The first application round of the Mosaic 3.0 PhD Scholarship Programme is now open, offering researchers from under-represented migrant and recent asylum backgrounds an opportunity to secure funding for a PhD in the Netherlands. The programme, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), provides up to €420,000 per project and supports PhD research across all academic disciplines.

The Mosaic 3.0 PhD Scholarship Programme is a major funding initiative designed to improve access to academic research careers for talented graduates from groups that remain under-represented in Dutch academia.

The updated programme builds on the previous Mosaic 2.0 and Hestia programmes and introduces an expanded target group. In addition to graduates with a non-European migration background, researchers with a recent asylum background are now also eligible under Mosaic 3.0.

Importantly, the programme does not restrict applicants to particular academic disciplines. Any PhD research topic may be proposed, provided the research proposal meets the programme’s assessment requirements and demonstrates the necessary research quality.

The first round of the programme opened on 14 September 2026, with the first major deadline approaching in November 2026.

About the Mosaic 3.0 PhD Scholarship Programme

Mosaic 3.0 is a PhD funding programme of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) aimed at encouraging the recruitment and development of researchers from under-represented groups within Dutch academia.

The programme recognises that diversity within research institutions can contribute to a broader range of perspectives, new ideas and deeper approaches to academic research.

According to NWO, researchers with a non-Western migrant background continue to be under-represented in Dutch academia. Mosaic therefore seeks to support talented researchers from these backgrounds by funding PhD positions at Dutch research institutions.

The programme has now been expanded to include a second target group: junior refugee researchers with a recent asylum background at Master’s level.

This means that Mosaic 3.0 brings together the target groups previously supported through Mosaic 2.0 and Hestia, while establishing separate funding structures for the two groups.

What does the Mosaic 3.0 scholarship fund?

Mosaic 3.0 provides funding for PhD positions in the Netherlands.

The programme is particularly notable because there is no restriction on the subject area of the proposed PhD research.

Applicants can therefore propose research in a wide range of disciplines, provided that the proposed research satisfies the relevant academic and programme requirements.

Potential areas could include, for example:

• Health and medical sciences
• Nursing and public health
• Social sciences
• Education
• Engineering
• Environmental sciences
• Climate and sustainability
• Economics
• Business and management
• Law
• Political and social research
• Information technology and computer science
• Artificial intelligence and data science
• Natural sciences
• Humanities
• Agricultural sciences
• Development studies
• Other recognised academic research fields

The programme does not select projects simply because they belong to a particular discipline. The quality of the research proposal remains decisive in the funding decision.

Two groups are eligible under Mosaic 3.0

A major change introduced under Mosaic 3.0 is the creation of two distinct target groups.

Group 1: Researchers with a non-European migration background

Group 1 focuses on researchers with a non-European migration background.

The programme specifically identifies migration backgrounds from:

• Africa
• Asia
• The Caribbean
• Central America
• South America
• Turkey
• Indigenous peoples of North America
• Indigenous peoples of Oceania

This means that researchers with an African migration background are within the geographical group specifically identified by the programme, subject to satisfying the other eligibility requirements.

For example, a qualified applicant with a Ghanaian/African migration background who meets the programme’s academic and institutional requirements may be eligible to apply under Group 1.

However, having a qualifying geographical background alone does not automatically guarantee eligibility. Applicants must also satisfy the programme’s complete eligibility conditions.

Group 2: Researchers with a recent asylum background

The second target group consists of researchers with a recent asylum background.

This group specifically focuses on junior refugee researchers at Master’s level.

The programme states that this includes researchers from Ukraine.

This group forms part of the target population previously supported under the Hestia programme, which has now been incorporated into Mosaic 3.0.

Group 2 has its own:

• Grant ceiling
• Assessment panel
• Eligibility criteria

The separate structure is intended to reduce direct competition between the two target groups.

No restriction on PhD research topic

One of the most important features of Mosaic 3.0 is the absence of a specified research subject.

Applicants are not required to select their PhD topic from a predetermined list of disciplines.

Instead, candidates can develop their own research proposal around a topic that is academically appropriate and can be hosted by a suitable Dutch research institution.

This makes the programme potentially relevant to researchers from many academic backgrounds.

However, applicants should not interpret the absence of subject restrictions as meaning that every proposal will be funded. NWO states that the quality of the research proposal is decisive in awarding the scholarships.

Applicants therefore need to develop a strong research project and identify an appropriate academic environment in which the proposed research can be conducted.

Applicants submit their own proposals

Another important feature of Mosaic 3.0 is that candidates submit their own applications.

Depending on the application stage, candidates submit either:

• A pre-proposal, or
• A full proposal.

The application should not be developed independently of the intended academic supervisors.

Applicants are expected to prepare their applications in consultation with:

1. The intended supervisor, and
2. The daily supervisor.

The application must also be accompanied by a statement from the intended supervisor.

This makes establishing an academic connection with a suitable Dutch research institution and supervisor an important part of the application process.

Funding available

The total budget available for this Mosaic 3.0 funding round is:

€7.4 million

The budget is divided between the two target groups.

Group 1

€5 million is allocated to researchers with a migration background from outside Europe.

Group 2

€2.4 million is allocated to researchers with a recent asylum background.

This separate allocation reflects the programme’s two-group structure.

Maximum funding per project

Applicants can request a maximum of:

€420,000 per project

The exact funding available to an individual project will depend on the applicable programme and budgetary conditions.

The funding is intended to support a PhD position rather than simply provide a one-time scholarship payment to an individual student.

PhD funding duration

The maximum duration of the funded PhD position is:

• Up to 4 years at 1.0 FTE, or
• The equivalent duration of up to 8 years at 0.5 FTE.

The programme therefore allows for either full-time or equivalent part-time arrangements within the maximum funding period.

Applicants should carefully consider the proposed employment/research arrangement when preparing their application with their intended supervisors.

How the Mosaic 3.0 application process works

The application process takes place in two stages.

Stage 1: Pre-application

The first stage requires applicants to submit a pre-application.

The pre-application provides the initial basis on which the proposed research project can be considered.

Pre-application deadline

3 November 2026 at 14:00:00 CEST

Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their documents, particularly because the proposal must be developed in consultation with the relevant supervisors.

Stage 2: Full application

Applicants progressing through the process will subsequently submit a full application.

Full application deadline

4 May 2027 at 14:00:00 CET

The two deadlines are therefore:

Applicants should pay close attention to the stated time zones when preparing their submissions.

Important requirements for prospective applicants

Anyone interested in Mosaic 3.0 should begin preparing well before the pre-application deadline.

1. Determine which target group applies to you

First establish whether you fall under:

• Group 1: non-European migration background, or
• Group 2: recent asylum background.

Each group has its own eligibility criteria.

2. Develop a PhD research idea

Because the programme does not restrict research subjects, applicants have considerable flexibility in developing their research topic.

The proposed project should nevertheless be academically strong and appropriate for a PhD.

3. Identify a suitable Dutch research environment

Applicants should identify a Dutch research institution and academic environment capable of hosting their proposed research.

4. Find an intended supervisor

The application needs to be developed in consultation with the intended supervisor.

Finding an appropriate supervisor can therefore be an important early step in the application process.

5. Work with the daily supervisor

The application is also expected to be prepared in consultation with the daily supervisor.

Applicants should therefore establish the supervisory arrangement before finalising their proposal.

6. Prepare the required statement

The application must include a statement from the intended supervisor.

Applicants should therefore communicate with their intended supervisor early enough to allow the required documentation to be prepared.

7. Prepare the pre-application

The first formal deadline is 3 November 2026 at 14:00:00 CEST.

Applicants should ensure that their pre-application is complete and submitted before the deadline.

8. Prepare for the full application

Applicants who progress to the next stage will need to prepare the full proposal for submission by 4 May 2027 at 14:00:00 CET.

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Why Mosaic 3.0 was introduced

The programme forms part of NWO’s broader efforts to promote a more inclusive research environment within Dutch academia.

NWO explains that bringing people with different backgrounds and perspectives together can contribute to new ideas and deeper examination of research topics.

At the same time, the programme acknowledges that inequality continues to exist within academia and that researchers with non-Western migration backgrounds remain under-represented.

Mosaic 3.0 therefore focuses funding specifically on these under-represented groups while expanding eligibility to researchers with a recent asylum background.

How Mosaic 3.0 differs from the previous programmes

Mosaic 3.0 builds on Mosaic 2.0 and incorporates the target population previously supported by Hestia.

The principal change is the broader target group.

Under the updated structure:

Mosaic 3.0 Group 1

• Continues the focus on researchers with a non-European migration background.

Mosaic 3.0 Group 2

• Adds researchers with a recent asylum background.
• Includes junior refugee researchers at Master’s level.
• Includes researchers from Ukraine.

The two groups have separate grant ceilings, assessment panels and eligibility requirements.

Number of scholarships expected

NWO expects that a maximum of 18 proposals will receive funding in this round.

This means that applicants should understand that meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not automatically mean that a proposal will receive funding.

The programme explicitly states that research quality is decisive in the awarding of funding.

Applicants should therefore pay particular attention to the academic quality and clarity of their proposed research.

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Key opportunity details

Application strategy for prospective PhD researchers

Although the programme accepts research proposals across disciplines, prospective applicants should begin by establishing whether their academic background and migration/asylum circumstances satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements.

A practical preparation process could include:

1. Review the complete eligibility criteria for your target group.
2. Identify your intended PhD research area.
3. Develop an initial research concept.
4. Search for relevant Dutch research institutions and research groups.
5. Identify potential supervisors whose research interests align with your proposed project.
6. Contact prospective supervisors with a professional research proposal summary.
7. Discuss the proposal with the intended supervisor and daily supervisor.
8. Prepare the required supervisor statement.
9. Develop the pre-application before the November deadline.
10. If progressing to the next stage, develop the full proposal for the May 2027 deadline.

Starting early is particularly important because the application cannot simply be treated as an individual scholarship form. The programme requires applicants to work with an intended supervisor and daily supervisor when preparing their application.

Important deadline to remember

The first deadline is 3 November 2026 at 14:00:00 CEST for the pre-application.

The subsequent full application deadline is 4 May 2027 at 14:00:00 CET.

Prospective applicants should therefore begin identifying potential supervisors and developing their research concept well before November.

Conclusion

The Mosaic 3.0 PhD Scholarship Programme provides a funding route for researchers from under-represented migrant and recent asylum backgrounds who want to pursue PhD research in the Netherlands.

The programme has a €7.4 million total budget, with up to €420,000 available per project, and expects to fund a maximum of 18 proposals in this round. Unlike programmes restricted to particular academic disciplines, Mosaic 3.0 allows applicants to propose PhD research in any subject, provided that the proposal meets the programme’s academic and eligibility requirements.

The updated programme is particularly significant because it expands the target group to include researchers with a recent asylum background, alongside researchers with non-European migration backgrounds. For Group 1, the specified backgrounds include Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Turkey, and Indigenous peoples of North America and Oceania.

Applicants should pay particular attention to the supervisory requirement. The proposal must be developed in consultation with the intended and daily supervisors and must include a statement from the intended supervisor.

The pre-application deadline is 3 November 2026 at 14:00:00 CEST, while the full application deadline is 4 May 2027 at 14:00:00 CET. Researchers who believe they may qualify should begin reviewing the detailed eligibility conditions, developing their research concept and identifying potential Dutch supervisors as early as possible.