PhD programme
The PhD programme enables MSc graduates to deepen their knowledge of their chosen area of specialisation. Participants conduct their own independent scientific research, often in multidisciplinary teams, the findings and conclusions of which will be of direct benefit to their home country or region.
PhD research is sometimes carried out using the ‘sandwich’ model. Participants prepare their research and finalise their theses – the first and last portions of the programme – in Delft, but conduct the actual research in their home country, under the co-supervision of a local institution.
Researchers maintain regular contacts with their promoters through visits and electronic media, enabling them to employ solutions directly related to problems in their home region.
UNESCO-IHE’s PhD degrees are awarded jointly with a Dutch university. The degrees are highly valued and fully recognised in all parts of the world. The nominal time span of a PhD programme is four years.
UNESCO-IHE is a member of the SENSE Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment.
SENSE is a joint venture of the environmental research institutes of nine Dutch universities. SENSE research focuses on both the natural sciences and socio-economic fields of environmental research.
Conducting research at UNESCO-IHE
At UNESCO-IHE, PhD participants work together with other researchers – including over 65 PhD and 200 MSc participants from many countries – dealing with topics related to water and the environment. This results in a vibrant, multicultural and multidisciplinary research atmosphere.
Participants participate in problem-oriented research with relevance for development, by joining an existing research programme or by defining their own research topic within UNESCO-IHE’s five themes.
All PhD participants at the Institute can benefit from the possibility of linking MSc research to their own.
The research can address the global water agenda, or help to solve problems relevant to the water and environment sectors worldwide, thus contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other objectives of the international community.
Such research often involves collaboration with the Institute’s vast network of institutions in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
In some cases, UNESCO-IHE can arrange for lectures and question-and-answer sessions to take place via a videoconferencing link.
Conducting PhD research at UNESCO-IHE? Read more in the prospective students section.
Have a look at PhD studies that currently run at UNESCO-IHE.