Postdoctoral fellows at K.U.Leuven - EEA
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Regulative framework
The Royal Decree of 6 February 2003 describes postdoctoral fellows as foreigners who hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification, who receive compensation for scientific research and who – in the framework of international mobility – successfully complete a fundamental research project at a host university, with the intention of valorising the scientific knowledge they acquired over the course of their doctoral studies. This research may be conducted for a maximum period of three years.
Postdoctoral scholarships are tax-exempt in Belgium, in accordance with Royal Decree/WIB 92.
With respect to social security, the Royal Decree of 26 March 2003 equates postdoctoral fellows with employees.
All EEA postdoctoral fellows are subject to full social security contributions. The employer’s contribution is 35.25% and the personal contribution is 13.07%. In exchange for these contributions, postdoctoral fellows are entitled to medical insurance as employees, they are covered by the industrial accident and occupational illness law, they receive family allowance and unemployment and pension benefits.
With respect to employment and residence, the law of 30 April 1999 and the law of 15 December 1980 and their respective implementing orders are in effect.
Otherwise, the K.U.Leuven Regulations Concerning Postdoctoral Fellows in the Framework of International Mobility (in Dutch) are in effect.Definition
This form concerns researchers who hold a doctoral degree or have demonstrated extraordinary scientific merit and who conduct research at K.U.Leuven in the framework of international mobility for a period of (minimum three months and) maximum three years.
In the event that the researcher obtained his/her doctoral degree at a Belgian university, there is no question of international mobility and in consequence, no postdoctoral scholarship can be awarded. The same applies if he/she has resided in Belgium or has conducted his/her primary activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 24 months in the three years preceding the beginning of his/her status of postdoctoral fellow. Brief visits and stays (such as holidays, participation in conferences or brief stays for the preparation of a stay as a postdoctoral fellow) are not taken into account.Status
Status in Belgium:- EEA citizens may travel to Belgium without any foregoing procedures. Once they are enrolled at K.U.Leuven, they must request a declaration of enrolment as an EEA citizen from the municipality in which they reside. To this end, they receive the document “appendix 19bis” from the Human Resources Department.
- They have the status of postdoctoral fellow in the framework of international mobility and are members of the Junior Academic Staff (BAP). They have no ties of legal employment with K.U.Leuven and they cannot perform tasks on the request of scientific supervisor or third parties.
- Upon registration at the Human Resources Department, they receive all the necessary certificates for their stay at K.U.Leuven and residence in Belgium. They must present themselves to the municipal offices within 8 business days.
Research type
They conduct free scientific research in the framework of advancing their own research activities and with a view to increasing their scientific knowledge.
Financing
| Fiscal status | Scholarships are tax-exempt if the following conditions are met:
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| Social security contributions | EEA: the scholarship is subject to full social security contributions. The employer’s contribution is 35.25% and the personal contribution is 13.07%. In exchange, postdoctoral fellows are entitled to coverage by the industrial accident and occupational illness law, they receive family allowance and unemployment and pension benefits |
| Scholarship amount | The applicant determines the scholarship amount. Herein, he/she is bound to salary scales. The Executive Board, however, has stipulated a minimum and a maximum monthly net scholarship amount. The minimum is currently (01.01.2010) 1,850 euro net/month, while the maximum is 2,500 euro net/month. A higher amount may be allocated on the condition that it is motivated and approved by the executive committee of the relevant scientific group. |
Status concerning the immigration authorities
- EEA citizens do not require a work permit. The Human Resources Department will provide the document “appendix 19bis” for registration at the municipal offices of the researcher’s place of residence in Belgium.
- For international researchers who are Romanian or Bulgarian citizens, the law on the employment of foreign employees remains in effect until 31 December 2011. This implies that K.U.Leuven is required to draw up a hosting agreement for these researchers.
Required insurance
- Accident and third party civil liability: as an employee
- Health insurance: required registration with a Belgian health insurance company as an employee
- Insurance for personal third party civil liability: optional, but recommended
Regulations
