struggle to make ends meet. On average, they earn only 1400 euros per month while working full-time on their PhDs, but scholarship amounts can be as low as 700 euros per month, according to a research report by Promovendi Netwerk Nederland (PNN) on the working and living conditions of international scholarship PhD candidates. For comparison, the minimum wage in the Netherlands is 1995 euros per month. The research reveals that international scholarship PhD candidates are in a very vulnerable position. Therefore, PNN and The Young Academy advocate for a fundamental national restructuring of the position and funding of international scholarship PhD candidates.
The research indicates that international scholarship PhD candidates have fewer rights than employed PhD candidates. Additionally, they often experience differences in treatment compared to employed PhD candidates. Because they are not employed, they find themselves in an unclear position: they are neither students nor employees. Chair Anneke Kastelein stated, "This has various repercussions; these PhD candidates are not eligible for student housing and also face difficulties in renting elsewhere because they cannot provide a salary slip. Due to this unclear status, this group also has no entitlement to Dutch health insurance or allowances."
Mental wellbeing of these PhD candidates is poor
More than a third of all respondents expect they will not be able to complete their research within the allocated contract duration. Extensions are difficult or even impossible to obtain. Two-thirds of them experience (extremely) high work pressure, and some also encounter inappropriate behavior. All these difficulties have an impact on their mental health, with over a quarter of respondents describing their mental health as (very) poor. Kastelein remarked, "The answers revealed that some scholarship PhD candidates must repay the entire scholarship amount if they do not finish their PhD on time. In the Netherlands, the average PhD trajectory takes more than 5 years, so these PhD candidates are under immense pressure to complete it within 4 years."
Urgent need for improvement in working and living conditions
The findings of the report emphasize the urgent need for improvement in the working and living conditions of international scholarship PhD candidates in the Netherlands. PNN is not against foreign scholarships for individual PhD candidates but advocates for a fundamental restructuring of the position and funding of international scholarship PhD candidates. Kastelein added, "These PhD candidates carry out the same research work as employed PhD candidates, contribute to the research group's results, and make a significant contribution to Dutch science. Let the scholarship run through the institution and hire the PhD candidate as is done with other grants." Given the vulnerable position of international scholarship PhD candidates, PNN calls on institutions to take immediate action. Marie-José van Tol, chair of The Young Academy, supports PNN's stance, stating, "Today's PhD candidates are tomorrow's scientists. We trust that the academic community will advocate for the interests of international scholarship PhD candidates and create optimal working conditions for them."
There are an estimated 3,800 international scholarship PhD candidates in the Netherlands. They receive a monthly scholarship, often from a foreign government, instead of a salary. The report "PNN Monitor: International scholarship PhD candidates" sheds light on the situation of international scholarship PhD candidates in the Netherlands. This report was written by PNN with a contribution from De Jonge Akademie.
