Trial period and Go/No-go
On commencement of the promotion process, the law provides space for an employment contract with a term of 18 months (1,5 years) at most. This term functions as a probationary period. The regulation regarding the go/no-go decision for your thesis is mostly handled locally. Often, the progress in the first year will be discussed with your supervisor(s) within 8 to 14 months after the start of your contract.
Factors influencing a go/no-go-decision can include (as far as these were not yet hard requirements for your initial application):
- A positive master’s diploma evaluation or a positive result of a qualifying examination,
- Proof of proficiency in English,
- Approval of your project proposal,
- Approval of your Training and Supervision Plan,
- Evaluations of your first-year ‘pilot study’,
- A positive formal go/no-go decision by your promotor(es).
If there is doubt about your progress, your supervisors might express this to you, in an attempt to show more progress until the 18 months have passed. As soon as you have received a go for the rest of your PhD, the Human Resources (HR) department is not equipped to raise any more questions, for example about financial backing.
Are you currently experiencing issues during your PhD that you need help with?
Most institutions have a number of contact points for help. This compass is designed to help you find the right support.
In the drop-down menu you can select the institution that you are doing your PhD at. Then the roadmap will show you available contact points. In most cases it makes sense to start by considering contact points in your immediate work environment first and then progress to higher levels (like institutional or national).
At the bottom of the page you can find some examples of problems you can run into and a list of descriptions of each contact point.
Your first contact points
Colleagues: Sometimes it can already help to talk with your colleagues about the issue you are experiencing. This will help you judge the severity of it and can provide you with allies in taking further action.
Daily supervisor*: Naturally, your daily supervisor is the first contact point for all issues. They can help you determine the next steps. Of course, you may not feel comfortable discussing everything with your supervisor, or maybe your daily supervisor is involved in the issue. In these cases have a look at the other available contact points.
Promotor or Co-Supervisor*: Especially, in cases of issues with your daily supervisor, consider reaching out to your promotor or another member on the supervision team and ask for a one-on-one meeting. Maybe they can (temporarily) step-up and help you resolve the issue.If you have a conflict with your supervisor(s), you can also have a look at the PNN PhD supervisor conflict roadmap.
*Note that your annual review talk with your supervisory team is a good opportunity to address issues or suggestions for improvement.
National contact points
Labor unions: Organizations representing the interests of academic staff, offering support on employment-related matters, rights, and fair treatment.
NWO Scientific Integrity Desk: A specialized desk addressing scientific integrity concerns in projects related to or funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).
Netherlands Board of Research Integrity (LOWI): An independent body handling complaints related to scientific integrity, providing a platform for fair investigation. If you feel like the local scientific integrity committee at your institution did not handle a case correctly, the LOWI can be the next contact point.
Making a police report: In cases involving a criminal offense, please consider contacting local law enforcement to report incidents and seek assistance.