Centre for the Just City — TU Delft
PhD
trajectories
Doctoral research at the Centre engages critically with spatial planning, governance, and spatial justice. We supervise candidates whose proposals demonstrate theoretical clarity, methodological rigour, and a substantive engagement with planning as a field of inquiry.
§ 01 — Opportunities & supervision
Before you
contact us.
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a PhD under our supervision at TU Delft. Our research focuses on spatial planning, governance, spatial justice, sustainability transitions, public goods, democratic governance, informal urbanisation, participation, intersectionality, planning imagination, and planning in the Global South. We welcome proposals that engage critically with these themes and demonstrate a strong theoretical and methodological foundation.
Doctoral admission at TU Delft is competitive and supervision capacity is finite. The information below sets out the two routes into a PhD with the Centre, the academic fit we look for, the proposal we expect to see, and the criteria against which inquiries are assessed. Please review it carefully before writing to us.
§ 02 — Funding
TU Delft does not award individual PhD scholarships.
There are only two routes into a PhD trajectory at TU Delft: a position attached to an externally funded research project, advertised through the official vacancies portal, or a self-funded trajectory in which the candidate brings their own scholarship or sponsorship. We cannot fund individual applicants outside these two routes.
Vacancies for funded positions, when they exist, are listed at the TU Delft careers portal. If no vacancy is advertised there, no funded position is available. Please check the portal directly before writing to us about a funded post.
§ 03 — Two routes
Funded or
self-funded.
Funded PhD positions
When externally funded projects bring in doctoral lines, vacancies are advertised publicly and recruited through a formal procedure. These positions are competitive and tied to specified research questions, timelines, and deliverables.
Where vacancies are announced:
- The official TU Delft vacancies portal
- The Centre’s LinkedIn profile
- Relevant academic and professional networks
If no vacancy is advertised, no funded position is currently available.
Self-funded or externally funded PhDs
Candidates who have secured independent funding may pursue a PhD through routes including:
- Government scholarships
- Research councils or foundations
- International scholarship programmes
- Employer sponsorship
- Other recognised funding schemes
- Please note that TU Delft currently does not accept candidates funded solely through the China Scholarship Council (CSC) scheme in cases where the scholarship does not meet the university’s minimum financial requirements, as the funding is generally insufficient to cover the living expenses required for residence in the Netherlands
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funding for tuition fees, bench fees (where applicable), living expenses, health insurance, and research-related costs.
§ 04 — Academic fit
What we
supervise.
We supervise research clearly situated within spatial planning and governance. Strong proposals engage with institutions, policy, planning systems, territorial development, social sustainability, spatial justice, public goods, democratic governance, or related themes.
Projects focused exclusively on architecture, building design, engineering, or urban design without a substantial planning and governance component are generally not a good fit for our supervision. Where the planning dimension is unclear, candidates should make the link explicit in the proposal.
§ 05 — Preparing a proposal
The proposal
we expect.
Candidates with secured funding should prepare a short research proposal of approximately three pages. The proposal should demonstrate familiarity with relevant literature, conceptual clarity, and methodological feasibility.
- Title and subtitle
- Abstract
- Research problem and objectives
- Theoretical framework
- Research questions
- Methodology
- Academic and societal relevance
- Preliminary timeline
- Funding information
- Key references
§ 06 — What to send
Your enquiry.
If you already have funding, or are actively applying for a specific funding scheme, please send:
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
- A short research proposal (approximately three pages, structured as above)
- A brief explanation of your funding situation
- Copies of any relevant publications or academic work
§ 07 — Selection criteria
What we
look for.
-
01
Academic background
A strong record in spatial planning, geography, political science, governance, or a closely related field.
-
02
English proficiency
Excellent written and spoken English. Doctoral work at TU Delft is conducted in English.
-
03
Fit with our research
A clear connection to the themes the Centre works on, and a willingness to engage with the Centre’s research community.
-
04
Feasible, original proposal
A proposal that is both intellectually ambitious and methodologically tractable within a four-year doctoral trajectory.
-
05
Secured or realistic funding
Either confirmed funding or a credible plan with named schemes and timelines. Previous research experience and publications are advantageous but not mandatory.
§ 08 — Final remarks
A PhD is a demanding intellectual undertaking that requires independence, persistence, and a genuine commitment to academic research. Admission to the TU Delft doctoral programme is competitive and supervision capacity is limited. Prospective candidates are encouraged to review the information above with care before contacting us.
§ 09 — Current candidates
PhD
researchers based at or associated with the
Centre for the Just City.
Have funding
and a proposal?
Send your CV, three-page proposal, and a brief note on your funding situation to justcitycentre-bk@tudelft.nl. Looking for a funded position? Check the TU Delft vacancies portal first.