Leiden PhD Scholarship 2027 offers two fully funded PhD positions in descriptive/documentary linguistics working on Usku and Banda as part of an NWO-funded project; the positions involve fieldwork in Indonesia, corpus and lexicon building, and evaluation of AI tools for automated annotation and analysis.
The positions are offered by the Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL). LUCL is part of the Faculty of Humanities and provides research support within its ‘Language Diversity in the World’ profile; the appointments follow Dutch university terms and aim to lead to a PhD thesis.
Leiden PhD Scholarship Benefits
- Two fully funded PhD positions within the NWO project ‘Usku and Banda: Automated Documentation of Endangered Languages of Eastern Indonesia’.
- The employment will be for a period of four years.
- Salary range from € 3,204.- gross per month in the first year to € 4,051.- in the fourth year (pay scale for PhDs).
- Substantial additional holiday and year-end allowances.
- Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.
Leiden PhD Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- A Master’s degree in linguistics, completed before the start date.
- Demonstrated interest in language documentation, field linguistics, descriptive linguistics or similar.
- Excellent research and academic English skills.
- Working knowledge of Indonesian, or willingness to acquire this within the first half year of the project.
- A strong cooperative attitude and interest to engage in collaborative research.
- Fieldwork experience in a non-western context is a plus.
- Preference will be given to candidates from Indonesia in cases of equal suitability.
How to Apply for Leiden PhD Scholarship
- Applications should be submitted no later than 25 October, 2026 via the blue button in our application system.
- A cover letter, indicating which of the two positions you are applying for and explaining your motivation;
- A full academic CV;
- A list of all Bachelor and Master-level modules you have taken, with an official transcript of grades;
- A writing sample, preferably your MA thesis and an article or term paper that you wrote that pertains to the topic of the position;
- The names and email addresses of two references, including your MA thesis supervisor(s), who may be approached by the selection committee (no reference letters).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Leiden PhD Scholarship 2027. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, start date, application requirements, and contacts based on the official vacancy information.
What positions are offered under this scholarship?
Leiden University offers two PhD positions within the NWO project ‘Usku and Banda: Automated Documentation of Endangered Languages of Eastern Indonesia’. Both positions are fully funded and focus on documentation and description of small, unwritten endangered languages (Usku and Banda), including fieldwork, corpus creation, lexicon development, grammatical analysis and testing AI annotation tools.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for these PhD positions is 25 October 2026. Applications must be submitted via the application system referenced on the vacancy page. The vacancy page explicitly states that the vacancy closes on 25 October 2026 and that interviews will take place in the first half of November 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in linguistics completed before the start date and demonstrate interest in language documentation, field linguistics or descriptive linguistics. Excellent research and academic English skills are required. Candidates should have or be willing to acquire working knowledge of Indonesian within the first half year. Preference may be given to Indonesian candidates in equal cases.
What documents are required for the application?
Applications should include a cover letter specifying which position is sought and motivation, a full academic CV, a list of Bachelor and Master modules with official transcripts, a writing sample (preferably MA thesis and a related article or term paper), and the names and email addresses of two references (no reference letters). All items are listed on the vacancy page.
When do the positions start?
The starting date for both PhD positions is scheduled between February and July 2027, with the exact date to be determined by mutual agreement. This starting window and the note on mutual agreement are specified in the vacancy’s description and terms and conditions sections.
What are the employment terms and duration?
Appointments are according to the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. Employment is for a period of four years, beginning with a 12-month contract and an extension for the following 36 months contingent on positive performance and compatibility. The appointment requires work in Leiden and must lead to completion of a PhD thesis.
What salary and allowances are provided?
The vacancy states a salary range from € 3,204 gross per month in the first year to € 4,051 in the fourth year, following the PhD pay scale of Dutch universities. In addition, substantial holiday and year-end allowances apply. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.
Where will the research and fieldwork take place?
The positions are based at Leiden University Centre for Linguistics in Leiden, with fieldwork to be conducted in Indonesia on the languages Usku (Papua) and Banda (Kei Besar, Maluku). The project involves collecting audio-visual linguistic and cultural data through fieldwork in Indonesia as part of the research tasks.
Who can I contact for more information?
For research project information contact the PI, Marian Klamer, at [email protected]. For practical questions contact the Institute Manager, Maarit van Gammeren, at [email protected]. These contact details are provided in the vacancy information.
How and when will candidates be selected and interviewed?
The vacancy indicates that applications close on 25 October 2026 and that interviews will take place in the first half of November 2026. Selection will be based on the published selection criteria (Master’s degree in linguistics, relevant interests and skills, English, Indonesian willingness, cooperative attitude, and possible fieldwork experience). Preference may be given to Indonesian candidates in equal cases.
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