Sandwich PhD programme on project funding

Rationale

The 'Sandwich PhD programme on project funding' refers to sandwich PhD grants paid on project funding acquired by the ITM supervisor on condition that the regulations of the project funding agency allows for the payment of sandwich PhD grants.  A sandwich PhD grant allows for a PhD programme of a maximum of 4 academic years (48 months) in which the  student spends periods of the programme in both the home country / home institute and ITM ('split-site' PhD programme). Sandwich PhD candidates must be nationals from and have primary residence in a low or middle income country (LMIC, see list https://www.oecd.org/dac/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-standards/DAC-List-of-ODA-Recipients-for-reporting-2022-23-flows.pdf).

Candidates must be embedded in a LMIC home institute and present a PhD project proposal co-supervised by supervisors at the home institute, ITM, and at the university that is awarding the PhD degree. The fellowship is awarded after a positive review by the ITM PhD Committee based on the evaluation of academic merit, a full PhD project proposal and the quality and relevance of the institutional and supervisory set-up. Selected candidates will be registered as ITM PhD students and must endorse the Principles for PhD students as laid down in the Code for effective PhD supervision.

The doctoral research project will typically last four years, although exceptionally shorter tracks are possible too. The grant is initially allocated for a period of 18 months with a renewal for another 30 months after a positive progress evaluation. The ITM PhD Committee will evaluate the progress after 1 year of PhD research based on the review of documents in writing and an oral defence in presence of all the candidate’s supervisors (home institute, ITM, PhD awarding university).

The grant includes allowances to cover costs for the student (living allowance), research costs and supervision costs:

• The living allowance in Belgium amounts to 1.750 € per month and can maximally be allowed for up to 24 months (in the total grant period of 48 months). A monthly living allowance in the home country/institute can be awarded: maximum 100% of a PhD salary/fellowship according to the home institute’s salary/PhD fellowship regulations + possibility of a maximum 80% topping up of the gross salary, if justified. Together maximum 1500 €/month. The payment and follow-up will be ensured by ITM’s Student Support Services. The fellowship does not constitute an employment relationship between ITM and the grantee; in Belgium the candidate will have the legal and fiscal status of a student. The legal and fiscal status in the home institution and country is the responsibility of the candidate and the home institute.
• A research allowance (bench fee, to be accounted for) of maximally 6000 € per year is allowed to cover costs directly related to the student’s training and research.
• The supervision allowance (max. 300 €/month, lump sum) is meant to cover costs for the support and supervision of the student. Payment of the supervision allowance will be made to the scientific department/unit of the supervisor of the home institute during the candidate’s stay in the home institute and to the scientific department/unit of the ITM supervisor during the candidate’s stay in Belgium. The supervision allowance can also be used as an additional bench fee to cover research costs.
• Other allowances included in the grant: insurance (40€/month) logistical allowance (700 €), 1 annual flight ticket in economy class, PhD registration fees at the university (reference amount = registration fee at Belgian universities, in 2022 - 979 €), 1 mission per academic year of max. 10 days for the ITM or home institute supervisor.

All grant specificities will be detailed in the sandwich PhD student contract. The ITM scholarships regulations apply.