Doctoral scholarship holder in sociology

Position

• You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of sociology. The project examines how student mental health and academic performance are intertwined, and how this relationship is shaped by social inequalities across the university trajectory. A core innovation is the launch of a longitudinal student panel at the University of Antwerp, combining repeated survey data with administrative records to move beyond cross-sectional snapshots.
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Department of Sociology.

Profile

• You hold a Master's degree in Social Sciences (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Educational Sciences) or you will have obtained it by the time you start work. The vacancy is open to students who are currently still in their Master's year (graduating by September 2026 at the latest).
• You can demonstrate excellent study results.
• You have a solid grounding in advanced quantitative research methods and are motivated to further develop your methodological expertise throughout the course of the PhD.
• You are highly organized and able to manage and monitor project-related tasks in a structured and meticulous manner.
• You are a true team player.
• You are proficient in both Dutch and English and have strong writing skills.
• Your teaching competencies are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of one year. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed for another three years.
• The planned start date is September 2026, or as soon as possible after that date.
• Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders.
• You will receive eco cheques, Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• As a doctoral researcher, you will have access to a wide and varied range of courses and an educational credit through the Antwerp Doctoral School.
• You will do most of your work at the City Campus of the University of Antwerp in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including April 20, 2026 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
  • a motivation letter, which includes your grades for all completed methods and statistics courses.
  • your academic CV
• The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. Please note the following date in your calendar: May 4th, 2026, as the date during which the interview will be organised.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. dr. Sarah Van de Velde (sarah.vandevelde@uantwerpen.be) or Prof. dr. Veerle Buffel (veerle.buffel@vub.be).