Am I supposed to work on predefined PhD projects or should I submit my own research proposal? What shall I do if I have my own proposal?

We normally select PhD candidates for pre-defined projects developed by our faculty. One does not have to provide one’s own proposals. However, if you have developed your own research proposal you are welcome to include it in your application package. In the Application form you can then indicate “Own project” either as the only project of your choice or as one of the four possible project choices.

Should I contact the project supervisors myself?

You are not expected to contact the project supervisors yourself. They will contact you if they have questions or want to schedule an interview.

What is the application deadline?

When will the selection results be available?

The selection results will be communicated to the applicants not later than early June 2011. In most cases applicants will be informed on the results of their application earlier. You can also be invited to schedule an interview with project supervisors.

Can I inquire about the status of my application before June?

We would kindly ask you not to inquire about the selection results before the selection period is completed. The results are always communicated to applicants in due time.

Do all PhD projects have to start in September or are there any exceptions?

Normally, the new PhD projects should start in September with the start of the new academic year. In some cases a different starting date is possible. For example, if you are selected for a PhD but will officially acquire your master title in September then it would be possible to start with your PhD later (e.g. per October or November). Other exceptions may also be possible.

I live outside the Netherlands. Am I supposed to come to Rotterdam for an interview if the project supervisor would like to contact me?

Skype or telephone interview can be used as an alternative to a personal meeting.

Is a GMAT or GRE test required for all applicants?

Yes, a GMAT or GRE is required for all applicants to the programme. It is required also for graduates of the Dutch universities, for those who have followed a programme entirely in English, for the native speakers of English, for those who have their degrees with distinction, etc.

Can I replace a GMAT/GRE test by a similar kind of test taken at my university or at the ministry of education of my country?

No, we only accept GMAT and GRE tests.

Do I need to submit a TOEFL/IELTS test if I have done a GMAT/GRE test?

Yes, applicants are required to provide ERIM with both a GMAT or GRE test and a language test.

Do I need to submit a GMAT/GRE test if I have done a TOEFL/IELTS test?

Yes, applicants are required to provide ERIM with both a GMAT or GRE test and a language test.

The bachelor/master programme(s) I have followed was/were taught in English. Do I still need to submit a TOEFL/IELTS test?

ERIM requires that applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores on the TOEFL or IELTS. If the medium of your pre-university education was English, you need not submit TOEFL/IELTS scores. If your university programme was taught in English, you still need to submit the English test scores.

Do you accept English proficiency tests other than TOEFL/IELTS?

We also accept CPE (Cambridge Proficiency English) and CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) certificates.

Can I apply for a waiver from GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS?

We do not give GMAT/GRE waivers. It is possible to apply for a waiver from TOEFL/IELTS. In this case please enclose an extra letter with your motivation to your application. Do not forget to enclose any relevant documents.

My country does not have a GMAT/GRE office or the tests are fully booked for the coming months. Do I still have to submit the test?

You can travel to another country to take the test.

The GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS tests are rather costly. Can I have the test costs reimbursed?

The test costs could be reimbursed for those applicants who have officially been selected for a PhD and started working at ERIM.

My official GMAT/GRE report could only be available shortly after the application deadline. Is that a problem?

The official results take ca. 3 weeks. However, the preliminary test results are available immediately after the test. You can submit them to the ERIM office before the official results arrive. That would help us with timely preliminary assessment of your application package.

Are there minimum requirements for GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS tests?

We expect excellent applicants to have high GMAT/GRE scores (above 85%) and good command of English (expected score for Internet-based TOEFL is 100, for paper-based TOEFL 600, and for IELTS 7.5).

My GMAT/GRE/ TOEFL/IELTS test results turned out lower than I expected (due to illness, lack of time for preparation, etc.). Can I re-take a test?

Yes, you may re-take the tests. If you have improved the score, the admissions committee will ignore the first poor score.

Do you offer part-time opportunities?

No, the PhD Programme in Management is only offered on a full-time basis.

Do you support the sandwich model?

No.

I will officially complete my master degree within a few weeks/months after the application deadline. Can I still apply?

Yes, you can apply. In that case you would need to submit the most recent preliminary official list of grades instead of the final one. Naturally, one can only be appointed for a PhD when the master degree is formally acquired and the final study results are still excellent.

Is my educational background sufficient for the PhD in Management?

The required entrance level of education for students to the PhD Programme in Management at ERIM is four years of Dutch scientific university education (MSc or MA) or its international equivalent. If we are in doubt we always ask the Admission Office of the Erasmus University for an assessment of a candidate’s educational profile and we can, in most cases, say after this first assessment if a student is eligible or not. This first assessment can take up to three weeks. For individual inquiries please contact the ERIM Doctoral Office.

I have an MBA degree. Can I apply for the PhD in Management?

The required entrance level of education for students to the PhD Programme in Management at ERIM is four years of Dutch scientific university education (MSc or MA) or its international equivalent. MBA degree holders may apply for a PhD but they should note that the MBA degree does not grant automatic admission to a PhD in the Netherlands. The reason is that MBA programmes (including the highly ranked ones) are practically and not academically oriented in the first place. If your MBA programme includes a graded master thesis as a standard part of its curriculum that it is more likely that this particular MBA degree would give you an admission to a doctorate in the Netherlands. In any case it needs to be verified by the Admission Office of the Erasmus University. The first assessment can take up to three weeks.

Can I participate in the PhD programme in Management and keep living outside the Netherlands?

No, as the PhD Programme in Management is only offered on a full-time basis you will have to live in the surroundings of Rotterdam during the programme.

What is the PhD tuition fee?

In the Netherlands PhD candidates are considered the employees (not students) of the university. Therefore, no tuition fee is charged.

Is it possible to apply for a scholarship?