Post-Doctoral Grant Holder

Both Belgian and international researchers who have obtained their PhD degree can apply for a postdoctoral grant in order to carry out research outside the context of an employment contract. The conditions are:

1. The researcher must participate in an international mobility programme
2. The researcher’s grant has to take course within 6 years after obtaining his PhD
3. The total period covered by the grant must be no longer than 36 months in total

A postdoctoral grant is exempt from income tax, but holders do have to pay social contributions to the National Office of Social Security. If the grant holder has the Belgian nationality or comes from a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) he has to pay the full contribution. If he comes from a different country, he only has to contribute to the Social Security’s healthcare and disability insurance and family allowance. The height of a postdoctoral grant is established in such a way that, although the gross amount may differ according to the nationality of the holder, the net total will be the same for everyone (see the table with postdoctoral grant amounts).
The postdoctoral grant holder has to comply to the règlement des bourses de doctorat et de post-doctorat (rules and regulations for PhD and postdoctoral grants).

Consult our job vacancies for researchers.