Navigating PhD Opportunities and Challenges in Theology at KU Leuven

1. Completing a PhD at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies KU Leuven

2. About the information in thispowerpoint-presentation • Thispresentation is meanttogiveanideaaboutopportunities and challengeswhilecompleting a PhD, but it does not claim tobe complete. • Some of the information providedmaybe subject toregularup-dating and modification.

3. Admission Candidates • Have obtained the degree of Research Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion or (or a demonstrably equivalent preparatory academic education) • at least cum laude for the whole of the master programme(s) and a level of 75% for the Research Paper • Submit a doctoral proposal

4. Workload • Dissertation to be completed within 4 years (including the defense; but may take longer in case of illness, maternity leave, …) • PhD study entails additional work such as completion of required course work, paper contributions to congress(es), writing of article(s), potentially faculty service, etc. • Potential side-job (part-time) if needed • Unpaid teaching, when desired and available

5. Finances COST • University fees: € 445* first registration and year of defense, no fee for in-between years • Living expenses: around € 750,- (including rent); with partner around € 1350,- • Added costs: e.g. study material, travel expenses (conferences, visiting home, etc.) INCOME • Faculty support for doctoral students: one-time amount of € 750,- (of which € 350,- are set aside for reception and printing cost at the time of the defense; the remaining € 400,- reserved for traveling, proof reading, buying books, etc. to cover minimum of research related costs) * Valid for academic year 2015-16

6. Opportunities • Immersion in a theological/religious topic • PhD degree • Acquisition of skills and competences such as: organization skills, time management, editorial skills, communication/presentation skills, language skills, networking, inter-cultural/inter-denominational competences, self-discipline • Engaging in creative, innovative, original work • Contributing to Church, society, and academic world • Personal and identity development; growing in self-awareness • Opportunity to perfecting language, writing and researchskills through formation courses • Teaching opportunities, if available • Participating in international and local conferences • Relatively free and independent life-style • Potentially opportunities for maternity leave (see: https://admin.kuleuven.be/personeel/intranet/statuten/overzicht_bursalen)

7. Typical challenges • Limited income (see funding opportunities) • Can be lonely • Can require hard work (especially if you have to juggle academic work plus a part-time job on the side, or if other unforeseen difficulties arise) • Academic environment as strongly competitive • Language barriers • Uncertain future (not obvious that you will find an academic job after the PhD) • Emotional ups and downs; ups and downs in research success

8. Finding help • Doctoral promoter is there to help, answer questions etc. • Ombuds for PhD students • Career Center of the KU Leuven (https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/careercenter/intranet/English/index) • Spiritual help outside the faculty (University Parish, … ) • Theo Writing Lab http://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/writing-lab • ‘Buddies’ in research unit • Peers, fellow researchers on same topic (in research group, abroad, etc.) • Friends, communities, parish, family etc.

9. Questions to ask yourself • Do I really want to do a PhD? Do I have an intrinsic motivation for it such that I can tackle the challenges? • Why do I want to do this? Be realistic about expectations (uncertain job future, etc.) – and focus on the process and personal development • What kind of a person am I? • How do I work? • What are my main interests and what is my typical working method? To what kind of topics and methods do I feel most attracted? • What are my work/life priorities? • What kind of promoter could I see myself working with (consider their personality type, research expertise, work method, communication style)? • What kind of information do I want to exchange with my promoter (mutual exchange about expectations is recommended)

10. Funding opportunities

11. Funding bodies • FWO (FondsWetenschappelijk Onderzoek): individual doctoral fellowships (assigned solely on basis of merit for students with an initial European Master’s degree) or projects via promoter • IRO: awards scholarships for doctoral research focused on development of the Global South for students from specific underprivileged countries • Anonymous sponsor: awards scholarships for students from Central and Eastern Europe (currently on hold – no further information available) • MWI Missio: awards doctoral scholarships for students from specific underprivileged countries • FLOF: Faculty support mostly for 1 year and depending on current financial resources – step-up fellowships to enable successful application with FWO or other funding • Financial assistance programmeof the faculty

12. Explaining differences between scholarships • Why should not everyone be encouraged to apply for FWO funding? • What are the key differences between the scholarship funds? • What are the challenges of each specific scholarship program?  These questions are addressed below NB: Each funding body has its own criteria and decision-making processes, such that a student considered excellent by the Theology faculty’s doctoral committee may nonetheless be refused funding from a given funding body

13. FWO (Research Foundation – Flanders)Availability and conditions of individual PhD fellowships • Typically 1-3 doctoral stipends each year (depending on quality, number of applications, …) • Period: 2 years, renewable once • Benefits: • net scholarship amount: around €1,900 depending on family situation • scholars employed by the faculty • fixedbench fee:  €3,720/year, e.g. for purchase of computer, travel expenses, translation work, etc.) • Responsibilities: • to complete a dissertation within 4 years • high expectations regarding academic output such as international publications, etc. • 8 hours of faculty service a week (e.g. ombuds service, editorial work, teaching assistance, setting up conferences, etc.)

14. FWOSelection criteria • Eligibility: outstanding students of all nationalities and with an initial Master’s degree from a European faculty (see FWO guidelines for further restrictions) • Strong competition: based solely on merit (grades, research proposal, references) • Time-consuming application; must be submitted with support of doctoral promoter before 1 February Further information: http://www.fwo.be/en/fellowships-funding/phd-fellowships/phd-fellowship/

15. MWI MissioAvailability and conditions • Number of scholarships: variable, depending on varying internal priorities • Benefits • around € 9 000,- a year (amounts to minimum Belgian wage but may mean that you want/need to get a part-time job; scholarship holders are the first to be contacted to do paid student jobs for the faculty) • Responsibilities • Complete dissertation in 4 years

16. MWI MissioSelection criteria • Eligibility: doctoral students from specific underprivileged countries as determined by MWI Missio • Competition: excellent marks, excellent doctoral proposal and promoter’s recommendation that the student can finish in 4 years • Age limit • The Committee for Study Allowances is in charge of the selection and nomination of the candidates

17. IRO(Interfaculty Council for Development Cooperation)Availability and conditions • Number of scholarships: usually max. 1 for theology faculty per year • Benefits: 75 % of the salary of a university-assistant and the possibility to stay in cheaper housing of the university • Responsibilities: • * 8 hours of faculty services per week (to promoter, research unit, faculty, …) • * Complete dissertation within 4 years

18. IROSelection criteria • The applicant must be a citizen of one of the countries on the OECD DAC table that are listed under the following categories: Least Developed Countries, Low Income Countries or Low Middle Income Countries. The applicant must not possess dual citizenship, where the second citizenship is from an EU country. • The time period between the date of completion of MA degree and the date of submission of scholarship application can be no more than ten years. • Excellent academic results • Excellent research project, with clear relevance for development cooperation • Motivation in the framework of development cooperation • Excellent recommendations • Deadline 9 November 2015 Further information: http://www.kuleuven.be/english/international/funding/iro

19. FLOFAvailability and conditions • Availability • Normally one or two per year • For one year – under the condition that candidate and promoter apply for other financial resources • Benefits • around € 1900,- depending on family situation • Responsibilities • Complete dissertation within 4 years • 8 hours of faculty service per week (e.g. ombuds service, editorial work, teaching assistance, setting up conferences, etc.)

20. FLOFSelection criteria • Eligibility: outstanding students of all nationalities • Competition: based on merit (grades, research proposal)

21. Financial assistance of the faculty • Limited resources for students with excellent results who do not fit in any of the previous categories and show enough potential for completing a PhD. The Committee for Study Allowances is in charge of the selection of the candidates. • Information on (partial) financial support can be found on lots of webpages such as: • - http://www.kuleuven.be/research/support/ • - http://www.kuleuven.be/english/international/funding/home • - http://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/research_grants • - http://ghum.kuleuven.be/phd/practical_students/youreca_dshss.html

22. Projects funded by the promoter • Varies from time to time, depending on what projects the promoter is working on and has funding for • Promoter him- or herself will decide (faculty only intervenes with regard to admission to the doctoral program) • Mostly full salary comparable to FWO-scholarship • Responsibilities: 8 hours faculty service a week (service to promoter, research unit, faculty); completing a PhD (usually in no more than 4 years including defence), other possible duties related to the project