The research mission of Tilburg Law School (TLS) is to understand and improve the role of law in tackling societal problems now and in the future, particularly those connected with globalization and rapid economic, social, cultural and technological change. The research of Tilburg Law School is conducted in an organization that fosters diversity. Internationalization and interdisciplinarity have become core characteristics of Tilburg Law School’s research. The TLS-research is organized in five research programs:

1. Global Law and Governance
2. Modes of Lawmaking
3. Law and Security
4. Law and Technology
5. Sustainable Business and Tax Law

The PhD Researches might also be involved in education within their department. The extent to which amount the PhD Researchers spend time on research versus educational activities will be determined in consultation with the candidate. In general, candidates work four days a week on their own PhD research project, while one day a week is dedicated to educational or research related activities within the department.

Tilburg University believes that academic excellence is achieved through the combination of outstanding research and education, in which social impact is made by sharing knowledge. In doing so, we recognize that excellence is not only achieved through individual performance, but mostly through team effort in which each team member acts as a leader connecting people.

You are an outstanding student with an excellent command of English, who has completed (or will complete by the end of August) a Master in Law or a Master in adjacent fields such as Law and Economics, Law and Technology or Politics and Public Administration. Research Master’s program students are especially encouraged to apply.

You have a strong interest in doing research and are able to formulate views, ideas and concepts based upon complex information, as well as construct conceptual frameworks or models. With your excellent writing and presentation skills, you can easily transfer your conducted knowledge to all kinds of target groups.

Good planning and organizing skills are necessary to complete your PhD research in the total period of time. You must be able to plan your activities and set goals and priorities. The Tilburg Graduate Law School (TGLS) and your promotor(s) provide help and guidance in the PhD process.

Finally, you are flexible, proactive, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. You are willing to contribute to the research community within our Law School.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment. We believe flexibility, development, and good employee benefits are very important. We make clear agreements on career paths and offer all kinds of facilities and schemes to maintain an optimum balance between work and private life.

The starting gross salary is €2,325 per month (full time) based on scale P of the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities. Employees recruited from abroad may be eligible for the 30% tax facility- this means that 30% of your salary will be paid as a tax-free reimbursement.

The total duration of the PhD trajectory is four years (48 months). The candidate will initially be appointed for a fixed period of 16 months. After 12 months, an evaluation will take place. If the performance evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended for the remaining period of 32 months.

You are entitled to a holiday allowance amounting to 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross yearly income. If you work 40 hours per week, you receive 41 days of paid recreational leave per year.

Please visit Working at Tilburg University for more information on our employment conditions.

Tilburg University

Tilburg University is a modern, research-led university, specialized in the social sciences and the humanities. It is internationally known for its high standards in education and scientific research as well as its good support facilities. The Tilburg University campus offers both quietness and connectivity, as it is located in a wooded park ten minutes away from the city center, main highways and railways. A mid-sized city of 200,000 inhabitants in the South of the Netherlands, and in proximity to cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London, Tilburg is situated at the very heart of Western Europe.

Tilburg Law School

Tilburg Law School offers highly-ranked national and international education and legal research. Tilburg Law School is ranked among the highest as 'Top International Law School' by the American Social Science Research Network. Tilburg Graduate Law School is committed to training top law students from around the globe whose academic work helps solve today's societal problems, to address new legal challenges and to become excellent researchers. The mandate of TGLS is to ensure and monitor the overall quality of the PhD program. TGLS is responsible for the training and guidance of its PhD Researchers.