Pursue your PhD at imec: a unique research experience

Why choose a PhD at imec?

• Work in an inspiring international environment with top researchers.
• Get access to state-of-the-art labs and cleanrooms to push your research further.
• Develop your skills through specialized technical training and industry collaborations.
• Connect with imec’s global partner network and explore career opportunities.
• Receive financial support during your PhD journey.

General information

There are two application windows:

• From 15 March until 15 April
• From 15 October until 15 December

Imec doesn’t grant PhD degrees directly but acts as a host research institute in collaboration with leading Flemish universities:

• KU Leuven
• UGent
• VUBrussel
• UAntwerpen
• UHasselt

We also have dual degree PhD agreements with universities in Flanders and around the world, offering you the opportunity to work with top professors and experts in your field. Whether you’re an engineer or a scientist, our multidisciplinary research opens doors to cutting-edge discoveries.

Check out our PhD opportunities

Prepare

• Read the PhD Admission Requirements
• Choose your topics and look up the reference codes (2025-001). You can apply for maximum 3 projects in total.
• Collect your documents in pdf format:
  • Download and complete the motivation letter
  • Resume
  • Bachelor's degree and transcripts
  • Master's degree and transcripts
  • If you have not finished your master program yet, you can submit your degree when you graduate. Do submit your master examination results available at the time of application.
  • Proof of your English language proficiency (refer to the PhD Admission Requirements for details)
  • GRE score (refer to the PhD Admission Requirements for details)
  • 2 recommendation letters are an essential part of your application. [New way of working as from March 2025!] Shortly after submitting your application, you will receive a notification via e-mail which will give you instructions on how to invite your referees to provide their input before the deadline (15 April or 15 December). Please keep an eye on your mailbox to not miss this communication, as a file without recommendations cannot be considered by the PhD Committee. Do not submit any other form of recommendation letter via e-mail.

Submit

• Go to the submission form by clicking on 'Apply'
• Upload all your application documents in separate PDF files. Do not upload secured or password protected files.
• Deadline before December 15 or April 15

Attention points

• As our PhD students are selected based on a centralized application procedure and not by individual supervisors kindly refrain from contacting our professors directly.
• Do not submit unsolicited documents with your application, e.g. do not submit high school diplomas.
• We do not accept any revised documents or additional information after the application is submitted, so please be sure to review your motivation letter and other documents very carefully before submitting your application.
• If we do not receive all required documents, including the reference letters, by the application deadline, your application will not enter the screening process.
• If you are interested in the dual degree opportunity, please mention this in your application.
• We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Please take into account that processing your application - especially around the application deadline - may take several days.

Selection

Review of application

• When the application window closes, a panel of senior researchers and experts will closely read and evaluate your application file. Approximately one month after the application deadline, you will be informed whether or not you are selected for an interview with our researchers.

Interviewing with committee

• If you have been shortlisted for an interview, you will be contacted by email to fix a date. It will be planned as soon as possible but ultimately within 6 weeks after a positive evaluation in the first round.
• The interview will be either via Microsoft Teams, telephone, or face-to-face if you are residing in Belgium. During this elaborate in-depth interview both your technical and non-technical competencies will be evaluated. The interviewers will let you know how to prepare for the interview.

Final result

• When the interviewing finishes, the PhD admission committee will consolidate the interview feedback and decide which applicants will be offered admission. The offers of admission are typically sent out 2.5 months after the application deadline.
• Candidates who are not accepted, at any stage in the selection process, will be notified by email. If you have not heard from us regarding the status of your application, it is because a final decision has not been reached yet. We always communicate the final status to all applicants once the admissions committee has finalized their decision.
• The entire procedure from closure of the application window to the final result takes about 12 weeks.

Onboarding

• The imec onboarding platform will guide you through the onboarding process.
• We will provide guidance with your academic registration.
• Financial aid will be arranged by imec.

Check out our PhD opportunities