This research analyses the Ph.D. trajectories and employment outcomes of recent Dutch Ph.D. recipients at four universities in the Netherlands in 2008-2009: Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Utrecht University and Wageningen University and Research Centre.
The research was conducted on behalf of the Netherlands Centre for Graduate and Research Schools in the Netherlands and the Institute of Education (IVLOS) at Utrecht University and was subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, OC&W). This report is an important source of information on Ph.D. candidates in the Netherlands. The most recent comprehensive study of Ph.D. candidates conducted prior to this research is from 1996 (Hulshof et al., 1996). This study provides detailed information on the background of Ph.D. candidates, their Ph.D. trajectory, including supervision and the performance of Ph.D. candidates, as well as their initial employment after obtaining their Ph.D.