News
WUR offers PhD candidates with limited means financial support
PhD candidates on a scholarship with limited means who already started their trajectory will receive financial support from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to cushion the effects of inflation. Prospective PhD candidates on a scholarship will be permitted to start their trajectory only if their grant matches or exceeds the budget threshold determined by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Services) and is indexed.
WUR is taking these measures to ensure a proper living standard among PhD students in Wageningen. PhD candidates on a scholarship depend on their granted funds to complete their doctorate research in Wageningen. WUR has over 500 of these PhDs, mostly from China, Indonesia, South America and Africa.
Steep increase in inflation
PhD students on a scholarschip who apply for a visa must meet the IND budget threshold. Occasionally, the grants fail to meet these criteria, and, in general, the grant is not indexed for inflation. Over the past few years, steep inflation has caused some dire situations where increasing prices severely impacted many of these PhD candidates. Some -the exact number is unknown- were no longer able to make ends meet.
Financial support and a new requirement for admission
WUR has been considering appropriate measures to support this group for some time, a considerable challenge with quite a few legal and financial ramifications. Discussions with the tax agency yielded no solutions. Despite the risks, the Executive Board (EB) has decided to take measures to improve the living standard of both current and future PhD candidates.
First, current PhD candidates on a scholarship whose grant is insufficient and who meet the criteria are eligible for financial support from WUR. The sum depends on the size of the grant the candidate currently receives. Doctoral candidates will be informed by email and prompted to apply for financial support through their graduate school.
Secondly, WUR aims to avoid similar situations in the future by introducing a new standard as of 1 January 2024: PhD candidates on a scholarship will only be admitted if their grant matches the IND budget threshold and is indexed for inflation.