Annually, Tilburg Law School (TLS) has six to eight PhD positions available.

The recruitment and

selection procedure of PhD candidates is set up in such a way that candidates from all over the world
can apply through this website all year round. Tilburg Graduate Law School (TGLS) organizes two
application procedures a year, one in the summer and one in the winter. The deadline for the 2013
summer procedure (6 vacancies) will be May 15, 2013.
The procedure for the applications will be the same for every round.
For the text of the vacancy of the November-December round please see the vacancy site of Tilburg
University http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about-tilburg-university/working-at/wp/ .

Procedure:
A. Selection of supervisor(s) by candidate:
Step 1: Select one or more research institutes or research groups of Tilburg Law School
closest to the discipline in which you have graduated or the field in which you
wish to conduct PhD research. For information on TLSs research themes, please
go to http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/law/institutes/ .
Step 2: Approach one or more interesting potential supervisors by contacting (a) full
professor(s) at Tilburg Law School who represent the best match with the subject
on which you wish to conduct PhD research. The intention is to realize an
interesting match between the proposed supervisor(s) and the candidate. All
supervisors are aware of this procedure. Request the concerning professor(s) to
write a letter of nomination for you.
For information on our professors/supervisors, please go to
http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/law/institutes/
and/or Experts and Expertise: http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/webwijs/
For any remaining questions, candidates can contact tgls-appl@tilburguniversity.edu

B. Application:
1. Not later than May 15, 2013, the following documents (written in English) must be
submitted online (see B 3.)
a.
a letter of motivation, including information on your present situation and/or
employment;
b.
a research proposal in TGLS format, including the name(s) of your proposed
supervisor(s)
If you have your own proposal, please use form 1 (below);
If you wish to join research of a supervisor or institute, please use form 2 (below).
c.
a letter of nomination of the proposed supervisor (with an appointment at Tilburg
Law School);
d.
a European-style CV;
<http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Downloads/Europass
CV/CVTemplate.csp> ;
e.
a copy of your Masters diploma and a transcript of your academic records.
f.
two letters of recommendation, at least one of which is written by an external
expert in the proposed field of study, preferably a professor from another Law
School;
g.

the English Language requirement: a TOEFL score with a 100 (internet-based)

or Academic IELTS score with a minimum of 7.0 score overall and a minimum score
of 6.5 on individual parts of the test. (original copy).
Please note: the submission of TOEFL/IELTS score does not apply to candidates who
obtain a diploma of an English Master program. Please add a certification which
confirms that the full master program was delivered in English.
For Dutch candidates: this requirement does not apply when the thesis will be written
in Dutch. The selection committee may require an additional English test during the
selection procedure.

Please note
Application is only possible through the procedure mentioned above.
The documents mentioned under B1 will only be accepted in the formats
provided by TGLS and if submitted online, by using the link apply directly
in the text of the vacancy http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about-tilburguniversity/working-at/wp/

A.

Selection criteria

Research proposals are assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

1) Subject:
Is the subject socially relevant?
Does the subject contribute to new knowledge and/or methods?
2) Research question:
Has the research question been formulated clearly?
If there are more research questions, is it clear how they relate to each other?
Are the objectives of the project in line with the research question?
Is the level of ambition realistic/feasible?
3) Research method:
Is the research method described fully and clearly?
Is the chosen research method appropriate and effective?
What previous research is referred to?
Is the approach to the literature review/empirical research/comparative law research
sufficiently elaborated?
If the project concerns multidisciplinary research, is this reflected in the research
method?
B. Selection procedure
1) The documents mentioned under B are submitted to a standing selection committee,
consisting of the chair of JOB (the TLSs Research Assessment Committee) and two or
more professors. The Vice-Dean for Research acts as the managing chairman and full
member of this selection committee and is supported by the Coordinator of Studies of
Tilburg Graduate Law School as the committees secretary.
2) After a first selection, the remaining candidates are invited for a personal interview with
the selection committee.
3) On the basis of the documents and interviews, the committee writes a selection advice.
The Vice-Dean for Research recommends the selected candidates to the Tilburg Law
School Board. The Board decides on the appointment of the candidates.
4) Candidates may apply two times for a PhD position with TGLS.

Forms: see next pages

Form 1

INSTRUCTIONS in Form Format FOR WRITING YOUR THESIS PROPOSAL.

This document should contain a maximum of 2,000 words (Font Size 12) in which you describe your
research plans. Only applications submitted in this format will be accepted.

Name applicant.

Date proposal

1. Title of the project.

2. A brief description of your project

3. The research question.

a. description of the field of study and the existing body of knowledge with reference to that. What lacunae still
exist in this area? What has been ignored so far? The central object of the proposed research .

b. The core question: which central question would you like to answer with your research? How do you unfold
the central question into sub-questions, so that the joint answers will generate the answer to the central
question?

4. The innovative character of the proposed project: What is the significance of your thesis? Does it contain an
original contribution to the field of existing knowledge? Is it of specific social or theoretical relevance?

5. Considerations regarding theory and prior research: How does your research fit in with the present state of
research and theoretical discussions in your field? Which scholars in your field do you find especially relevant
to your work?

6. Proposition, hypotheses and concepts: What is the central proposition? What are the working hypotheses?
What are the main theoretical concepts you intend to use?

7. The data: Describe the sources to be used for answering each of the research questions. How do you intend
to gather your data? Do you have whatever permission might be required? Have the necessary informants
agreed to cooperate? Do you have access to the archives you need?

8. Duration of the research: Describe the period in which your PhD thesis can be completed, including a short
planning.

Additional information
9. Organisational context

a.

Is your project related to the work of teachers, PhD students or programme objectives of Tilburg Law
School?

b.

Which staff members would you like to have as members of your supervision committee during your first
year in the PhD programme?

10. Who are the authors of the letters of recommendation you submit?

11. List your publications or student papers that are relevant to the project.

12. Provide a short and provisional bibliography (to be used in your research).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

13. Which of the courses you have taken, what previous employment and other experience is relevant to an
assessment of your ability to successfully complete the proposed project? Mention references, if any.

Provide concise and clear answers, based on the ideas and information you have now. If and
when new data become available, you may have other ideas and of course your plans may
change accordingly.
01/10/2012

Form 2
INSTRUCTIONS in Form Format FOR DESCRIBING YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO
THE RESEARCH PROJECT
This document should contain a maximum of 2,000 words (Font Size 12) in which you describe your
research plans. Only applications submitted in this format will be accepted.

Name applicant.
Date proposal

1. Title of the project.

1a. Name of the author on whose project your contribution is based.

2. Give a brief description of your contribution to the research project, explaining how your particular
background can help answer the questions that are proposed in the project description.

3. The research question as far as your contribution to the project is concerned.

a. Explain how you would want to work with the research questions as stated in the project description; where
you would like to adjust it, and why; and what body of knowledge you would bring to the project or you would
want to study in order to be able to bring it to the project.

b. The core question. Which central question would you like to answer with your project contribution? How do
you unfold the central question into sub-questions, so that the joint answers will generate the answer to the
central question?

4. The innovative character of the proposed project: What is the significance of your thesis? Does it contain an
original contribution to the field of existing knowledge? Is it of specific social or theoretical relevance?
Obviously, these questions are also addressed in the project description but do give us a flavour of your own
thinking here.

5. Considerations regarding theory and prior research. How does your research fit in with the present state of
research and theoretical discussions in your field? Which scholars in your field do you find especially relevant
to your work?

6. Proposition, hypotheses and concepts: Consider the central proposition and the main theoretical concepts used
in the project description and explain how you would elaborate on them.

7. The data: Describe the sources to be used for answering each of the research questions. How do you intend
to gather your data? Do you have whatever permission might be required? Have the necessary informants
agreed to cooperate? Do you have access to the archives you need? Do you agree with what the project
description says in this regard or would you have other suggestions?

8. Duration of the research: Describe the period in which your PhD thesis can be completed, including a short
planning.

Additional information

9. Organisational context.
a. Is your project related to the work of teachers, PhD students or programme objectives of the Tilburg Law
School?

b.Which staff members would you like to have as members of your supervision committee during your first
year in the PhD programme?

10. Who are the authors of the letters of recommendation you submit?

11. List your publications or student papers that are relevant to the project.

12. Provide a short and provisional bibliography (to be used in your research).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

13. Which of the courses you have taken, what previous employment and other experience is relevant to an
assessment of your ability to successfully complete the proposed project? Mention references, if any.

Provide concise and clear answers, based on the ideas and information you have now. If and when
new data become available, you may have other ideas and of course your plans may change
accordingly.

01/01/2013