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Ph.D. Position on Language and Academic Achievement in Higher Education

September 8, 2025

**Job Description**
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is seeking two Ph.D. candidates for a project investigating language-related degree-awarding gaps in Dutch higher education. The project focuses on understanding the role of language in academic achievement and aims to explore how students’ language backgrounds and study program characteristics relate to academic success. This involves conducting a literature review, constructing and analyzing large student datasets in collaboration with the UvA data department, and carrying out in-depth studies on UvA students to examine psychological variables (e.g., motivation) and curriculum characteristics (e.g., writing courses). The selected candidates will work as part of an interdisciplinary team funded by NRO (Netherlands Initiative for Educational Research) and will also have dedicated time for teaching activities.

**Skills & Abilities**
• Skills and knowledge for processing, preparing, and statistically analyzing big data
• Skills and knowledge for carrying out in-depth empirical studies
• Excellent research skills demonstrated by a Master thesis
• Enthusiasm for teaching
• Strong communicative and organizational skills
• Cooperative attitude and strong commitment to team science
• Enthusiasm for communicating academic research to non-academic audiences
• Participation in the ACLC and the national research school training program
• Excellent command of English
• Fair knowledge of Dutch (B1-level or higher)

**Qualifications**
Required Degree(s) in:
• Linguistics
• Education
• Psychology
• (Behavioral) Data Science or a related field
Other:
• A completed Master’s degree or Research Master’s degree.
• Cannot hold a doctorate/Ph.D. or be working towards a similar degree elsewhere to be admitted to a doctoral programme at UvA.

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Work Level
Ph.D
Employment Type
Scholarship
Salary
Annual Salary: €36,708 - €46,572 (gross, based on a full-time 38 hours/week appointment) Position Classification: UFO profile Ph.D. candidate Benefits: 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% year-end allowance, tuition fee waiver, free access to courses offered by the Graduate School of Humanities and Dutch National Research Schools, excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.
Valid Until
October 3, 2025
Details
Temporary Duration: 54 months Brief location description: Inspiring academic and international work environment in the heart of Amsterdam.
School / Department / Center / Lab
• The Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC) • Faculty of Humanities • Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research • Language Learning, Literacy and Multilingualism research group • Graduate School of Humanities
Supervisor(s)
Prof. Dr. Sible Andringa Dr. Josje Verhagen Dr. Sybren Spit
Supervisor Email
s.andringa@uva.nl
University of Amsterdam (UvA)
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