Student type: Domestic and International students are eligible for this scholarship program.

Level of study: PH.D

Study area: Spatial Planning, Human Geography, Urban Studies, or related social

Scholarship value:

• Gross monthly salary ranging from €3,059 to €3,881 (full-time employment).
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

Closing date: May 8, 2026

Description: The PhD position at Utrecht University focuses on how environmental and design requirements, such as sustainability standards, material choices, and architectural competitions, are negotiated within densification projects. By revealing how discourses around land rent influence project-level governance, this research identifies leverage points for steering densification towards more sustainable trajectories and enriches the post-growth debate in spatial planning.

Under the guidance of senior members of the project, based at Utrecht University, the University of Bern, the University of Lausanne, and the TU Delft, as well as in different professional organizations, you will conduct your main research in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Eligibility:

• A Master’s degree in Human Geography, Spatial Planning, or related social sciences disciplines;
• Methodological skills in case study analysis and comparative analysis are desired; experience in institutional analysis or discourse analysis, or GIS is a plus;
• Excellent command of English; knowledge of at least one language of the project (German, French or Dutch) is a plus;
• Demonstrated interest in urban development is desirable, as well as good knowledge of the Dutch or Swiss planning system;
• You are a team player who can work in a precise, engaged, and self-organized manner. In addition, you must have the skills and commitment to work in an interdisciplinary field.

Apply Here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs/phd-position-in-spatial-planning