phd fellowships in europe

Fellowships and individual research grants

ERC grants for frontier research These grants are awarded to researchers of any nationality working in any field of research.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions - Research Fellowship Programme This programme funds researchers and supports doctorates and training. Researchers at all stages in their career are eligible for funding.

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21 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students in Europe

Here is a detailed list of fully funded scholarships for international students in Europe. These scholarships comprise of those obtainable in Europe and those obtainable outside Europe but European and probably all international students are eligible to apply for them.

In one of our compiled guides on how to secure scholarships abroad easily , we emphasized the fact that most international and local scholarships demand that applicants are already admitted into a course before they are awarded scholarships, and in that sense, we wrote on universities in Europe without application fees to help international students secure admission for free with which they can pursue scholarships.

You can also take a look at our guide that reveals the cheapest European countries for students who may need to shift interest to cut costs.

Scholarships For International Students In Europe – Fully Funded

Below is a list of scholarships for international students in Europe and also scholarships for both European and international students to study either in Europe or abroad. Note that these scholarships listed cover both scholarships for international students to study in Europe and scholarships for European and other international students to study in other countries too. They are all fully funded.

• DAAD Scholarship for Masters and Ph.D. in Germany
• Finland Government Scholarship
• University of Canterbury Scholarship in New Zealand
• Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (Sweden)
• International Scholarship for Women in the USA
• Fullbright Foreign Student Program in the USA
• British Chevening Scholarships
• The University of Sussex Postgraduate Scholarship in England
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for Foreign Students in Switzerland
• University of Oxford Clarendon scholarships in the UK
• Adelaide Scholarships International in Australia
• University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarship in the Netherlands
• Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at the University of Toronto Canada
• Danish Government Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students  (Denmark)
• Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)
• VLIR-UOS Scholarship Awards (Belgium)
• Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)
• Developing Solutions Scholarships at the University of Nottingham (UK)
• Erik Bleumink Scholarships at the University of Groningen (Netherlands)
•  ETH Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
• Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK)

1. DAAD Scholarship for Masters and Ph.D. in Germany

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) or German Academic Exchange Service, is a German academic support organization that funds international students to study in Europe.

The DAAD Scholarship is one of the best scholarships for international students in Europe currently and it has been there for quite a long time now.

This organization offers fully-funded scholarships to study for a Ph.D. or Master’s Degree from one of the prestigious universities in Germany. Before you apply, you must have a BSc. Degree on a proper four-year course and also possess two years or more of work experience after the degree.

The scholarship details are as follows;

• Duration: 1-3 years
• Scholarship application status: still open
• Coverage of medical insurance and travel allowance
• Document for employment confirmation will be required
• 2 recommendation letters will also be required

The available courses for the DAAD Scholarship are;

• Mathematics
• Regional and Urban Planning
• Agricultural and Forest Science
• Social Sciences
• Media studies
• Engineering and Related Sciences
• Political Economics Sciences
• Medicine and Public Health
• Natural and Environmental Sciences
• Education and Law Apply Now

2. Finland Government Scholarship

This is a fully-funded scholarship provided by the Finnish government for international students in both Undergraduate and Master’s degrees to study in universities in Finland and it is open to students from anywhere in the world including Europe.

This is one of the most popular scholarships for international students in Europe covering up to full academic expenses.

All universities and universities of applied sciences have Finland scholarship opportunities for international students who want to study in Europe. Other Details of the Finland Government Scholarship for European and International Students are;

• Duration: 2-4 years
• Scholarship application status: Ended
• Degree: Bachelor, Master degree
• Financial coverage: Partially and Fully funded

Eligible Courses for the Finland Government Scholarship are;

• Agricultural sciences(forestry, fisheries)
• Health and Welfare Sciences
• Social sciences
• Business Administration
• Veterinary Science
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Humanities Apply Now

3. University of Canterbury Scholarship

The University of Canterbury offers scholarship opportunities to international students who want to study in Europe. The scholarship is open to every nationality except New Zealand and Australian citizens who are not eligible.

The university offers international students fully-funded bachelor’s degree scholarships every year to all academic fields available in the university. Other Details of the University of Canterbury Scholarship are;

• Scholarship application status: Ongoing
• Deadline: October yearly
• Degree: Undergraduate Scholarship
• Financial coverage: Fully funded

Courses Eligible for the University of Canterbury Scholarship are;

• Business management
• Engineering
• Health Sciences
• Human development Apply Now

4. Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (Sweden)

The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is an academic scholarship provided for full-time, one- or two-year, master’s studies in Sweden. The scholarship covers a wide range of study fields and over 700 of the 1000 English-taught master’s programs in Sweden.

Through the scholarship, the Swedish Institute (SI) aims to develop a network of future global leaders that will contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and drive the development of their home countries forward. The scholarship is open for applications once every year, for master’s studies beginning in the autumn semester. In order to apply you must: 

• Be a citizen of one of the 41 countries that is eligible for the SI Scholarship for Global Professionals; 
• Apply for a master’s program that is eligible for the SI scholarship;  
• Be liable to pay tuition fees at University Admissions;  
• Have demonstrated work experience; 
• Have demonstrated leadership experience from a current or previous employer, or from civil society engagement.  About 700 English-taught master’s programs are eligible for the SI scholarship for Global Professionals, covering programs in the fields of humanities, agricultural science, medicine and public health, natural science, social science, and technology.   

5. International Scholarship for Women in the USA

Application for this scholarship is currently open, so go ahead and apply for it. It is a fully-funded scholarship open to every female student in Europe and around the world except Iran and she can apply in all academic fields of any university in the USA.

The admission will come in two batches and the deadline for selecting the first batch is April 20 th yearly while the deadline for the second batch is June 30th annually. Other details of the Scholarship are as follows;

• Degree type: Bsc., Ph.D., and Master
• Duration: 1-4 years depending on degree type and selected course
• Scholarship application status: ongoing

You can apply in all academic fields of any university in the USA but you would need to submit an offer letter from the university before the deadline.

6. Fullbright foreign student program in the USA

This is a scholarship program for international students and it is open to students from all over the world to apply. If you are an international student who wants to pursue a master’s or Ph.D. degree, you could apply for this scholarship grant.

This one exactly isn’t for students who want to study in Europe but for European and international students who want to study in the USA.

This grant covers everything from tuition, living expenses, health insurance, etc. It is a fully-funded financial aid that will cover the study duration. You can choose any course/major offered by your preferred university in the USA.

7. British Chevening Scholarships

This is a scholarship grant specially awarded to students with leadership potential, by the UK government, to pursue a master’s degree program of their choice. It is a fully-funded grant and scholars may choose any field/major of their choice offered by their preferred university.

8. The University of Sussex postgraduate scholarship in England

Application for this fully funded scholarship is ongoing for students who want to pursue a master’s degree or postgraduate. Everyone from all over the world can participate even its citizens just be fast on the application as the deadline draws nigh.

You can go for any major offered by the University of Sussex and the financial coverage will cover your tuition, living expenses, and health insurance.

9. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship in Switzerland

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS). The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.

The research scholarship (research fellowship, PhD, Postdoc) is available to post-graduate researchers in any discipline (who hold a master’s degree is the minimum qualification required) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue research or further studies at the doctoral or post-doctoral level.

Art scholarships are open to art students wishing to pursue an initial arts master’s degree in Switzerland. Art scholarships are awarded for study at any Swiss conservatory or university of the arts. This scholarship is available to students from a limited number of countries only.

10. University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarships in the UK

This is a fully-funded scholarship scheme awarded to about 140 scholars yearly by the Clarendon Scholarship Fund. This scholarship seems to be special as it is awarded to applicants on the basis of excellence and potential across all degree-bearing subjects at the graduate level.

The fund covers tuition fees, living expenses, and health insurance and it is currently ongoing for application.

11. Adelaide Scholarships International in Australia

This a fully-funded grant open to every nationality and it is a scholarship scheme invented by Adelaide Scholarships International to attract high-quality students to boost the research efforts at the University of Adelaide. The grant covers yearly living allowance, health insurance, and tuition fees.

12. University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarship in the Netherlands

This is a scholarship by the UM to attract high-potential scholars from all over the world to pursue a master’s degree at the UM. The fund covers living allowance, health insurance, and tuition fees.

13. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at the University of Toronto Canada

This is a scholarship program at the University of Toronto awarded to international students who show special academic achievement and creativity and who are seen as leaders within their school. The fund will cover tuition fees, incidental fees, books, and living expenses for up to four years.

14. Danish Government Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students  (Denmark)

The University of Copenhagen (UCPH) offers a limited number of tuition waivers and grants through the Danish Government Scholarship program. The scholarships are competitive and offered to highly talented students with outstanding academic records from non-EU/EEU countries. All non-EU/EEA applicants offered admission will automatically be considered for the scholarship. The Danish Government Scholarship is granted as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or as an amount covering basic living costs.

15. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract top foreign students to enroll in their master’s and Ph.D. programs.

It gives opportunities to the future foreign decision-makers of the private and public sectors, in priority areas of study, and encourages applicants from foreign countries up to 25 years old at the master’s level, and applicants up to 30 years old at PhD level.

16. VLIR-UOS Scholarship Awards (Belgium)

They award scholarships to students and professionals from Africa, Asia, or Latin America to study in Flanders, as well as travel grants to Flemish/European students to do fieldwork/internships in Africa, Asia, or Latin America. They award scholarships to applicants from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to attend one of the 15 master’s programs taught in English at one or more Flemish universities. VLIR-UOS provides an annual intake of 10 new first-year scholarships for each ICP

17. Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)

The Amsterdam Excellence Scholarship is an award available to outstanding students from outside Europe. The value of the award is 25,000 Euro per annum for a maximum of 2 years. The purpose is to provide excellent students with the opportunity to complete a Master’s degree at the University of Amsterdam. There is no set number of scholarships to be awarded under this program. Students must be in the top 10% of their class and must be eligible for a Master’s course at the University of Amsterdam. Students must be based outside the EU.

18. Developing Solutions Scholarships at the University of Nottingham (UK)

Developing Solutions is the University of Nottingham (UK) flagship master’s scholarship, founded in 2001, for students from African, South Asian, and other selected Commonwealth countries. This scholarship program is designed for international students who want to make a difference in the development of key economic, environmental, structural, social, or political structures in their home country.

The University of Nottingham offers scholarships covering 50% or 100% of full-time master’s tuition fees. These one-year scholarships are available to support innovative and passionate students who can successfully demonstrate their ingenuity in developing solutions that will impact their home countries and incite change.

19. Erik Bleumink Scholarships at the University of Groningen (Netherlands)

Provided by the University of Groningen, this grant is awarded for a 1 year or 2 years Master’s degree program. The grant covers tuition fees, costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance. A considerable number of students apply for this scholarship each year, whereas the University can issue only a limited number of grants.

20. ETH Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)

ETH Zurich supports outstanding students who wish to pursue Master’s degree studies by offering scholarship and opportunity program. The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) supports students with a scholarship, mentorship, and a network of the ETH Foundation. The scholarship covers the full study and living costs during the Master’s degree course. The scholarship consists of a scholarship covering living and study expenses (CHF 12’000 per semester) as well as a tuition fee waiver. ESOP is awarded for the regular duration of the Master’s program (three or four semesters). This also applies to the tuition fee waiver. Only ETH Bachelor students may start the ESOP with a leave of absence.

21. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK)

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship program was established in October 2000 by a historic donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round. A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

More About Scholarships for International Students in Europe

Scholarships have helped a lot of students achieve their academic goals in life as well as pushed them up the professional ladder, especially, fully-funded scholarships.

Fully funded scholarships are sometimes different from full-tuition scholarships because while full-tuition scholarships ensure payment of only tuition fees in some cases, fully-funded scholarships cover tuition fees, housing, feeding, medicals, flight from applicant country to host country, and in many cases, it also pays the beneficiaries stipends for personal upkeep.

Here at Study Abroad Nations , we’ve helped over 300,000 students discover and apply for scholarships and today, we will be adding to the numbers through this novel guide on how to secure fully-funded European scholarships for international students.

What is a scholarship?

A scholarship is a grant or payment awarded to a student in other to help them further their education and it can be awarded on the basis of academic achievement or other achievements.

You may begin to wonder, how does one get a scholarship opportunity? or what are the ways one can get a scholarship? Good thing I have done a lot of research on this matter and I have valid answers to your questions.

How International Students Can Apply for Scholarships to Study in Europe Successfully

As an international student who wants to study in Europe with a fully-funded scholarship or maybe at least with a full-tuition scholarship, you have to put the following factors into consideration

1. Begin early research

It is advisable to start researching early for scholarships as gathering information on time will help you know how to go about it. Here, we help you with this by publishing scholarship opportunities daily and you can also sign up for our free scholarship updates so we can send you a compilation of available scholarships daily.

You can also join our study abroad and scholarship telegram group to chat with other international students and get updates on available scholarships. If you follow us on twitter , you will be the first to learn about our scholarship updates because we tweet them immediately after they are published.

Time is really necessary when applying for scholarships, the earlier you submit your applications the better for you, all in all, just try to meet the deadline of any scholarship you are applying to.

Aside from meeting deadlines, we advise you to apply earlier, especially for fully funded scholarships because the competition is always very high here coupled with the fact that a lot of international students are routing for Europe and a majority of them are searching for scholarship opportunities just like you.

2. Sign up for a scholarship search

You can use our free scholarship search engine here to search for available scholarships in any country and for any program. You can also click here directly for scholarships in Europe .

Searching for scholarships is also a way of discovering new scholarships to apply for.

Registering for a scholarship search will help you find scholarships that match your interest, skills, and activities and you could set up customized notifications to alert you when fully funded scholarships in Europe that match your profile becomes available.

3. Let people close to you know about your search for a scholarship

Discuss it with your school counselor, teachers, parents, and others. Scholarships are opportunities and they may pop up from anywhere, so it is advisable to talk about it to the people around you just in case an opportunity comes up.

In our international social groups on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram, you can meet international and domestic students in Europe who could help you to actualize your dreams of studying abroad with a scholarship.

4. Ensure you make the right application decision always

Applying to a university/college that fits your profile is the best way to win a scholarship.

Most international scholarships require that applicants, first of all, should apply and be offered admission to a certain school before they are considered for scholarships.

In fact, some international scholarships in Europe are awarded directly just by considering a student’s former academic performance without even asking the student to sit for any scholarship exam.

FAQs on Scholarships For International Students In Europe

Can a current college or university student apply for a n european scholarship.

Yes, you can, it is completely open to everyone, whether you are still in college or your final years in high school unless otherwise stated.

Every scholarship publication has application criteria, once you meet these criteria and every other qualification, you can go ahead and apply.

In fact, it is better to start the college scholarship application while you are still in high school, remember, the earlier the better.

How many scholarships can a single person apply for?

There are millions of scholarships out there so go ahead and apply for as much as you can, I have students who apply for up to 5-7 scholarships in a week.

Scholarships are very competitive and the tough will always have it. So never get tired of applying until you finally land one.

Important Scholarship Application Tips

• Be proactive, that is, keep applying whether you’re in college or not
• Pay attention to details
• Be thorough
• If the application involves scholarship essay writing , do your best.

It doesn’t matter if you are an international student who wants to study in Europe or anywhere in the world the tips and ways of scholarship application I have provided above are the same, follow them diligently and you will definitely succeed.

Conclusion: Scholarships for international students in Europe

For those seeking scholarships for international students in Europe, keeping to these tips will do you every good as winning European scholarships is most times very competitive and you need extra effort to stay ahead of the competition.

So, after all my research I was able to come up with a list of 15 fully funded scholarships for international students in Europe currently and I decided to list and give details of every one of them above.

The main purpose of this article is to bring to your notice some scholarships for international students in Europe, majorly, those that are fully funded to ease you from the financial stress of studying abroad. We went ahead also to list more fully funded international scholarships for European students to study abroad.

Find a scholarship

How to get a scholarship in Europe, EU funding programmes for education, country profiles,  find out about research and other costs, scholarships for international students, grants for interpretation students.  

Bursaries for conference interpreting students Who can apply, eligibility requirements and amount of funding

How to find a scholarship Around 100,000 scholarships and financial support schemes are available across Europe for international students. Each country offers its own schemes.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree is an international study programme, jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions.

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Google PhD fellowship program

Google PhD Fellowships directly support graduate students as they pursue their PhD, as well as connect them to a Google Research Mentor.

Nurturing and maintaining strong relations with the academic community is a top priority at Google. The Google PhD Fellowship Program was created to recognize outstanding graduate students doing exceptional and innovative research in areas relevant to computer science and related fields. Fellowships support promising PhD candidates of all backgrounds who seek to influence the future of technology. Google’s mission is to foster inclusive research communities and encourage people of diverse backgrounds to apply. We currently offer fellowships in Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, India, Latin America, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and the United States.

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Program details

Application status, how to apply, research areas of focus, review criteria, award recipients.

Applications are currently closed.

Update on 2024 Announcement : Decisions for the 2024 application cycle, originally planned for July 2024, will now be announced via email in August 2024. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience as we work to finalize decisions.

• Launch March 27, 2024
• Deadline May 8, 2024
• Awardees Notified By Aug. 31, 2024

The details of each Fellowship vary by region. Please see our FAQ for eligibility requirements and application instructions.

PhD students must be nominated by their university. Applications should be submitted by an official representative of the university during the application window. Please see the FAQ for more information.

Australia and New Zealand

Canada and the United States

PhD students in Japan, Korea and Taiwan must be nominated by their university. After the university's nomination is completed, either an official representative of the university or the nominated students can submit applications during the application window. Please see the FAQ for more information.

India and Southeast Asia

PhD students apply directly during the application window. Please see the FAQ for more information.

Latin America

The 2024 application cycle is postponed. Please check back in 2025 for details on future application cycles.

Google PhD Fellowship students are a select group recognized by Google researchers and their institutions as some of the most promising young academics in the world. The Fellowships are awarded to students who represent the future of research in the fields listed below. Note that region-specific research areas will be listed in application forms during the application window.

Algorithms and Theory

Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing

Health and Bioscience

Human-Computer Interaction and Visualization

Machine Intelligence

Machine Perception

Natural Language Processing

Quantum Computing

Security, Privacy and Abuse Prevention

Software Engineering

Software Systems

Speech Processing

Applications are evaluated on the strength of the research proposal, research impact, student academic achievements, and leadership potential. Research proposals are evaluated for innovative concepts that are relevant to Google’s research areas, as well as aspects of robustness and potential impact to the field. Proposals should include the direction and any plans of where your work is going in addition to a comprehensive description of the research you are pursuing.

In Canada and the United States, East Asia and Latin America, essay responses are evaluated in addition to application materials to determine an overall recommendation.

What does the Google PhD Fellowship include?

Students receive named Fellowships which include a monetary award. The funds are given directly to the university to be distributed to cover the student’s expenses and stipend as appropriate. In addition, the student will be matched with a Google Research Mentor. There is no employee relationship between the student and Google as a result of receiving the fellowship. The award does not preclude future eligibility for internships or employment opportunities at Google, nor does it increase the chances of obtaining them. If students wish to apply for a job at Google, they are welcome to apply for jobs and go through the same hiring process as any other person.

• Up to 3 year Fellowship
• US $12K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
• Google Research Mentor
• 1 year Fellowship
• AUD $15K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
• Up to 2 year Fellowship (effective from 2024 for new recipients)
• Full tuition and fees (enrollment fees, health insurance, books) plus a stipend to be used for living expenses, travel and personal equipment
• US $10K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
• Yearly bursary towards stipend / salary, health care, social benefits, tuition and fees, conference travel and personal computing equipment. The bursary varies by country.

Early-stage PhD students

• Up to 4 year Fellowship
• US $50K to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel

Late-stage PhD students

• US $10K to recognise research contributions, cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel
• US $15K per year to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel

Southeast Asia

• US $10K per year for up to 3 years (or up to graduation, whichever is earlier) to cover stipend and other research related activities, travel expenses including overseas travel

Is my university eligible for the PhD Fellowship Program?

Africa, Australia/New Zealand , Canada, East Asia, Europe and the United States : universities must be an accredited research institution that awards research degrees to PhD students in computer science (or an adjacent field).

India, Latin America and Southeast Asia : applications are open to universities/institutes in India, Latin America (excluding Cuba), and in eligible Southeast Asian countries/regions (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam).

Restrictions : All award payments and recipients will be reviewed for compliance with relevant US and international laws, regulations and policies. Google reserves the right to withhold funding that may violate laws, regulations or our policies.

What are the eligibility requirements for students?

All regions

• Students must remain enrolled full-time in the PhD program for the duration of the Fellowship or forfeit the award.
• Google employees, and their spouses, children, and members of their household are not eligible.
• Students that are already supported by a comparable industry award are not eligible. Government or non-profit organization funding is exempt.
• Past awardees from the PhD Fellowship program are not eligible to apply again.
• Grant of the Fellowship does not mean admission to a PhD program. The awardee must separately apply and be accepted to a PhD program in computer science (or an adjacent field) at an eligible institution.
• Grant of the Fellowship will be subject to the rules and guidelines applicable in the institution where the awardee registers for the PhD program.

Nominated students in Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and the United States, East Asia and Europe.

Universities should only nominate students that meet the following requirements:

• Africa: Incoming PhD students are eligible to apply, but the Fellowship award shall be contingent on the awardee registering for a full-time PhD program in computer science (or an adjacent field) within the academic award year of the Fellowship award, or the award shall be forfeited.
• Australia and New Zealand : early-stage students enrolled in the first or second year of their PhD (no requirement for completion of graduate coursework by the academic award year).
• Canada and the United States : students who have completed graduate coursework in their PhD by the academic award year when the Fellowship begins.
• East Asia: students who have completed most of graduate coursework in their PhD by the academic award year when the Fellowship begins. Students should have sufficient time for research projects after receiving a fellowship.
• Europe: Students enrolled at any stage of their PhD are eligible to apply.

Direct applicant students in India, Latin America and Southeast Asia

• Latin America : incoming or early stage-students enrolled in the first or second year of their PhD (no requirement for completion of graduate coursework by the academic award year).

What should be included in an application? What language should the application be in?

All application materials should be submitted in English.

For each student nomination, the university will be asked to submit the following material in a single, flat (not portfolio) PDF file:

• Student CV with links to website and publications (if available)
• Short (1-page) resume/CV of the student's primary PhD program advisor
• Available transcripts (mark sheets) starting from first year/semester of Bachelor's degree to date
• Research proposal (maximum 3 pages, excluding references)
• 2-3 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee''s work (at least one from the thesis advisor for current PhD students)
• Student essay response (350-word limit) to: What impact would receiving this Fellowship have on your education? Describe any circumstances affecting your need for a Fellowship and what educational goals this Fellowship will enable you to accomplish.
• Transcripts of current and previous academic records
• 1-2 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee's work (at least one from the thesis advisor)

Canada, East Asia, the United States

• Cover sheet signed by the Department Chair confirming the student passes eligibility requirements. (See FAQ "What are the eligibility requirements for students?")
• Short (1-page) CV of the student's primary advisor
• 2-3 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the nominee's work (at least one from the thesis advisor)
• Research / dissertation proposal (maximum 3 pages, excluding references)
• Student essay response (350-word limit) to: Describe the desired impact your research will make on the field and society, and why this is important to you. Include any personal, educational and/or professional experiences that have motivated your research interests.
• Student essay response (350-word limit) to: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. (A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities? Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?)

Students will need the following documents in a single, flat (not portfolio) PDF file in order to complete an application (in English only):

• Student applicant’s resume with links to website and publications (if available)
• Short (one-page) resume/CV of the student applicant's primary PhD program advisor
• 2-3 letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant's work (at least one from the thesis advisor for current PhD students)
• Applicant's essay response (350-word limit) to: Describe the desired impact your research will make on the field and society, and why this is important to you. Include any personal, educational and/or professional experiences that have motivated your research interests.
• Applicant's essay response (350-word limit) to: What are your long-term goals for your pathway in computing research, and how would receiving the Google PhD Fellowship help you progress toward those goals in the short-term?

How do I apply for the PhD Fellowship Program? Who should submit the applications? Can students apply directly for a Fellowship?

Check the eligibility and application requirements in your region before applying. Submission forms are available on this page when the application period begins.

India, Latin America and Southeast Asia: students may apply directly during the application period.

Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, New Zealand, and the United States : students cannot apply directly to the program; they must be nominated by an eligible university during the application period.

How many students may each university nominate?

India, Latin America and Southeast Asia : applications are open directly to students with no limit to the number of students that can apply from a university.

Australia and New Zealand : universities may nominate up to two eligible students.

Canada and the United States : Universities may nominate up to four eligible students. We encourage nominating students with diverse backgrounds especially those from historically marginalized groups in the field of computing. If more than two students are nominated then we strongly encourage additional nominees who self-identify as a woman, Black / African descent, Hispanic / Latino / Latinx, Indigenous, and/or a person with a disability.

Africa, East Asia and Europe : Universities may nominate up to three eligible students. We encourage nominating students with diverse backgrounds especially those from historically marginalized groups in the field of computing. If more than two students are nominated then we strongly encourage the additional nominee who self-identifies as a woman.

*Applications are evaluated on merit. Please see FAQ for details on how applications are evaluated.

How are applications evaluated?

In Canada and the United State, East Asia and Latin America, essay responses are evaluated in addition to application materials to determine an overall recommendation.

A nominee's status as a member of a historically marginalized group is not considered in the selection of award recipients.

Research should align with Google AI Principles .

Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

How are Google PhD Fellowships given?

Any monetary awards will be paid directly to the Fellow's university for distribution. No overhead should be assessed against them.

What are the intellectual property implications of a Google PhD Fellowship?

Fellowship recipients are not subject to intellectual property restrictions unless they complete an internship at Google. If that is the case, they are subject to the same intellectual property restrictions as any other Google intern.

Will the Fellowship recipients become employees of Google?

No, Fellowship recipients do not become employees of Google due to receiving the award. The award does not preclude future eligibility for internships or employment opportunities at Google, nor does it increase the chances of obtaining them. If they are interested in working at Google, they are welcome to apply for jobs and go through the same hiring process as any other person.

Can Fellowship recipients also be considered for other Google scholarships?

Yes, Fellowship recipients are eligible for these scholarships .

After award notification, when do the Google PhD Fellowships begin?

After Google PhD Fellowship recipients are notified, the Fellowship is effective starting the following school year.

What is the program application time period?

Applications for the 2024 program will open in March 2024 and close in May 2024 for all regions. Refer to the main Google PhD Fellowship Program page for each region’s application details.

A global awards announcement will be made in September on the Google Research Blog publicly announcing all award recipients.

How can I ask additional questions?

Due to the volume of emails we receive, we may not be able to respond to questions where the answer is available on the website. If your question has not been answered by a FAQ, email:

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East Asia: [email protected]

Europe: [email protected]

India: [email protected]

Latin America: [email protected]

Southeast Asia: [email protected]

See past PhD Fellowship recipients.

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Browse our library of open source projects, public datasets, APIs and more to find the tools you need to tackle your next challenge or fuel your next breakthrough.

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PhD students

Here you find a  selection of funding programmes  for international PhD students by various funding organisations. For more funding opportunities please search our  funding databases .

Selection of funding programmes (alphabetical order):

Collaborative Research Centres

Collaborative Research Centres offer PhD students opportunities to pursue an outstanding research programme that crosses disciplinary, institutional, departmental and faculty boundaries.

DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships

Outstanding PhD students can complete a doctorate in the fields of space, aeronautics, energy, transport, digitalisation and security at an institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

ERA Fellowships – Green Hydrogen

This programme provides funding for a research project or continuing academic training in the field of GH2.

Green Talents

The winners of this competition are invited to visit leading German institutions of environmental and sustainability research. Furthermore, Green Talents awardees can complete a research stay at an institution of their choice.

Individual Doctoral Projects at Fraunhofer Institutes

PhD students can complete a doctorate while working on exciting projects in cutting-edge areas of technology involving state-of-the-art equipment at a Fraunhofer institute.

Individual Doctoral Projects at Leibniz Institutes

PhD students can complete a doctorate while working in an excellent interdisciplinary research environment at a Leibniz institute.

Individual Doctoral Projects at Max Planck Institutes

PhD students can complete doctoral projects within the scope of research work conducted at a Max Planck institute.

International Max Planck Research Schools

PhD students can complete a doctorate in a structured programme offering excellent research conditions at one of the 68 International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS).

International Visiting Researchers at Max Planck Institutes

International researchers can conduct independent research at a Max Planck institute. The programme aims to strengthen cooperation and promote networking between Max Planck institutes and their international partners.

Leibniz Graduate Schools and Leibniz ScienceCampi

PhD students will find ideal conditions for completing a doctorate in a structured doctoral programme that can be pursued at either a Leibniz institute or a partner university.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks

PhD students receive structured doctoral training within these networks, which are formed jointly by different European institutions.

Max Planck Schools

The Max Planck Schools are a joint graduate programme run by German universities and research organisations. They offer ambitious bachelor’s and master’s graduates excellent conditions within a unique scientific network, and provide structured and fully funded PhD programmes in three interdisciplinary research fields: cognition, matter to life and photonics.

Munich Aerospace: PhD Scholarships

Munich Aerospace PhD scholarships allow talented young scientists to focus exclusively on the research work at hand and on attaining a timely doctoral degree.

PhD Fellowships

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds awards PhD Fellowships to outstanding early career researchers who wish to carry out an ambitious scientific PhD project in basic biomedical research at an internationally leading laboratory.

Research Grants – Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle

The aim of this programme is to support doctoral degrees at the student’s home university with integrated research phases in Germany.

Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany

International PhD students can realise a doctoral project (individually or in a structured programme) at a state or state-recognised German university or non-university research institution.

Research Grants – One-Year Grants

International doctoral candidates can carry out research primarily as part of a doctoral project at a state or state-recognised university or non-university research institution in Germany.

Research Training Groups

Research Training Groups are set up by universities and pursue a focused research programme. They offer a structured PhD programme relating to an innovative, peer-reviewed research topic.

RISE Professional

This programme enables students in the fields of natural sciences, engineering or computer science from North America, the United Kingdom or Ireland to gain serious practical experience in a German company or research institution with strong industry ties.

Travel Grants

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards travel grants to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from all over the world.

More information:

Search funding databases.

More funding programmes are available for international researchers. For more information you can either search the funding databases or go straight to the websites of the funding organisations.

3091 Scholarships for Phd in Europe

Looking for any information about how to get some Europe scholarships and financial aid for Phd to pay out your tuition fees faster? You are in the right place and here you will find a variety of ongoing college and university scholarships ⭐ and other opportunities in Europe for 2024-2025 years, available for local scholars and international students.

You may also wish to subscribe to get our weekly scholarships-plus updates (locate a subscribe blue panel below).

Some of these scholarships in Europe are fully or partially funded, while some may have very specific benefits like tuition and accomodation fees coverage for international students, different allowances, or travel and insurance coverages. These Europe scholarships ⭐, grants, internships, and bursaries can be for both postgraduates and undergraduates, for Bachelors Degree, Masters, PhD, Fellowship or can be based on merit or have competitive schemes like contests or incentives and student loans. Scholarships are usually funded by Europe government, universities, colleges or private sponsors from Europe.

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Funding sources for PhD studies in Europe

PhD positions in European countries are funded through a diverse range of sources. Understanding the different funding sources for PhD studies in Europe is pivotal: With this knowledge, prospective PhD students can turn their abstract ambition to pursue a degree in Europe into a concrete strategy.

Doing a PhD in Europe

For starters, to qualify for PhD studies in most European countries, a master’s degree is required. Furthermore, in many European countries, PhD students are treated as employees. This means that they are formally employed, receive a salary and make pension contributions.

The money that is used to pay for PhD positions can come from a variety of sources. However, prospective students are often not aware of the wide range of possibilities to fund their PhD studies.

PhD funding in Europe through university budgets

The most straightforward funding arrangement is PhD funding via university budgets. This essentially means that a university has money available to invest in PhD students.

Prospective PhD students cannot influence this funding source. Often, they simply have to apply to an open position advertised on a university website or a job portal.

PhD funding in Europe through external project grants

During the application process, applicants often have to showcase how they fit into the specific project. Furthermore, they have to make suggestions of how they would approach and execute certain tasks to meet the project’s goals.

PhD funding in Europe through individual grants from governments & research councils

The PhD positions that are created from individual grants by scientific research councils often require unique, individual PhD research projects. These projects offer room for creativity but require a high degree of independence.

PhD funding in Europe through individual scholarships from foundations

There are many foundations that either support or fully fund PhD studies in Europe. These foundations are often connected to political parties, religious institutions, specific industries, companies or non-profit organisations.

Prospective PhD students have a high degree of influence when it comes to this source of funding. They tend to be in charge of the whole application process.

PhD funding through governmental scholarships from countries of origin

Applicants usually have to undergo two application processes: One to receive the scholarship, and another one to secure a position at a European university.

Part-time PhD funding in Europe through non-academic employers

If there is a connection between a PhD topic and a non-academic job, some employers enter a formal arrangement that covers PhD fees. Furthermore, they allow the PhD student to do PhD-related work during some of their ‘regular’ working hours.

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Study in Europe

Getting you ready to plan and complete higher education studies in Europe

Scholarships, grants and financial support

There are 100,000s of scholarships and financial support schemes available across Europe for international students who wish to study here.

Some schemes cover part of the tuition fees, some cover all of the tuition fees, as well as supporting living costs too. Competition can be strong, but it is well worth exploring your options.

Here are some of the main places to find European higher education scholarships and funding opportunities.

Scholarship opportunities per European country

Each country in Europe offers its own scholarship schemes. Visit the country profiles section of this website, to find out more about scholarship opportunities per country.

Erasmus scholarship opportunities

Erasmus mundus joint master degrees.

These scholarships cover the cost of participation in the programme, travel and provide a living allowance.

Learn more about Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

Participate in an Erasmus+ exchange

Through the Erasmus+ programme, international students can study in one of 33 European countries for between 3 and 12 months as part of their study programme.

Erasmus+ students do not have to pay tuition fees for their time abroad. Some students may also be eligible for a grant contributing to living costs and travel expenses.

There are also opportunities for students from Europe to study at partner higher education institutions in other parts of the world. To be eligible, you need to be studying at a higher education institution that is part of the Erasmus+ programme. Ask your university or find out more on the higher education in Europe page of this website.

Other ways to find a scholarship in Europe

Scholarshipportal.

Scholarshipportal is a database presenting over 1,000 scholarships available in Europe and beyond. Select your desired level of study, the country you're from and where you want to study to see scholarships that match your profile.

Find scholarships to study in Europe

The EURAXESS website shares information about funding schemes across Europe for research posts, fellowships and doctoral studies. Discover the EURAXESS national portals for more detailed information about opportunities in each country.

Explore the EURAXESS national portals

Universities

As well as the schemes listed above, many universities, research institutes and higher education institutions offer their own scholarships and financial support. Browse their websites to see what is on offer.

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List of Europe Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships for International Students

Gates cambridge scholarships for international students.

Deadline: 16 Oct/3 Dec 2024/7 Jan 2025 (annual) Study in:  UK Course starts October 2025

Clarendon Fund Scholarships at University of Oxford

Deadline: 3 Dec 2024/7-8 Jan 2025 (annual) Study in:  UK Course starts October 2025

Reach Oxford Scholarships for Developing Country Students

Deadline: 15 Oct 2024/ 12 Feb 2025 (annual) Study in: UK Course starts October 2025

Belgian American Educational Foundation Fellowships

Deadline: 31 Oct 2024 (Annual) Study in: Belgium Course starts July-Dec 2025

DAAD Scholarships in Germany for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses

Deadline: Aug-Oct 2024 (annual) Study in:  Germany Next course starts AY 2025/2026

Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford University for International Students

Deadline: varies, July-Oct 2024 (annual) Study in: UK Course starts October 2024

The George J. Mitchell Scholarships for US citizens to study in Ireland

Deadline: 28 Sept 2023 (Annual) Study in: UK Course starts Sept 2024

The Marshall Scholarship for US citizens to study in the UK

Deadline: 24 Sept 2024 (Annual) Study in: UK Course starts Autumn 2025

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Students

Deadline: varies, Sept-Dec 2024 Study in: Switzerland Next course starts 2025

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for US Citizens to Study Abroad

Deadline: 10 Oct 2024/6 Mar 2025 (Annual) Study in: Countries outside the U.S. Course starts 2025/2026

UNIL Master’s Grants in Switzerland for Foreign Students

Deadline: 1 Nov 2024 (annual) Study in: Switzerland Course starts September 2024

Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (LexS)

Deadline: 1 Oct/1 Feb (annual) Study in:  Netherlands Next course starts Feb/Sept 2025

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PhD Studies & Research

Science and research in Germany are characterised by a distinguished infrastructure, a wide variety of disciplines, well-equipped research facilities and competent staff. Germany offers various career opportunities for international PhD students and researchers.

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Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Developing talents, advancing research

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Objective of postdoctoral fellowships.

The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

Types of Postdoctoral Fellowship

There are 2 types of Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• European Postdoctoral Fellowships. They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
• Global Postdoctoral Fellowships. They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.

Both types of fellowships may also include short-term secondments anywhere in the world during the fellowship (except during the return phase of a Global Fellowship).

In an effort to build bridges between the academic and non-academic sector, researchers can receive additional support to carry out a placement of up to 6 months in a non-academic organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This placement needs to take place at the end of their fellowship.

For Postdoctoral Fellowships in research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme , researchers need to be nationals or long-term residents of an EU Member State or a Euratom Associated Country. The beneficiary organisation recruiting the researcher also needs to be established in an EU Member State or Euratom Associated Country.

Who can apply for Postdoctoral Fellowships?

Interested researchers submit an application together with a host organisation, which can be a university, research institution, business, SME or other organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. All disciplines are eligible for Postdoctoral Fellowships, including research areas covered by the Euratom Research and Training Programme.

Researchers interested in PFs

• should have a PhD degree at the time of the deadline for applications. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will also be considered eligible to apply
• must have a maximum of eight years experience in research, from the date of the award of their PhD degree, years of experience outside research and career breaks will not count towards the above maximum, nor will years of experience in research in third countries, for nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries who wish to reintegrate to Europe
• should comply with mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary (for European Postdoctoral Fellowships), or the host organisation for the outgoing phase (for Global Postdoctoral Fellowships) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline

As from 2022, resubmission restrictions will apply for applications that received a score below 70% the previous year.

Seals of Excellence will be awarded to applications with a total score equal to or higher than 85% , but which cannot be funded due to lack of budget available under the call.

What does the funding cover?

The beneficiary receiving EU funding needs to recruit the researcher for the total period of the fellowship.

The EU provides support for the recruited researcher in the form of

• a living allowance
• a mobility allowance
• if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances

In addition, funding is provided for

• research, training and networking activities
• management and indirect costs

How to apply?

Researchers: prepare an application with a host organisation of your choice.

If you are an experienced researcher interested in developing your own research project you can apply for Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Application process

You will need to

• develop an application jointly with your chosen host organisation
• submit your application to an open funding call published on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal

To find a host organisation

• your network will be an invaluable source
• you can also check the list of hosting offers (expressions of interest) published on Euraxess and other job portals from research institutions interested in supporting your application

Offers are often in very concrete fields of research proposed by the host organisation. In many cases, you will be in contact with a supervisor to develop your application. You will need to check carefully the requirements to make sure you are eligible to apply.

Relevant documents and information

All relevant documents are available for each call on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal, including

• MSCA work programme  and  general annexes
• guide for applicants
• specific FAQs
• application and evaluation forms
• guidelines on the calculation of 8-years research experience in Postdoctoral Fellowships under Horizon Europe
• self-assessment tool for the calculation of the 8-years research experience

For more information on the application and evaluation process and contact points for further guidance

• visit our page on how to apply
• visit the European Research Executive Agency website

Organisations: attract experienced researchers and prepare an application

As an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country you can develop an application jointly with an experienced researcher for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships funding.

To attract the most talented researchers you can post hosting offers on Euraxess and other major job portals, gaining access to a pool of international minds and high potentials interested in applying with your organisation.

As the host organisation you will be responsible for submitting the application to MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships on behalf of the researcher.

The completed proposal, including all annexes

• can be submitted at any time from the opening date of the chosen call
• should be submitted by the specified submission deadline of the chosen call

If the submitted proposal is retained for funding, your organisation will be in charge of

• supervising
• where appropriate, seconding the researcher

Applicants can

• find open and forthcoming calls on our page on funding
• find partners and apply through the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal

All relevant documents are available on the dedicated call page on the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal, including

• online manual  on how to submit an application

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How to Find Fully Funded PhD and Master’s Programs in Europe

By Andrew Anžur Clement, PhD

Let’s say that you’re about to graduate from college, with either an undergrad or a master’s under your belt. You’re looking for your next move but would like to avoid things like mountains of student debt or crushing teaching loads. If you’re like me, maybe you studied abroad and just don’t want to come home. If so, there are a lot of great reasons to consider one of the many fully-funded master’s or PhD programs offered by the European Union and other European institutions.

Read on to learn more about where to get started looking to find the European post-grad experience that’s right for you, at the master’s, PhD and post-doc levels.

The double master’s scholarships offered by the European Commission’s Erasmus Mundus programs.

The EU Commission is the executive branch of the European Union. Among other things, it funds double masters programs under the umbrella of the Erasmus Mundus funding scheme. The stipends cover tuition, as well as well as monthly stipends for living expenses and also a one-time allotment for travel costs to and from Europe.

On these programs, you will study at two different institutions within a program’s consortium; you’ll graduate with degrees from both of these universities. You may also have the opportunity for an exchange semester at third partner institutions in the EU and around the world, including places like the UK. Students from all over the world can apply. In most cases, the language of coursework and instruction is English.

You’ll apply directly to the program and consortium you’re interested in. The specific requirements differ, depending on your field and specific course of study. There are two main ways to go about finding the right master’s program. The old-fashioned way is by looking at the websites of the universities and departments you are interested in, to see if they are members of an Erasmus Mundus program that’s a good fit for your interests. Then you’ll apply via that consortium’s website. Other EU-related funding opportunities can be found here .

Fortunately, there is an easier way. The EU now has a handy, searchable database for all currently running Erasmus Mundus programs called the Erasmus Mundus Catalog . There, you can find out more and apply.

Even if you are not selected for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, you may have the opportunity to attend as a paying student. Even then, you will still benefit from a world-class educational experience and get two degrees at tuition fees that are far, far lower than in the United States.

PhD and post-doc funding opportunities from the European Union.

If you’ve already graduated with your master’s (or double master’s) in your hot little hands, if you want to continue with your academic plans on the continent, the EU still has plenty of great opportunities for you.

The European Commission funding programs on the PhD and post-doc levels are now administered exclusively through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSC) . This is great. It allows you to double-dip by being able to receive the one-time grant, on the master’s and doctoral levels separately.

While you are able to propose your own research program directly to the commission under the framework of the MSC grant, this is exceedingly difficult and mostly done on the post-doctoral level.

The EU has a database of all MSC funding ‘actions,’ as they are called, at the link above. However, because this includes all types of currently-open calls for applications, including at the post-doc and departmental levels, it can prove a bit clunky. The best way of going about finding the PhD consortium ‘school’ that is right for you is to look directly on the websites of the universities you are interested in to see if they are a member of a consortium program. You will apply directly via the consortium’s website, when the call for applications is open.

As a prospective PhD candidate, you will likely apply through the specific consortium of degree-awarding institutions, or ‘PhD school,’ that fits not only your academic background and interests but also your compatibility with the research package profile that the school – and, in turn, the EU – is looking for. In simpler terms, this means that the PhD consortium authorities will evaluate your potential as a researcher to pursue a specific agenda of research and carry out various mandatory academic and outreach modules as dictated in a top-down manner.

This means that, on the PhD level, you are applying for a job; you will be paid a salary to carry out a specific research project in a pre-determined area over the course of the program, at the end of which you will receive PhD’s from two academic institutions. You can find out more information about the MSC grants and how to prepare a competitive application for an MSC fellowship in my article: How to Prepare a Strong Application for a PhD Fellowship in the Social Sciences from the European Union .

A note on the European Economic Area and Post-Brexit realities.

Let’s say that you’ve found a program that you’d love to apply for in Switzerland, Norway, or Iceland. On the other hand, maybe you have your heart set on starting your post-grad academic career in the United Kingdom. In the first two of these cases you’re in luck! Members of the European Economic Area – Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein – as EU ‘affiliates,’ actively participate in the EU’s master’s and PhD programs, as degree-awarding institutions.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, UK universities are still eligible to be affiliated with EU Erasmus Mundus consortium programs as ‘partner’ rather than ‘participating’ institutions. In short, this means while prospective candidates for an EU fellowship may still be able to study at a UK institution for a semester, the main degree-awarding institutions will both have to be from the EU/EEA.

The UK posts its own national master’s and PhD funding opportunities on the British Council Scholarships and Funding website, though, post-Brexit, the British Council has become more focused on attracting students from its Commonwealth and certain other countries with which it seeks to form deeper strategic partnerships. In general, should you choose to attend a UK master’s or PhD program as a paying student, tuition fees are easily more than twice that of many European universities, though still less than in the United States.

Final thoughts.

So there you have some starting points to search for fully funded and stipended post-grad programs in Europe. By choosing Europe for your post-grad studies, it’s possible to finish with four degrees, money in the bank and limitless possibilities for the future. Judging by my own experience, at least, the EU certainly has one more satisfied graduate.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to read  I Completed 4 Fully-Funded Graduate Programs in Europe (And You Can, Too) .

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Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (students)

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are prestigious international masters, jointly designed and delivered by a group of higher education institutions.

They involve at least 3 institutions from at least 3 different countries, and multiple associated partners from the academic and non-academic world.

Typically, they include periods of study, research, traineeship, thesis preparation and defence.

Scholarships available

Masters may also offer full scholarships to the best-ranked students worldwide. Scholarships cover your participation costs and contribute to

• a living allowance

Masters duration

1 to 2 academic years (60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits ).

Type of degree awarded

You will gain either

• a joint degree (i.e. one single degree certificate issued on behalf of at least two higher education institutions) or
• multiple degrees (i.e. at least two degree certificates issued by two higher education institutions of the consortium)

You’ll be able to define these in detail when you sign a study agreement with the relevant Erasmus Mundus Joint Master at the beginning of your studies.

Search and apply

Students apply directly to the institution running their chosen programme.

You can search the course catalogue for details of the latest programmes on offer.

A new batch of selected Erasmus Mundus Masters is added to the list each year.

In most cases, you should submit your application between October and January for courses starting the following academic year.

Each master's website has all the details about the course of study, the list of the participating universities, the entry requirements and all the steps of the application process (with and without scholarship).

What you need

• have a bachelor’s degree (first degree), or be in your last year of bachelor studies
• graduate before the master’s programme starts

You may also apply if you demonstrate a bachelor’s equivalent level of learning. This must be officially recognised, according to national legislation and practices, in the degree awarding country.

Advice with your application

The Erasmus Mundus Association has resources to help you apply, including course contacts, events with national volunteer representatives, and stories from successful applicants.

Find advice and inspiration for applicants

Almost 50,000 students have taken part since 2004. Are you ready to join them?

Grants for institutions

Erasmus+ also offers grants to higher education institutions to run EMJM programmes.

Applying as an institution for an EMJM programme grant

Other funding available

Researchers (marie skłodowska-curie actions).

• Postdoctoral Fellowships for researchers
• Staff exchanges

More opportunities for individuals

Erasmus+ support for students, staff and others

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We have 26 European Studies PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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European Studies PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Embark on a fascinating journey of discovery by pursuing a PhD in European Studies. This interdisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of European history, languages, and cultural traditions.

What's it like to study a PhD in European Studies?

Studying a PhD in European Studies allows you to explore the complexities and nuances of European culture, literature, and languages. You will have the chance to engage in in-depth research, critically analyze texts, and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this field.

As a PhD student, you will have the freedom to choose your research focus, whether it be exploring the works of renowned European authors, examining the impact of European integration on cultural identities, or investigating the role of language in shaping European societies. You will work closely with experienced supervisors who will guide and support you throughout your research journey.

In addition to your research, you may also have the opportunity to participate in conferences, present your work to fellow academics, and collaborate with scholars from different disciplines. This will enable you to broaden your horizons and gain valuable insights from experts in various fields.

Entry requirements for a PhD in European Studies

To be eligible for a PhD in European Studies, you will typically need a strong academic background in a related field such as languages, literature, cultural studies, or European studies. A minimum of a 2.1 Honours degree is usually required, although specific requirements may vary between universities.

PhD in European Studies funding options

Funding for PhDs in European Studies may be available from various sources, including governments, universities and charities, business or industry. See our full guides to PhD funding for more information.

PhD in European Studies careers

A PhD in European Studies opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates often find employment in academia, teaching at universities or conducting research at prestigious institutions. Furthermore, the knowledge and skills acquired during your PhD journey can be applied to various sectors such as international relations, cultural diplomacy, publishing, journalism, and translation.

With a deep understanding of European languages, literature, and culture, you may also find opportunities in the tourism industry, working as a cultural consultant, or even pursuing a career in the diplomatic service. The interdisciplinary nature of European Studies equips you with transferable skills such as critical thinking, research proficiency, and intercultural competence, which are highly valued in today's globalized world.

Embarking on a PhD in European Studies is not only intellectually stimulating but also offers a pathway to a rewarding and fulfilling career. By immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Europe, you will contribute to the advancement of knowledge and become a respected expert in your field.

16 PhD positions in MSCA/UKRI Doctoral Network “SCALA - Spatial Communication and Ageing across Languages”

Funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Germany PhD Programme

A German PhD usually takes 3-4 years. Traditional programmes focus on independent research, but more structured PhDs involve additional training units (worth 180-240 ECTS credits) as well as placement opportunities. Both options require you to produce a thesis and present it for examination. Many programmes are delivered in English.

PhD at the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies

Humanities research programme.

Humanities Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

The Dr David Summers Trust Scholarship in Scottish Literary Culture

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

PhD at the Refugee Law Initiative

Politics, languages & international studies phd, self-funded phd students only.

The PhD opportunities on this programme do not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Writing trans and non-binary lives in the 20th and 21st centuries: autobiography, autofiction, autotheory

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

The representation of love and relationships in contemporary zine culture

Faculty of arts, masaryk university, postgraduate research opportunities in global development, politics and international relations & security, social sciences research programme.

Social Sciences Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Postgraduate Research Opportunities in Law

Law research programme.

Law Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Fully-funded four-year PhD in History and Civilisation

Research degrees in the school of languages, cultures and societies, arts research programme.

Arts Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

German PhD (option of joint PhD with Stuttgart or Humboldt University)

History phd (option of joint phd with hong kong university or national university of singapore).

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The J.B. Harley Research Fellowships in the History of Cartography: call for applications

The Harley Fellowships - the only one of their kind in Europe – provide support for those working on the history of cartography, from any discipline, doing the equivalent of post-graduate level work in the historical map collections of the United Kingdom.  Awards range up to £2000.

Website:    http://www.maphistory.info/harley.html

The J.B. Harley Fellowships were set up in London in 1992 in memory of Brian Harley (1932-91). Prof. Harley was founding co-editor of the  History of Cartography Project  and the leading theoretical thinker in the field.

Applications are invited from anyone pursuing advanced research in the history of cartography, irrespective of nationality, discipline or profession, who wishes to work in London and other parts of the United Kingdom. While independent of them, the fellowships are run in association with the four institutions in the London area that, together, hold the greatest number of early maps, namely: the  British Library ,  The National Archives ,  Royal Museums Greenwich and the  Royal Geographical Society .

The closing date for applications is 1st NOVEMBER 2024.   The Fellowship website has an application page that should provide all the necessary information as well as answering many frequently asked questions:     http://www.maphistory.info/application.html  .  

Please indicate in your application if you are a postgraduate or an early career researcher within five years of completion of your PhD.

It would be helpful if you could say where you saw this notice.  

Please forward to others who might be interested  

Tom Harper Honorary Secretary, J.B. Harley Fellowships 

Lead Curator of Antiquarian Mapping, The British Library   

• Aalto University
• Posted on: 9 September 2024

Fully-funded PhD project under Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks "FOCAL": Network slicing and AI-based resource allocation for optical multi-layered non-terrestrial networks

Job Information

Offer description.

This fully funded PhD position is available under the recently launched Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (DN) project "FOCAL" (Free-space Optical Communications for Aerial-sateLlite networks). 

• PhD position title: Network slicing and AI-based resource allocation for optical multi-layered non-terrestrial networks
• Objectives: The aim of this PhD thesis will be to design: (i) novel resource management algorithms for the optimization of non-terrestrial networks using model-based and artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques such as supervised and reinforcement learning; and (ii) network slicing solutions to enable the coexistence of multiple virtual logical networks for different services and to maximize end-to-end energy efficiency, network coverage, and reliability based on QoS requirement of the different application scenarios.
• PhD supervision:  Aalto University, Finland; Nokia Bell Labs, Denmark; Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, Germany  

General description of the "FOCAL" MSCA-DN Project: With currently 3 billion people lacking access to broadband internet worldwide, European operators are struggling to fill the white areas with insufficient or nonexistent connectivity. In light of the early promises of 6G wireless networks, it is tempting to consider non-terrestrial networks as complementary to the ground-based radio and fiber infrastructure. However, radio frequency-based satellite systems are nearing their capacity limits and cannot be scaled further. Free-space optical technology is a natural alternative to deliver greater capacity and to better address data security needs by leveraging quantum key distribution. The first optical intersatellite links are being deployed in commercial networks at relatively low data rate (10 Gbps). However, once the most important remaining research challenges are resolved, they could rapidly expand and serve as a catalyst for the development of a new communication backbone in the sky, consisting of aerial and space optical nodes at different altitudes.

The overarching aim of the FOCAL project is to train a new generation of highly qualified doctoral candidates in developing innovative aerial and space optical wireless technologies that will provide future telecommunication networks with ubiquitous connectivity, resilience, and quantum-proof security. In addition to contributing to the fundamental understanding and technical know-how of such networks through co-supervised individual research projects, FOCAL will train talented and innovative researchers with multidisciplinary expertise and skills that are desirable in this European industrial sector. This will be achieved through a combination of theoretical and hands-on research training provided by a unique consortium of 16 academic and 10 industrial partners from 8 countries, resulting in collaborative research including co-supervision and secondments, as well as transferable training skills, which is necessary for prosperous careers in this prominent R&I area.

More information on the project can be found on the following URL:  https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101169042  

Where to apply

Requirements.

The candidates must have a MSc (or an equivalent) degree in physics, electrical, electronics, telecommunications or photonics engineering. A solid background in signal processing is an important asset.  The candidate must have a very good English language proficiency (oral and written expression) and be keen for short-term stays ("secondments") in partner institutions. Knowledge of the Finnish language is not required.

In addition, the following qualifications will be highly appreciated:

• Experience in wireless and/or optical communication systems (e.g. from participating in R&D projects)
• Knowledge of simulation tools for wireless communication systems.
• Publications in scientific journals or conferences in areas related to the title of the position.

Additional Information

The enrollments of the Doctoral Candidates (DCs) are under very attractive employment conditions  and competitive salaries offered in Marie-Curie Doctoral Networks.

Candidates must also meet the following criteria: 

• Be of any nationality, but must not have resided or carried out main activity in Finland for more than 12 months in the last 36 months; 
• Have not yet been awarded a PhD degree.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, nationality, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. 

The applications must be received from 1-30 September 2024 (the deadline may be extended if the position is not filled by then) by email to the supervisor with CC to [email protected] including the following documents (all strictly in PDF format):

• Curriculum vitae
• Master [alternatively, the expected graduation date of Master degree] and Bachelor diplomas (in a single PDF file)
• Master and Bachelor grades transcripts (in a single PDF file)
• Motivation letter (limited to 500 words)
• The name and contact information of two references or two recommendation letters (in a single PDF file).

Please note, the starting date of the position is flexible.

Also, the applicants must fill the application form following the URL below,  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AhWWi3rNseEpJ8LNbWJmDj89cQfwrl5-Vhn0cAdGTS8/  

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