PhD Study Guides by Country

How to do a funded PhD abroad, country by country — universities, programme structure, fees and funding, how to apply, visas and what comes after. Written by ScholarsChapter for international students.

Written by ScholarsChapter · 46 countries · Last updated 19 October 2026

Europe

PhD in Spain 3–4 years full time · Salaried predoctoral contracts (FPU, FPI, regional) PhD in Belgium 4 years · Fellowships (FWO, FNRS) and university assistantships PhD in France 3 years (often extended) · PhD contracts, ANR projects, CIFRE PhD in Netherlands 4 years · Salaried employee PhD positions PhD in Denmark 3 years after a master's · Salaried PhD positions PhD in Sweden 4 years full-time research (up to 5 with teaching) · Salaried PhD positions PhD in Norway 3 years (4 with teaching duties) · Salaried research fellowships (stipendiat) PhD in Finland 4 years · PhD researcher salaries, foundations, projects PhD in Germany 3–5 years · Research associate posts, graduate schools, DAAD PhD in Italy 3 years · PhD scholarships (borsa di dottorato) via competitions PhD in Austria 3–4 years · Project positions (FWF), university posts PhD in Portugal 3–4 years · FCT PhD grants, project grants PhD in Poland 4 years · PhD school stipends, NCN projects PhD in Czechia 4 years · PhD stipends, grant projects PhD in Hungary 4 years · Stipendium Hungaricum, university scholarships PhD in Ireland 4 years · Funded studentships, Research Ireland PhD in Luxembourg 3–4 years · PhD contracts, FNR PhD in Estonia 4 years · Junior research fellow contracts PhD in Latvia & Lithuania 3–4 years · State places, project grants PhD in Greece 3–6 years · ELIDEK and project funding PhD in Türkiye 4–5 years · Türkiye Bursları, TÜBİTAK, university assistantships PhD in United Kingdom 3–4 years full time · UKRI and university studentships, Commonwealth PhD in Switzerland 3–5 years · Employed PhD positions, SNSF projects

Asia-Pacific

PhD in Japan 3 years after a master's (5-year integrated at OIST) · MEXT, JSPS, university fellowships PhD in South Korea 3–4 years after a master's · GKS, lab assistantships PhD in China 3–4 years · CSC, ANSO, provincial and university scholarships PhD in Hong Kong 3–4 years · HKPFS, postgraduate studentships PhD in Singapore 4 years · Research scholarships, SINGA, A*STAR PhD in Taiwan 3–5 years · TIGP, Taiwan Scholarship, university awards PhD in India 3–5 years · Institute fellowships, ICCR PhD in Malaysia 3–4 years · Graduate research assistantships, university scholarships PhD in Thailand 3–4 years · University scholarships, research grants PhD in Indonesia 3–4 years · KNB scholarship, university funding PhD in Australia 3–4 years · RTP and university scholarships

Middle East

PhD in Saudi Arabia 3–5 years · University fellowships, government scholarships PhD in United Arab Emirates 4 years · University scholarships PhD in Qatar 3–5 years · University scholarships, research projects

Africa

PhD in South Africa 3–4 years · NRF, university bursaries PhD in Egypt 3–5 years · Self-funded, some scholarships

Americas

PhD in United States 5–6 years (after an undergraduate) · Research and teaching assistantships, fellowships PhD in Canada 4–6 years · Funding packages, supervisor grants, scholarships PhD in Brazil 4 years · CAPES, CNPq, state foundations (FAPESP) PhD in Mexico 4 years · National postgraduate scholarships PhD in Chile 4 years · ANID national scholarships PhD in Argentina 4–5 years · CONICET fellowships

Pakistan

PhD in Pakistan 3–5 years · HEC indigenous scholarships, university funding