Mosaic 3.0 PhD Scholarship Programme in the Netherlands: €420,000 Funding Available for Researchers from Under-Represented Backgrounds

Overview

The Mosaic 3.0 PhD Scholarship Programme, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), provides funding to encourage the recruitment and development of researchers from under-represented groups within Dutch academia. The programme supports PhD research across all academic fields with no subject restrictions, provided proposals meet the necessary academic standards. The total budget for this funding round is €7.4 million, with a maximum of €420,000 available per project to cover up to 4 years of full-time research or equivalent part-time arrangements.

Eligibility

Mosaic 3.0 divides applicants into two distinct target groups, each with its own criteria and grant allocations:

• Group 1: Researchers with a non-European migration background (specifically including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Turkey, and Indigenous peoples of North America and Oceania). €5 million is allocated to this group.
• Group 2: Researchers with a recent asylum background, including junior refugee researchers at Master’s level and researchers from Ukraine. €2.4 million is allocated to this group.

Applicants must submit their own proposals in consultation with an intended supervisor and a daily supervisor. The application must also include a required statement from the intended supervisor.

How to Apply

The application process consists of two stages:

• Stage 1 (Pre-application): Candidates must submit an initial pre-application.
• Stage 2 (Full application): Successful candidates from the first stage will submit a full proposal.

Applicants should prepare their research concepts, connect with suitable Dutch research institutions and supervisors, and complete their submissions via the official portal.

Deadline

The pre-application deadline is 3 November 2026 at 14:00:00 CEST. The subsequent full application deadline is 4 May 2027 at 14:00:00 CET.