Spotlight on PhD Study in Europe

There’s no shortage of reasons to study a PhD in Europe and every year thousands of talented doctoral students are attracted by the region’s affordable tuition fees, excellent quality of life and world-class universities.

We've taken a closer look at six of the most popular European countries for international students, giving you an idea of what makes them unique – and a fantastic place to study a PhD!

We might as well start with the birthplace of the PhD: German institutions first introduced the doctorate in the 19th century as a way of recognising the importance of original research. Up until then, university students had concentrated on honing their knowledge of existing academic topics rather than pursuing new research.

So, Germany has a pretty impressive PhD pedigree. Fast forward to the present day and it’s one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world. Public universities in Germany have a generous tuition-free policy, charging no fees to doctoral students regardless of nationality.

Along with its excellent universities, Germany’s networks of dedicated research centres are another reason for the country’s popularity with PhD students, offering another route to a doctorate. The Max Planck Society, for example, has produced 18 Nobel laureates since 1948 and is home to some of the most prestigious science and technology institutions in the world.

Find out more about studying a PhD in Germany or browse German PhD programmes.

France’s unique higher education system, which is characterised by large networks of smaller institutions, means that PhD students have some great opportunities to engage in truly specialist research.

French doctorates place a high emphasis on professional skills and students often take part in plenty of research courses and training sessions during their PhD programme.

Tuition fees are extremely affordable, with public universities charging €380 a year for all PhD students, regardless of nationality.

Find out more about studying a PhD in France or browse French PhD programmes.

Despite its relatively small size, the Netherlands has one of Europe’s most renowned higher education systems. Historic institutions like Leiden University (founded 1575) rub shoulders with the relatively young (Wageningen University and Research, established in 1918).

The Netherlands enjoys extremely high levels of English proficiency, which means that many PhDs are conducted entirely in English. It’s a country famous for its open-minded, tolerant atmosphere, making Holland a great place to live as an international student.

A unique attraction of PhD study in the Netherlands is the fact that most doctoral students are treated by their university as an employee. This means that they receive a salary for their research – an excellent way to fund a PhD!

Find out more about studying a PhD in the Netherlands or browse Dutch PhD programmes.

Denmark has a proud record of investing in research and development, ranking in the world’s top six countries for expenditure in this area – not bad for a nation of fewer than six million people!

This investment in research makes Denmark an appealing destination for talented PhD students from around the world. Tuition is free for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, while scholarships are often available for students who don’t qualify for free tuition.

Although many Danish doctoral programmes are conducted entirely in English, international students can access free Danish lessons to get up to speed with the language, which is a great way of immersing yourself in local life (not to mention useful if you decide to remain in Denmark after your PhD).

Find out more about studying a PhD in Denmark or browse Danish PhD programmes.

Ireland represents an excellent opportunity to study a PhD in one of the only two native English-speaking countries of the Eurozone (along with Malta). Its historic universities have long made important contributions to the Arts, Sciences and Technology, while the Irish Republic is famous for its friendliness and hospitality.

Tuition fees are broadly comparable to those in the UK, and PhD funding is available from several different sources. These include the Irish Research Council and student maintenance grants from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).

Find out more about studying a PhD in Ireland or browse Irish PhD programmes.

As the home of the oldest university in the western world (the University of Bologna, founded in 1088) and countless influential artists and scientists, it’s no wonder that Italy is one of the most popular study abroad destinations in Europe. Hosting around 90,000 foreign students each year, Italian universities have a proud record of participation in various international research initiatives.

If you study a PhD in Italy, you’ll have the chance to follow in the footsteps of thinkers like Galileo and da Vinci. Ancient cities such as Rome and Florence ooze culture and sophistication, while the implementation of the Bologna Process has seen Italy play a key role in the standardisation of the modern higher education system across Europe.

Find out more about studying a PhD in Italy or browse Italian PhD programmes.

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