Pursuing a PhD

It is expected that PhD candidates will complete and defend their doctoral dissertations within a period of no more than four years.
In the first year doctoral candidates are offered a curriculum of elective courses which will include specific required work on their doctoral dissertation. Upon the successful completion of the first year, candidates will receive a DSD post graduate certificate of completion.
In the following three years, candidates who have successfully passed their electives and dissertation requirements (go/no/go) will continue with the writing and completion of their doctoral dissertations under the supervision of advanced research and teaching staff and the candidates promotor . Here, a doctoral candidate (called the "promovendus") enters into a direct contract with an individual professor (called the "promotor")  in order to purse a PhD (the process of which is called a "promotie").  This will lead to the final phase of acquiring a PhD which, naturally, is the Dissertation Defense. 

Requirements for Admission

Education:
All applicants must hold the degree equivalent of either:

• Professional degree (MSc, MArch) in Architecture, Urbanism or Building Technology
• Masters degree (MA, MPhil) in Architecture or Urban History & Theory

• Masters degree (MA, MPhil) in the Humanities: Art History, Sociology, Political or Cultural Geography, or another field which supports the research objectives of the DSD FUTURE CITIES Program.

Primary Application Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Letter of Motivation (this letter should specifically  indicate  the relevance of the applicants research interest in relation to the DSD FUTURE CITIES program)

3. Research Proposal (see below for details)

Supporting Documentation

1. Official copy of transcripts (sealed and signed or stamped by office or Registrar)
2. Three letters of recommendation (in sealed envelopes, signature across seal)

3. Applicants will be expected to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants whose native language is other than English and who do not hold a degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction must submit proof or English proficiency from either of the two following sources:
   TOEFL: (Test of English as a Foreign Language):
   - Paper based version:  score of at least 630, plus 5 in TWE  or 267
   - Computer based version: Score of 267, plus 5 in essay rating
   - Internet based version: Score of 109, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 20/30 in the listening and speaking subtests.
   IELTS:  (International English Language Testing System -academic version)
   Overall Band score of at least 7.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests

Research Proposal

In addition to the above documentation the DSD requires applicants submit a draft proposal for their doctoral research topics. [Download DSD Research Proposal Guidelines]

Unlike the North American model of PhD education, at the DSD Doctoral candidates are expected to have formulated a research topic prior to joining the program. The DSD is seeking candidates whose research topics fit well within the current DSD Research Portfolio.
Therefore, prior to formulating a research proposal, we highly recommend that candidates carefully review both the Research Portfolio section of the DSD website as well as the Introduction section under the PhD Program heading.

Note: please conform all proposals specifically under the headings provided in the above downloadable Research Proposal document.

Tuition

Currently, the DSD PhD program does not require academic tuition. However, candidates are required to secure their own funding for living and accommodation.

Additional Costs to be considered

• Travel cost - for both research and personal purposes
• Printing cost - upon completion of the Doctoral Dissertation, candidates will incur cost for printing of multiple manuscript copies.
  Cost to be covered by the DSD
• The DSD will cover cost associated with travel and accommodation for the PhD review committee for the final PhD Defense proceedings.
• The DSD will cover basic cost associated with the application for ‘academic hospitality' (see below under ‘Academic Residence'. Exceptional cost, i.e. cost for document translations, annual residency fees assessed by the Dutch Government (if applicable), will fall under the financial responsibility of the PhD candidate.
  Grant Applications:
  The DSD understands that in some cases applicants may require letters of provisional acceptance due to Grant and Funding applications.  If an applicant requires such documentation, then the DSD requests the following:
• Submission of the Research Proposal (see: DSD Research Proposal)
• The name(s) of the funding organization(s) to which the applicant is applying and all relevant information regarding the funding organization's requirements.

The above request should be sent directly to the DSD (dsd-bk@tudelft.nl) no later than three weeks before the date which the letter must be mailed to the applicant and/or funding organization.

Academic Residence

DSD PhD candidates are required to spend the first year in academic residence in the Netherlands. Thereafter, it is possible to continue with the research and writing of the doctoral dissertation from residence outside the Netherlands.
Accepted candidates will be granted ‘academic hospitality' in the DSD and will have access to libraries, lectures, computer facilities etc. They will have workspace in the DSD Glasshouse (Eastern Serre).
Accepted candidates will be assisted with the application procedures for academic hospitality; however, for information over requirements and restrictions we refer you to the following web link: [TU Delft Hospitality link]

Application Deadlines

The DSD PhD program is currently accepting applicants for the Autumn Semester of 2009 (September, 2009). The program is highly competitive and will accept  no more than 6 candidates per application period. The deadline for applications to the Autumn 2009 program is on or before Monday May 4th 2009 for  both International & EU applicants.
Candidates will be informed of the status of their application no later than Friday May 29th, 2009.
Application Submission:
Primary Application Documents (see above): CV, Letter of Motivation and Research Proposal should be submitted by the application deadlines as provided per academic year. This information may be submitted digitally to the DSD at: dsd-bk@tudelft.nl

Additional information:

• please place: PhD application: 2009 in the subject line of the mail.
• correspondence should be addressed to:  DSD PhD program selection committee

Supporting Documents (see above): will be requested upon the candidates provisional acceptance into the DSD program. These documents must be sent by registered mail to the following address:

Delft School of Design 
Delft University of Technology
Faculty of Architecture
Julianalaan 134
2628 BL Delft
The Netherlands

Selection committee

The DSD selection committee will be comprised  of no less than 3 members from the following:

• Professor (Promotor): Professor Dr. Arie Graafland, DSD Director
• Research program coordinators: D. Hauptmann, DSD Associate Director & H. Sohn
• Research advisors: R. van Toorn, B. Tunçer, L. Calabrese & F. vd Hoeven.
• Affiliate Professor: Dr. C. van Eck, History and Theory of Architecture, Leiden University (when applicable).
• The DSD International advisory board: One member of the International advisory board will be selected to review applications depending on the applicants background and research proposal.