2010 Utrecht University,  China and India Short Stay PhD Fellowships

1. Introduction

Following the success of previous years, Utrecht University (UU), The Netherlands, offers this year short stay fellowships for PhD students from China and India. New this year is the option for UU PhD students to visit partner institutions in China and India on a fellowship. The purpose of the 3 month visit is to further the knowledge and interest in the research that is being carried out by research groups in Utrecht, China and India. During their stay PhD students will become familiar with the (partner) institution and the range of research possibilities it offers to PhD students and researchers. Students in all disciplines from UU and students in all disciplines from China and India conducting research at Utrecht University Partners (UUP)* are considered eligible candidates. Applications for PhD students who are not registered at one of the Utrecht University Partners are also welcome, but will not have a priority.

2a. Fellowship grant

This programme is fully sponsored by Utrecht University. Selected PhD students from China and India are offered an economy class return ticket to and from Amsterdam (up to a maximum of €1150), visa reimbursement, accommodation in Utrecht, a medical and third party liability insurance, and a monthly allowance. The UU faculty/research group will cover for the research infrastructure and supervision costs.

2b. Fellowship grant

Selected UU PhD students are offered an economy class return ticket to and from China or India (up to a maximum of €1150), visa reimbursement, a medical and third party liability insurance and a monthly allowance (also covering accommodation costs in China or India). The partner institution faculty/research group in China or India will have to arrange and cover for the research infrastructure and supervision costs and is expected to arrange suitable housing for the PhD student.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday 15 January 2010 We advise you to start your application a.s.a.p.

3. Selection

The UU supervisor should submit the application (format attached to this document) by Friday 15 January 2010 the latest. The UU Executive Board will make a selection for the short stay fellowships based upon the advice of the UU Region Committee Asia. The applicants will be notified of the outcome before Friday 19 February 2010.

*Utrecht University Partners
China	India
Chinese University of Hong KongFudan University Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Nanjing University Peking University Tsinghua University University of Hong Kong Wuhan University Xiamen University Zhejiang University	Indian Institute of Science, BangaloreJawaharlal Nehru University National Centre for Biological Sciences National Brain Research Centre University of Hyderabad

4.1 Procedure for PhD students from China and India

The PhD student should identify and contact a suitable UU professor willing to act as supervisor during the Short Stay Fellowship. To do so see the website www.uu.nl/english, click ‘faculties’ and select the faculty of your studies. Then click ‘research’ and look for institutes or staff working in your field of expertise. For the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences kindly contact Ms Els van Kampen at [email protected] for Medicine you can contact Ms Maggy Ovaa [email protected] and for the faculty of Law, Economics and Governance you are requested to contact [email protected]. If you can not find a suitable supervisor you can contact the department or institute secretariat via email or telephone as mentioned on their website.

Applicants have to be nominated by the supervisor at Utrecht University: not the PhD student but the UU supervisor will submit the application. The standard format letter of approval by the Utrecht University faculty dean must be included in the application and should be arranged by the UU supervisor. To apply for this programme the attached ‘UU China and India Short Stay PhD Fellowships 2010’ application form must be submitted by the UU supervisor.

4.2 Application

PhD student: First of all the PhD student must identify a UU Professor willing to be supervisor during the fellowship. If the student finds such a supervisor the student should fill in the application form and send it to the supervisor for approval. If the supervisor approves of the application the PhD student must send the supervisor:

– A copy of his or her Master’s degree, or proof of participation, for at least one year, in a combined MA/PhD programme (China).

– An electronic copy (scan) of a signed letter of recommendation and approval of the suggested research in Utrecht by the student’s home university (in China or India) faculty dean, head of department, research institute director, or supervisor.

– Recent proof of required English skills (no more than two years old)*. Proof of English skills is not required for students from India and Hong Kong.

* IELTS: 6.5 (overall band) minimum of 6.0 for writing.
TOEFL: 237 for the computer test; or 580 for the written test; or 93 for the internet test.
Cambridge Certificate: CAE:B, CPE: C

UU supervisor:

When the applicant and 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 both the PhD student(‘s research group) and the UU research group.

– An electronic copy (scanned) of a signed standard format approval letter of the UU faculty dean. To obtain the format of this letter you can contact Ms. Joke de Wolf of the UU Academic Affairs secretariat at [email protected] .

– The UU supervisor is required to send in the complete application via email only.

5.1 Procedure for UU PhD students

The PhD student should identify and contact a suitable professor at a partner institution in China or India who is willing to act as supervisor during the short stay fellowship. Utrecht University applicants have to be nominated by their UU supervisor: not the UU PhD student but the UU supervisor will submit the application.

5.2 Application

PhD student: First of all the UU PhD student should arrange approval of his or her UU supervisor to apply for this programme. The next step is to identify a professor at a partner institution in China or India who is willing to be supervisor during the fellowship in China or India. If the student finds such a supervisor the student should fill in the application form and arrange for a nomination letter by his or her UU supervisor stating the approval for the application. The PhD student will send both the application form and the nomination letter of the UU supervisor to the supervisor in China or India for approval. If the supervisor in China or India approves of the application he or she should send an electronic copy of the standard format approval letter to the UU PhD student. This letter must be signed by both the supervisor and the research director of the institute or dean of the department/faculty in China or India. To obtain the format of this letter you can contact Ms. Joke de Wolf of the UU Academic Affairs secretariat at J.L.M.deWolf-at-uu.nl

UU supervisor:

When the UU applicant and supervisor in China or India 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 both the PhD student(‘s research group) and the research group in China or India.

– The UU supervisor is required to send in the complete application via email only.

6. Application and information

Complete applications can be sent to Ms. Joke de Wolf of the UU Academic Affairs Office at [email protected]

For questions and information regarding the programme you can contact:

Utrecht University Region Committee Asia

C/o Joke de Wolf

Utrecht University

Corporate Offices, Academic Affairs

Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht

The Netherlands

Email:           J.L.M.deWolf-at-uu.nl

Website:        www.uu.nl/english

2010 Short Stay Fellowships for PhD Students from China and India Application