PhD in Water Science at IHE Delft (UN-IHE), Netherlands: Requirements, Costs & How to Apply.
- Epicrich Gadgets
- May 12
- 4 min read
Programme Overview
Detail | Info |
Institute | IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands |
Degree | PhD (awarded jointly with a Dutch partner university) |
Duration | 4 years |
Language | English |
Application deadline | No fixed deadline — apply any time |
Tuition fee (self-funded) | €64,000 total (full 4-year programme) |
Paid vacancy positions | Occasionally available — employment contract + salary |
Open to | All nationalities worldwide |
Research Themes
PhD research at IHE Delft is structured around key global water challenges. Research areas include:
Water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
Hydrology and water resources
Water quality and ecosystems
Hydraulic engineering and river basin management
Water governance, economics, and institutions
Groundwater and soil systems
Urban water management
Climate change and water
Flood risk management
Your research topic must fall within one of IHE Delft's established research themes. Browse themes at un-ihe.org/research.
Two Routes to a PhD at IHE Delft
Route 1 — Self-Funded (Regular Application)
You bring your own funding, propose your own research topic within IHE Delft's themes, and apply through the regular admission procedure.
Total tuition fees for the four-year PhD programme are currently €64,000, regardless of whether part of the research is done in your home country or at IHE Delft. Tuition fees cover access to all IHE Delft facilities, the compulsory courses, use of a laptop computer, and the costs of your defence.
Additional costs include compulsory health insurance ranging from roughly €60–€150 per month, a residence permit, and expenses related to the research such as conferences, travel, equipment, and materials.
Monthly costs for rent are estimated at roughly €900 per month for student housing and €800–€1,200 for housing in the private rental market.
Your academic admission is valid for 3 years — this time is available to you to secure the necessary financing or complete other needed preparations. The programme may not be started until full financial support is acquired.
Route 2 — Paid PhD Vacancy (Externally Funded Research Position)
IHE Delft occasionally offers PhD positions financed through externally funded research grants. For these positions, the research topic is pre-determined and candidates' profiles should match those listed in the vacancies. Successful applicants receive an employment contract from IHE Delft for the duration of the PhD programme.
No tuition fee
Salary provided via employment contract
Research topic is fixed by the project
Highly competitive — check current vacancies at un-ihe.org/vacancies
Eligibility Requirements
For admission to the PhD programme, you should have: an MSc degree with high qualifications — at least B+ (US system), 2nd Upper (British system) or a GPA of 3 out of 4; a research topic that falls within the IHE Delft research themes; and a good command of the English language. All non-native English-speaking applicants must satisfy the English language requirements for IHE Delft's educational programmes.
In summary:
MSc degree with strong results (B+/2:1/GPA 3.0+)
Research topic within IHE Delft's themes
English proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL — exemptions for some nationalities)
Guaranteed funding confirmed before full admission
Required Documents
The following documents are required as part of your PhD application to IHE Delft. All documents must be in English and original language. Please send documents as PDFs and make sure they do not exceed 2 MB.
Certified BSc and MSc transcripts/marksheets (with sworn English translation if not in English)
Certified BSc and MSc degree certificates (same translation requirement)
PhD research proposal (max 10 pages) — outlining the subject, methodology, and relevance to IHE Delft's research themes
Motivation letter (referring to thesis topics of your target research group)
Passport copy
English language test results (if applicable)
Proof of funding / sponsor confirmation letter (if already secured)
Application Process — Step by Step
Step 1 — Check your funding Confirm you have or are actively pursuing sufficient funds to cover the full 4-year programme (€64,000 tuition + living costs). Without guaranteed funding you cannot be fully admitted.
Step 2 — Apply online Submit your application at any time via: 👉 apply.un-ihe.org/application-process/phd-programme
Step 3 — Diploma validation Upon receipt of your complete online application, IHE Delft will send your foreign diplomas and transcripts to the Diploma Validation Office of Nuffic (Dutch organisation for the internationalisation of education).
Step 4 — Promotor review and interview If your diplomas are found adequate, your documents will be sent to a promotor — an IHE Delft professor — who will consider whether to propose you for academic admission. An online interview session is part of this process.
Step 5 — Admission letter If the professor proposes you for admission, you will be sent an admission letter. If you haven't yet submitted the results of an English language test, your admission letter will be conditional and you will receive an unconditional admission letter once you have submitted the results.
Step 6 — Secure full funding Use your admission letter (valid 3 years) to apply for external scholarships and fellowships. Only once full funding is confirmed can the programme begin.
Where to Find Funding (External Sources)
Since IHE Delft offers no PhD scholarships, here are the most relevant external funding routes:
Source | Who It's For | Link |
NWO | Netherlands research grants | |
Schlumberger / Faculty for the Future | Women in STEM from developing countries | |
Robert S. McNamara Fellowships | Developing country researchers | |
WWF Russell E. Train Fellowships | Conservation and related fields | |
LPDP (Indonesia) | Indonesian nationals under 40 | |
VIED (Vietnam) | Vietnamese nationals | |
Your home country's Ministry of Education | Varies by country | Contact your MoE directly |
Your country might also offer fellowships for studies abroad — it might be worthwhile to contact your Ministry of Education and other education and research organisations.
Application Deadline
IHE Delft does not have an application deadline — you can apply at any time throughout the year. However, your real deadline is set by whichever external scholarship you are applying to — and most scholarships require proof of admission before you can apply.
The smart approach: Apply to IHE Delft first → receive your admission letter (valid 3 years) → use that letter to apply for external scholarships.
Key External Scholarship Deadlines
Scholarship | Typical Deadline |
Schlumberger Faculty for the Future (women in STEM from developing countries) | ~November each year |
WWF Russell E. Train Fellowships (conservation fields) | ~December each year |
Robert S. McNamara Fellowships (World Bank) | ~December each year |
LPDP (Indonesian nationals) | Multiple rounds — check lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id |
NWO (Netherlands research grants) | Varies by call — check nwo.nl |
VIED (Vietnamese nationals) | Check vied.edu.vn |
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