phd degree in europe

• PhD Study in Europe

Europe's historic and world-renowned universities have always been home to leading scientists, artists and thinkers. If you're thinking of doing a PhD in Europe, you'll be welcome to follow in their footsteps.

Modern international students often pay surprisingly low fees and study within generously funded higher education systems, with ground-breaking research opportunities supported by generous funding from the European Union and other organisations.

The diversity of opportunities in Europe is matched by a robust system of qualification recognition and credit transfer, meaning that your degree will be internationally recognised and accepted. A PhD from Europe often also includes a range of additional training and development opportunities (this, after all, is the continent that invented the modern doctoral degree).

The guides below introduce different options for studying PhD in Europe. You can also learn more about the European Higher Education Area , ECTS credits , PhD fees and visa requirements .

Holland and the Netherlands are a welcoming destination for international PhD study with historic and globally-renowned research universities. Our guide covers admissions, visas, fees and funding.

Looking to study a PhD in Norway? Our guide explains entry requirements, visas, funding (it’s free to study) and more.

This guide tells you all about everything you need to apply for a PhD programme in Germany.

There are no fees for PhD study at most German universities and funding is available from a range of government agencies, research societies and other organisations.

Want to study a PhD in Ireland? This guide gives a detailed introduction to the kind of visa you need to study in Ireland and how to apply for it.

What's it like to live in Germany during a PhD? Our guide covers accommodation, student living costs, working and other key information.

PhD study within the European Higher Education Area

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is a network of 49 countries that share a common system for university degrees. It is made up of all 27 EU members, plus the UK, as well as other countries from elsewhere in Europe and Eurasia.

All EHEA members follow the Bologna Process, an agreement signed in 1999 at the University of Bologna (Europe’s oldest university). This organises academic degrees intro three cycles :

• Bachelors degrees are first-cycle degrees, usually taking three years
• Masters degrees are second-cycle degrees, usually taking two years
• Doctorates (such as PhDs) are third-cycle degrees, usually taking three to four years

Academic degrees from one EHEA country are automatically recognised in others. This makes it a lot simpler to study abroad in different parts of Europe or to work in another European country with your doctorate.

What does the Bologna Process mean for PhDs?

Doctorates are a relatively recent addition to the Bologna Process and fit more loosely within its guidelines. For example, there is still no standard length or credit value for a PhD in Europe and individual programmes may include additional training or other elements in addition to your research project.

However, studying within the EHEA does offer several important benefits for PhD students :

• The Bologna Process can simplify your entrance qualifications . If you have a Masters from one country it should be easily recognised by universities elsewhere in Europe.
• You will also receive a doctoral degree recognised across the EHEA . This means you can take advantage of unique research and training opportunities in one part of Europe and then easily use your expertise to follow up your research interests and seek academic jobs at other European universities and research centres.
• Some PhDs in Europe award ECTS credits for modules and classes . This allows you to receive extra recognition for training you complete alongside your thesis. You can read more about ECTS credits below.
• The Bologna Process asks that doctoral candidates are treated as early career researchers as well as students. This can increase the support you receive to develop professionally during a PhD as well as offering additional employment opportunities at your university.
• Universities are expected to help all students access doctoral education and to help develop funding opportunities for them, including industry partnerships and / or employment opportunities.
• Student mobility and exchange programmes are also encouraged, with opportunities for you to spend time in other parts of Europe during your PhD if this will benefit your research.

EHEA countries:

The following countries are members of the European Higher Education Area:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria , Azerbaijan, Belgium , Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Georgia, Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Turkey , Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Vatican City (Holy See).

What is the European Research Area?

The European Research Area (ERA) was formed after the European Higher Education Area to help coordinate research activities across the EU and other associated countries. ERA members benefit from substantial framework funding programmes such as Horizon Europe , which can help create opportunities for PhD training.

ECTS credits for PhD study in Europe

Most degree programmes in Europe are measured using the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation Scheme (ECTS). This is one of the reasons that degrees can be recognised across the EHEA as all qualifications at the same cycle are ‘worth’ the same number of credits.

• Bachelors degrees are normally worth 180 ECTS credits
• Masters degrees are normally worth 120 ECTS credits

Each credit represents a certain amount of learning hours for a course, with a year of study usually being worth 60 credits. The independent research that makes up a PhD is harder to measure using this system. This means that doctoral degrees don’t usually have a total ECTS credit value .

However, ECTS credits are sometimes used to measure training units and modules as part of more structured PhDs . Some of these courses have a minimum credit requirement that students must meet before they begin working on their thesis. This number is usually quite small (around 20-30 credits, or half a year’s worth of work).

Qualification recognition

The Bologna Process ensures that degrees are easily recognised by universities and employers elsewhere in Europe. This is useful if you have a European Masters degree and are applying for a PhD in a different EHEA country.

The EHEA can also help you receive recognition for international qualifications from universities outside Europe.

Each country in the European Higher Education Area has its own National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) and these are part of the European Network of Information Centres in the European Region (ENIC). Together, these form part of a network known as ENIC-NARIC , which can help assess your foreign qualifications and confirm that they meet the entry requirements for a PhD in Europe.

Your university may ask this network to help check your Bachelors or Masters degrees, or you may be able to use ENIC-NARIC yourself to ask about your qualifications.

Bear in mind though that the final decision to admit you to a PhD is always made by your university, not ENIC-NARIC.

PhD fees and funding in Europe

Each country in Europe is free to set their own fees for doctorates and other degrees. However, EU member countries must charge the same fees to citizens of other EU countries as they do to their own students.

EU members:

The following countries are part of the European Union:

Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia, Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Ireland , Italy , Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden .

Fee guarantees often also apply to students from European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway ) as well as Switzerland .

Other international students may pay more to study in Europe, but this isn’t always the case. Some countries actually charge no fees to any PhD students, regardless of nationality. You can find out more in the individual guides above.

Eligibility for PhD funding in Europe is usually the same as your fee status. If you pay the same fees as a local student, you will normally be able to access the same funding (such as student loans or other bursaries). It’s always worth checking this, however.

PhD students in Europe also have the potential to benefit from wider funding schemes such as Erasmus+ or MSCA scholarships . These are usually focussed on student mobility and research collaboration between universities in different countries.

Visas for PhD study in Europe

Whether you’ll need a visa for a doctorate in Europe will usually depend on two things: your nationality and whether the country you wish to study in is a member of the European Union.

EU students don’t need a visa to enter other EU countries. You can do so freely for up to 90 days. During this time you will need to register your presence and receive a residence permit which will entitle you to live in the country longer term and complete your PhD. The exact name and application process for your residence permit will be set by the country you study in. These conditions usually apply to EEA and Swiss students too.

Other international students will normally need to apply for a visa to enter a European country as a student. Once there you’ll also need to apply for a residence permit .

Additional exceptions may also apply in some countries. Check our guides, or contact your university’s international office if you aren’t sure about your visa requirements.

Schengen visas

The Schengen Area is a borderless region within the EU. It allows completely free movement between neighbouring countries, with no need for additional visas or passport checks.

EU students automatically have the right to travel across the Schengen Area and remain in another EU country for up to 90 days.

International students will need to apply for a separate Schengen Visa in order to do so. This could be useful if you wish to travel elsewhere in Europe for research or leisure whilst you are completing your PhD. Note that in most cases the visa that lets you enter the country you are studying in will not automatically provide you with a Schengen Visa.

You can find out more on the European Commission's Schengen Visa website .

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Cookie Consent

To improve the website, the DAAD and third parties set cookies and process usage data . In doing so, the DAAD and third parties transfer usage data to third countries in which there is no level of data protection comparable to that under EU law. By clicking the "Accept all" button, you consent to this processing. You can also find selection options and explanations of these cookies and processing at the end of this page under "Cookies". There you can withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future.

• Privacy Policy

Jump to content

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.

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. Kennedyallee 50 53175 Bonn

All addresses in the DAAD Network

DAAD Newsletters

Receive regular up-to-date information about our work and organisation.

Newsletter - DAAD

Useful Links

• Find Scholarships
• DAAD offices worldwide

Jump to top of page

Browse by subject:

Popular countries to study abroad in europe:.

Switzerland

300 programmes at 20 universities

687 programmes at 68 universities

891 programmes at 31 universities

Browser other countries in Europe

Featured universities

Lancaster University Leipzig

Study in Germany - and receive a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from one of the UK’s leading universities!

EU Business School

EU Business School is an accredited, high-ranking business school with campuses in Switzerland, Spain and Germany. They offer Bachelors, Masters, and MBAs with a wide range of practice-oriented specialisations.

Doctoral programmes

European Education Area

Quality education and training for all

Hello, a quick survey is waiting for you.

Help us improve our site by taking this quick survey . It won't take more than a few minutes.

Research opportunities in Europe

Europe offers considerable opportunities for existing and young researchers from around the world to study a PhD, a post-doctorate degree and to work as a researcher.

Some points to keep in mind when applying for PhD and postdoctoral studies in Europe

• You should have a Master’s or equivalent degree to apply. In some cases, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient.
• Make sure you have a unique research proposal or know how your work can contribute to existing research in a field. 
• Generally, it takes a minimum of 4 years to complete a PhD in Europe, although there are 3- and 5-year programmes available, as well as part-time options. 
• Fees are typically low or non-existing and good grant possibilities are often offered by host countries, the European Union (EU) and other organisations. You may also be able to gain employment as a researcher during your doctoral studies.
• The diversity of opportunities is matched by a system of qualification recognition and credit transfer, meaning that your degree will be internationally recognised and accepted by all countries with an ENIC-NARIC network . 
• After a PhD, you can pursue postdoctoral work. These positons are somewhat more difficult to obtain and in many cases the researcher will have to provide the funding for his or her research.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 

Candidates who are actively seeking a paid postdoc position may seek funding via the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). 

MSCA is the EU’s reference programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training under Horizon Europe. 

The MSCA foster inter-sectoral and international research. Funding is open to organisations, consortia and individual applicants. 

To learn more about the different types of funding available and to apply for a relevant job, follow the link to visit the page About Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions .

Search EURAXESS

EURAXESS is a European Commission portal providing information on research positions and funding to help researchers come to Europe to work, work in another European country or beyond. People use it to find a position or funding.

To take advantage of this information and search for your job in research, just follow the link EURAXESS .

Related links

Want to give your feedback about this page, thanks for your feedback.

We are happy to see that your experience was positive. Don't forget to share the pages you like with your friends and colleagues.

If you need to ask a question, please contact Europe direct .

Doing a PhD in Europe vs. the US

Are you thinking of doing a PhD abroad? There are some considerable differences between European and American PhD programs that you should know about before applying. Read on to determine which program is right for you.

Qualifications

It is often not possible to do a PhD in Europe without first earning a Master’s degree. In the US, many PhD programs accept applicants who only have a Bachelor's degree. Students usually earn a Master’s as part of the PhD program after they have completed a few years of coursework and passed certain exams. This doesn't mean that all doctoral candidates in American PhD programs have entered the program straight from undergrad. Several still choose to do a Master’s first before applying for a PhD. In some programs students who already have a Master's might not be required to take as many courses as students with just a Bachelor’s, but this isn't always the case. 

Time to Degree

European PhD programs are shorter than those in the US. For example, it takes three years to complete a PhD in France, Norway, the UK, and Germany. Across Europe, a three to four year PhD in common. In comparison, six years is the average time to degree in the US with many PhDs in the humanities taking seven or eight years to earn their degree.

Thesis Topic

PhD candidates in Europe must choose their thesis topic and supervisor during the application process. Students apply for specific vacant doctoral projects that are usually tied to a professor’s research. As part of their application, they must create a research proposal for this project. It is also possible (in the UK for example) to apply to a department rather than a specific position, but applicants must still include a research proposal and are advised to contact potential supervisors before applying. In the US, candidates apply to a department’s PhD program, rather than a specific PhD project. While they have to discuss their research interests and identify potential supervisors in their applications, students do not decide on their thesis topic until their second or third year. In fact, many science and engineering programs have students rotate between different labs in their first year before deciding on their supervisor and dissertation project.

Teaching Requirement

PhD candidates occasionally have the opportunity to teach in Europe, although teaching is not a requirement in many countries. In the US, PhD candidates are often required to teach undergraduates, often as teaching assistants for a large lecture class. A teaching assistant leads smaller tutorials for 20-30 students and grades their exams and papers. Most PhD students will TA one class each semester for two to three years. Several American PhD programs also have mandatory pedagogy courses for graduate students.

Many European PhD programs require students to do little to no coursework. Candidates start working on their dissertation projects right away. American PhD programs, regardless of the field, require students to take two to three years of courses and seminars about topics across the discipline before they being working on their dissertation.

Funding and Salary

In several European countries, PhD students are seen as employees and have work contracts. As employees, PhD students pay into health insurance, pension, and unemployment insurance. In countries where PhD students are not employees (such as the UK and Italy) students apply for university scholarships, external fellowships, or research grants for funding. Tuition fees are drastically lower in many European countries compared to the United States. Funding at American universities varies widely, as do tuition fees. Private universities have higher tuition than public state schools (though international students usually higher tuition at state schools). The top schools offer five-year funding packages which cover tuition and fees and provide a monthly stipend. They also often include health insurance and conference travel. At other schools, students must compete for fellowships at the university, state, or national level to fund their PhDs. In some departmnets students will be paid and receive partial tuition credit for take teaching assistantship or research assistantship positions.

Comprehensive Exams

Most European PhD programs do not require students to pass qualifying exams to progress through their PhDs. There are some notable exceptions, like Sweden, where PhD candidates do an oral and written exam at the halfway point of their PhD. In the US, students usually have to pass a series of comprehensive exams before they can start working on their dissertation. The exams test the student’s knowledge of the major fields within their discipline. While every university will have a slightly different exam structure, there is usually an oral and a written component. Sometimes students also have to orally defend their dissertation proposal. After the candidate has completed their coursework and passed all the required exams they are considered ABD (all but dissertation).

Discover related jobs

Discover similar employers

Accelerate your academic career

Recognizing and Preventing Burnout in Grad School

Someone who is burnt out always feels tired, has no motivation, can’t fo...

Major PhD Fellowships

Looking for a way to fund your PhD? Here are several full and partial sc...

How to Be a Career-Minded PhD Student

At the start of your PhD the job market might be the furthest thing from...

What is a PhD?

How long does it take to do a PhD? Do you have to be a super genius to d...

PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Salaries in Belgium

Academic salaries for Flemish (Dutch-speaking) or Wallonian (French-spea...

Belgian Academic Job Titles Explained

What's the difference between a docent and a hoogleraar? Here's a breakd...

Jobs by field

• Electrical Engineering 162
• Machine Learning 154
• Programming Languages 140
• Artificial Intelligence 136
• Mechanical Engineering 116
• Materials Engineering 115
• Molecular Biology 114
• Electronics 109
• Cell Biology 101
• Materials Chemistry 97

Jobs by type

• Postdoc 297
• Assistant / Associate Professor 118
• Research assistant 104
• Professor 92
• Researcher 83
• Engineer 78
• Lecturer / Senior Lecturer 71
• Management / Leadership 49
• Tenure Track 36

Jobs by country

• Belgium 299
• Switzerland 112
• Netherlands 110
• Morocco 104
• Luxembourg 66

Jobs by employer

• Mohammed VI Polytechnic Unive... 104
• KU Leuven 101
• Ghent University 84
• University of Luxembourg 65
• KTH Royal Institute of Techno... 60
• ETH Zürich 58
• University of Twente 30
• Eindhoven University of Techn... 30
• Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) 29

This website uses cookies

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) .

© 2023 ProFellow, LLC, all rights reserved

Related Posts:

• I Completed 4 Fully-Funded Graduate Programs in Europe (And You Can, Too)
• How to Prepare a Strong Application for a PhD Fellowship in the Social Sciences from the…
• How to Fund Your Graduate Studies in the UK
• Free Workshop! Find 5+ Fully Funded Graduate Programs to Achieve Your Career Goals
• Fully Funded Master's Programs in Geography

Andrew Anžur Clement , Fully Funded Master's Programs , Fully Funded PhD Programs , Masters Fellowships , PhD Fellowships

Sustainability Fellowships for Master’s Graduates

Profellow spring 2023 university tour, find and win paid, competitive fellowships.

Be alerted about new fellowship calls for applications, get insider application tips, and learn about fully funded PhD and graduate programs

Fellowship Resources

• Calls for Applications
• Upcoming Fellowship Deadlines
• Fellowships Database
• Interviews with Fellows
• International Fellows Network
• Graduate Funding Directory

Fellowship Tips

• What is a Fellowship?
• Fully Funded Course
• Graduate School Funding
• Fellowship Application Tips
• Fulbright Application Tips
• Fellowship Application Guide
• Our Mission, History & Values
• ProFellow Winner Testimonials
• Fully Funded Course Testimonials
• Fellowship Industry Report
• Advertise With Us
• Terms & Privacy

ProFellow is the go-to source for information on professional and academic fellowships, created by fellows for aspiring fellows.

©2011-2024 ProFellow, LLC. All rights reserved.

• An unforgettable adventure
• Educational excellence in France
• Study at the heart of Europe
• Enjoy numerous benefits
• Industrial dynamism and French innovation
• The art of living à la française

• French system
• Higher education institutions
• French degrees, LMD system and equivalences
• Cost of studies
• Quality of degrees and institutions
• Online or distance programme
• Scholarships programmes
• Scholarships for French students or students living in France
• Welcoming of students and researchers in exile

• Student and Campus Life Contribution (CVEC)
• Reception services in your city
• Prepare your budget
• Bank account
• Working while studying in France
• Learning French
• Finding a student sponsor
• Organising your stay as a scholarship holder
• Being a student with a disability in France

• French regions
• French language
• Getting around
• Join the France Alumni network
• Finding work in France
• How to start a company in France

• Le séjour de recherche
• The role of Campus France
• The tools of Campus France for international researchers
• Research Labs
• Mapping French research
• Outstanding French researchers
• Overview of French research by field
• Excellence of French research in videos
• Accueil des étudiants et des chercheurs en exil

• What is involved in a Doctorate in France?
• Doctoral Schools directory
• PhD subjects
• Pre-Doctorate programmes
• How to enrol in a Doctorate
• How to finance your Doctorat (PhD)
• Use the "Research" portal
• FAQ – Doing my Doctorate in France

• Study in a Post-Doctorate in France
• Join a summer school
• Come to France with the status of invited professor

• Reception programmes and doctoral student associations
• Apply for your visa / Validate your residence permit
• Prepare for your arrival in France
• Finding accommodation in France
• Social Security for doctoral students and researchers
• Living in France

• Programs with Sub-Saharan Africa countries
• Programs with Asian countries
• Programs with European countries
• Programs with Oceania countries
• Programs with American countries

• Campus France missions
• Campus France organisation
• Campus France activities by geographic area
• Events organised by Campus France
• Public procurement
• Mobile applications

• Operation and governance
• Joining the Forum
• Member benefits
• Committees and workshops
• Updating your information online

• France Alumni network
• European projects
• Choose France, La stratégie d'attractivité des étudiants internationaux
• The French+Sciences program

• Campus France expertise
• Make Our Planet Great again
• Le programme « Partenariats avec l’enseignement supérieur africain »
• Le programme de bourses IsDB-France
• Scholarships program for Syrian students in exile in France
• Pakistan: Higher Education Commission scholarships programmes
• Les bourses pour les étudiants français ou résidant en France

• L'accueil des étudiants internationaux
• Label Bienvenue en France
• Nos événements
• Le réseau des responsables de l'accueil
• L'accueil des étudiants réfugiés et en exil
• L'accueil des étudiants en situation de handicap
• Les mémos de Campus France
• Afrique du Sud
• Burkina Faso
• Congo - Brazzaville
• Côte d'Ivoire
• République Démocratique du Congo
• Corée du Sud
• Ouzbékistan
• Philippines
• Territoire de Taïwan
• Biélorussie
• République tchèque
• Royaume-Uni
• Arabie Saoudite
• Émirats arabes unis
• République dominicaine
• Resources center

France Excellence Eiffel scholarship program

Call for applications 2024 is closed. The next call for applicatio 2025 will start in October 2024.

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 masters and PhD programs.

It gives opportunity 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 master’s level, and applicants up to 30 years old at PhD level.

2024 Campaign Timeline

• Opening of the call for applications: week of September 18, 2023
• Deadline for the reception of applications by Campus France:  January 10, 2024 included .
• Publication of results:  week of 8 April, 2024 .

Regulations

• Eiffel Programme rules – 2024 Session

Only applications submitted by French higher education institutions are accepted.

You are an institution and you have already participated in the Eiffel program => You should have received an email concerning the download of application files. If that is not the case, please contact us .

• You are an institution participating for the first time in the Eiffel Program => Please Contact us in order download the application files.
• You are a student interested in participating in the Eiffel program : click here

Contact Campus France - Programme Eiffel 28 rue de la Grange-aux-Belles 75010 Paris Contact us

Recommended items

Follow the main steps to come study in France

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Is it possible to obtain a second PhD degree in Europe?

As I have heard it is not possible to get a second PhD in Europe if you have obtained first PhD in Europe. Is it true? My 1st PhD is in Theoretical Physics which I won't find a fair job related to that. so I am trying to apply for second PhD in Mechanical engineering or applied Physics.

• second-degree

• Related: academia.stackexchange.com/questions/1836/… –  Bravo Apr 4, 2013 at 9:06
• I know someone who was doing a second PhD in Europe (first one was Asia), only to run off to the USA halfway through when he got a post-doc offer. I think his second supervisor will henceforth think twice about accepting PhD students for second PhDs. –  gerrit Apr 5, 2013 at 22:54

2 Answers 2

I am most familiar with the situation in Germany. There it is in fact possible to get more than one PhD degree. Different departments award different types of PhD degrees, depending on the academic field. In physics, you will typically earn a "Dr. rer. nat." (PhD in science), while in engineering you will get a "Dr.-Ing." (PhD in engineering). While most dissertation regulations will explicitly exclude the possibility that the same degree can be awarded twice, it is of course possible to earn a "Dr.-Ing." degree even if you already have a "Dr. rer. nat." or vice versa. Then you would have two PhD degrees.

In addition, there are honorary PhDs, which are awarded independently of and in addition to real PhD degrees. But I assume that your question wasn't aimed at those.

However, that it is possible to get two PhD degrees does not mean that it is a wise thing to do. To others, it may just be a sign that you didn't take the next steps in an academic career after getting your PhD, but didn't leave academia either.

• 1 As a further comment, note that not every PhD is recognized in Germany/Europe. One could thus get a second PhD ('Doktor') in Germany after having obtained a non-recognized PhD from somewhere else. –  David MR Apr 12, 2013 at 4:44

I encountered multiple people who refer to "Habilitation" as a "second PhD". It is very typical that you go for a "Habilitation" after your PhD in many countries in Europe and Central Asia. It is not a PhD though, earning a Habilitation degree will change your title to Dr. habil. XXXX YYYY

Unlike a PhD thesis, a Habilitation thesis covers a topic in breadth rather than in depth. Typically it is in the same field but covers a different topic than the one covered in your PhD.

• 3 In Germany, "Habilitation" was necessary to obtain the license to teach, i.e. only PhDs who also habilitated could become professors. This also informed the spirit of the "degree": you would have to present at least one worked-out lecture and, afaik, do some teaching. Nowadays, the "degree" has all but vanished in favor of "Junior" professorships in Germany, but it may yet come back. –  Raphael Sep 17, 2013 at 8:49

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged phd europe second-degree ., hot network questions.

• Structure that holds the twin-engine on an aircraft
• Predicate for a countable subset of a model
• How to make the battle against Tiamat last longer?
• Have I ruined my AC by running it with the outside cover on?
• z score total for fixed alpha and beta in sample size calculation of mean differences
• How to negotiate such toxic competitiveness during my masters studies
• How does Wolfram Alpha know this closed form?
• What did the old woman say in "73 Yards"?
• Can someone explain the damage distrubution on this aircraft that flew through a hailstorm?
• Improvising if I don't hear anything in my "mind's ear"?
• How to animate an impossible image
• Is cellulose, blown-in insulation biodegradeable
• QGIS - Delete lines resulted from Symmetrical Difference/Clip
• Starlink Satellite Orbits
• Has ever a country by its own volition refused to join United Nations, or those which havent joined it's because they aren't recognized as such by UN?
• Smallest Harmonic number greater than N
• Why at 1 Corinthians 10:9 does the Jehovah's Witnesses NWT use the word "Jehovah" when the Greek uses "Christos/kurion" referring to Jesus Christ?
• What is the difference between Hof and Bauernhof?
• Can Kleptothermy work underwater?
• What is the meaning of the 'ride out the clock'?
• Can my Battle Smith Artificer attack twice with his musket?
• On Producing Bold Commas in Lettrines When O is a Word
• My players think they found a loophole that gives them infinite poison and XP. How can I add the proper challenges to slow them down?
• Windows Server 2022 Support for Intel X520-DA2

• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

Professor George Barany retires after a 44 year career at the University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (6/6/2024) Distinguished McKnight University Professor  George Barany retired from the University of Minnesota on May 26th, 2024, after a 44 year career in the Department of Chemistry. Barany, who was most recently honored with  election to the National Academy of Inventors in 2020, is renowned for his long-standing leadership and pioneering innovations in the field of peptide synthesis methodology, for his role in the invention of revolutionary universal Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) arrays for detection of genetic diseases, and for numerous discoveries in the field of organosulfur chemistry, including synthesis of the active ingredient of garlic. 

It runs in the family

George Barany grew up in New York City, often hanging out in his parents’ research laboratories when he wasn’t pursuing his regular school work, sports like tennis, or games like chess. Both his mother,  Kate Bárány , and father,  Michael Bárány , were Holocaust survivors who came to the United States with their two small sons in 1960. Kate went on to build an illustrious career studying the physiology of muscle and muscle disease, and was also a trailblazer on a variety of women’s issues. Michael is best known for establishing the relationship between the speed of muscle contraction and the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of the muscle protein myosin, and was one of the first scientists to study live tissue using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The Kate and Michael Bárány Conference Room (117/119 Smith Hall) was  dedicated in their honor in 2012.  

“I guess before anything else, I was  a math whiz ,” George says as he reminisces about his childhood. Over holiday and summer breaks George carried out science fair projects in his father’s biochemistry lab. George was so advanced in mathematics and the sciences that he skipped undergraduate studies altogether, and went straight on to graduate school from the prestigious Stuyvesant High School at the age of 16. 

At  The Rockefeller University , George worked with Professor  R.B. Merrifield , where he pursued his interests in experimental peptide and protein biochemistry.  He published his first paper in 1973, on the synthesis of an ATP-binding peptide, a project that had its roots in high school research in his father’s lab and a summer rotation project in Merrifield’s lab. George graduated with his PhD at age 22, but continued to work with Merrifield for three more years before launching his independent career.

“I had a lot of beginner's luck. The first peptide I made was my high school science project, which morphed into my first year project with Merrifield. That peptide then wound up being written up in Lehninger’s now-classic textbook. So, as a teenager, I was learning biochemistry from the first edition of the text, and then by the time the second edition was published, it had my molecule in there!” 

Four decades of research at UMN

In 1980, Barany was hired to the University of Minnesota faculty. Over the course of his four decade career, Barany pursued his research interests in peptide synthesis, and developed a myriad of new interests. His research, described in nearly 390 scientific publications, has covered areas ranging from the chemical synthesis of garlic constituents, to studies on the mechanisms of protein folding, to methods for chemical combinatorial libraries, to advances in the preparation of antisense DNA and RNA, and to the development of DNA and PNA arrays for the multiplex detection of genetic diseases. He currently holds 38 issued U.S. patents.

Barany revolutionized peptide chemistry through his concept of  orthogonality , leading to the development of widely used toolkits for synthesizing hormones and proteins. His research group was collaboratively involved in the invention and commercialization of useful peptide synthesis resin supports (PEG-PS, CLEAR), anchoring linkages (PAL, HAL, XAL, BAL), and reagents (e.g., Clear-OX, an elegant “chaperone” for the creation of disulfide bridges) that expanded the range of molecular targets accessible for research. In another avenue of his research, Barany collaborated with Professor  Karin Musier-Forsyth (then at UMN) and Professor  Robert Hammer (then at Louisiana State University) on the invention of sulfurization reagents for DNA and RNA, chemistry that is essential for antisense therapeutics. 

Starting in the mid 1990s, Barany collaborated with his brother, Professor  Francis Barany , and with Professor Hammer, to develop universal arrays for sensitive and accurate mutational analysis, which became foundational for personalized cancer treatment approaches and genome sequencing advancements. This “Zipcode” technology – broadly used for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and haplotype mapping – was the basis of comprehensive tumor profiling by the National Institutes of Health Cancer Genome Anatomy Project. Advances built on the foundational research of Barany, Barany, and Hammer make it possible to sequence entire genomes in days rather than years, resulting in improved capability to diagnose diseases more promptly and accurately.

“I never thought I'd make a whole career out of peptides,” Barany said in a recent interview. “I just thought it was something that needed to get done along the way to doing what I really was interested in, which was understanding how proteins work, and maybe even being able to design a protein. But, as it turned out, just the process of making peptides turned out to be much harder than it had appeared to an enthusiastic but naive teenager.”

Over the course of his career, Barany has been recognized numerous times for his excellence in research and teaching. In 1997, he was the first Department of Chemistry faculty member to be named a Distinguished McKnight University Professor. His many honors include a Searle Scholar award (1982), the Vincent du Vigneaud Award for outstanding achievements in peptide research (1994), the Ralph F. Hirschmann Award in Peptide Chemistry from the American Chemical Society (2006), and the Murray Goodman Scientific Excellence & Mentorship Award from the American Peptide Society (2015). For his lifelong commitment to “demonstrating a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made tangible impacts on the quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society,” Barany was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2020.

Brainteaser aficionado

Outside of the lab, Barany is devoted to his family, and is a lifelong lover of games, puzzles, and sports (both as a participant and as a spectator). Since he began creating crossword puzzles in 1999, Barany has constructed several hundred professional-quality puzzles. His puzzles have been featured in the  New York Times , the  Chronicle of Higher Education , the Minneapolis  Star Tribune ,  Minnesota magazine, and  Chemical & Engineering News , to name just a few. Barany’s hobby has connected him to dozens of new friends and collaborators, and he now enjoys mentoring new puzzlers on crossword puzzle creation. For example, in Spring 2024, Barany and Chemistry graduate student Rowan Matney created and shared a  Pi Day themed crossword for the Department’s annual Pi(e) Day celebration.

Interested readers can find many of his puzzles at the  George Barany and Friends webpage . A new edition of that site is scheduled to launch in the Summer of 2024; please email  [email protected] if you would like to receive relevant notifications.

What’s next for Professor Emeritus Barany?

On June 8th, 2024, a symposium entitled  A Half Century of Solving Puzzles in Peptide and Sulfur Science   will take place in Chicago, Illinois. The event will bring together many of Barany’s closest and most successful colleagues and protégés from as far away as Europe, China, and South Africa, as well as from both US coasts and the midwest. The symposium will feature about a dozen scientific talks on a wide range of topics appealing to George’s eclectic interests – including contributions from his brother and both of his children! Barany says he is looking forward to a weekend filled with engaging discussions and memories to celebrate the closing of this phase of his career. He is also touched by the fact that the  International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics will be putting together  a special issue in his honor .

In his retirement, Barany says he is looking forward to having more free time for traveling with his wife Barbara – herself a retired chemist and educator – to visit their adult children and young grandchildren. Their son, Michael, lives in Scotland, and their daughter, Deborah, resides in the US state of Georgia. “I figure I've had a great career – I've done a lot of things. Now it's time to spend more time with my grandchildren!” Barany also plans to continue working on crossword puzzle collaborations and hopes to pass a love for wordplay on to his grandkids. A secondary goal is to reread all of the required reading from junior and senior high school, in the hope that it will now make sense through the lens of adult life experience. Finally, through the kindness of several colleagues, Barany has put the administrative and fundraising aspects of academia in the rearview mirror, and resumed lab work – with his own hands –  that he hopes will lead to additional high-impact publications.

When he reflects on his time at the University of Minnesota, Barany says his greatest pride comes from the students, at all levels, that he has mentored over the years. “Our lab certainly developed much useful chemistry and had influential insights on a range of scientific topics, but ultimately, it’s all about working with young people and watching them grow into independent and successful scientists and other professionals. It is just amazing, and that is probably my ultimate legacy.” 

Related news releases

• hUMNs of Chemistry #15
• Hannah Kenagy and Melissa Ramirez join Department of Chemistry
• hUMNs of Chemistry #14
• hUMNs of Chemistry #13
• Jan-Niklas Boyn and Kade Head-Marsden join Department of Chemistry
• Future undergraduate students
• Future transfer students
• Future graduate students
• Future international students
• Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities
• Learn abroad
• Living Learning Communities
• Mentor programs
• Programs for women
• Student groups
• Visit, Apply & Next Steps
• Information for current students
• Departments and majors overview
• Departments
• Undergraduate majors
• Graduate programs
• Integrated Degree Programs
• Additional degree-granting programs
• Online learning
• Academic Advising overview
• Academic Advising FAQ
• Academic Advising Blog
• Appointments and drop-ins
• Academic support
• Commencement
• Four-year plans
• Honors advising
• Policies, procedures, and forms
• Career Services overview
• Resumes and cover letters
• Jobs and internships
• Interviews and job offers
• CSE Career Fair
• Major and career exploration
• Graduate school
• Collegiate Life overview
• Scholarships
• Diversity & Inclusivity Alliance
• Anderson Student Innovation Labs
• Information for alumni
• Get engaged with CSE
• Upcoming events
• CSE Alumni Society Board
• Alumni volunteer interest form
• Golden Medallion Society Reunion
• 50-Year Reunion
• Alumni honors and awards
• Outstanding Achievement
• Alumni Service
• Distinguished Leadership
• Honorary Doctorate Degrees
• Nobel Laureates
• Alumni resources
• Alumni career resources
• Alumni news outlets
• CSE branded clothing
• International alumni resources
• Inventing Tomorrow magazine
• Update your info
• CSE giving overview
• Why give to CSE?
• College priorities
• Give online now
• External relations
• Giving priorities
• CSE Dean's Club
• Donor stories
• Impact of giving
• Ways to give to CSE
• Matching gifts
• CSE directories
• Invest in your company and the future
• Recruit our students
• Connect with researchers
• K-12 initiatives
• Diversity initiatives
• Research news
• Give to CSE
• CSE priorities
• Corporate relations
• Information for faculty and staff
• Administrative offices overview
• Office of the Dean
• Academic affairs
• Finance and Operations
• Communications
• Human resources
• Undergraduate programs and student services
• CSE Committees
• CSE policies overview
• Academic policies
• Faculty hiring and tenure policies
• Finance policies and information
• Graduate education policies
• Human resources policies
• Research policies
• Research overview
• Research centers and facilities
• Research proposal submission process
• Research safety
• Award-winning CSE faculty
• National academies
• University awards
• Honorary professorships
• Collegiate awards
• Other CSE honors and awards
• Staff awards
• Performance Management Process
• Work. With Flexibility in CSE
• K-12 outreach overview
• Summer camps
• Outreach events
• Enrichment programs
• Field trips and tours
• CSE K-12 Virtual Classroom Resources
• Educator development
• Sponsor an event

• Interesting for you
• My settings

Go to your profile page to get personalised recommendations!

Ohio State nav bar

The Ohio State University

• BuckeyeLink
• Find People
• Search Ohio State

Area Studies Centers award $1.18 million in FLAS fellowships

The East Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies and Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies have awarded $1,188,000 million in student support this year in the form of 51 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship grants to Ohio State students spanning 16 graduate programs and 22 undergraduate majors. Funding for FLAS Fellowships comes from the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Higher Education Act and is subsidized by generous matching funding from The Ohio State University Graduate School.

This year’s FLAS fellowships support the development of area studies knowledge and language fluency in 13 languages.

• The  East Asian Studies Center  awarded funding to two graduate and two undergraduate students in Summer 2024 and eight graduate and five undergraduate students in Academic Year 2024-2025 to support advanced studies of Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
• The  Center for Latin American Studies  awarded funding to two graduate and two undergraduate students in Summer 2024 and four graduate and five undergraduate students in Academic Year 2024-2025 to support the study of Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Quechua. 
• The  Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies awarded funding to two graduate and five undergraduate students in Summer 2024 and 10 graduate and four undergraduate students in Academic Year 2024-2025 to support the study of Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian  and Uzbek. 

Summer FLAS Fellows complete the equivalent of a full year of language study in an intensive program (usually 6-10 weeks long). The fellowship covers up to $5,000 of the language program’s tuition, provides a $2,500 stipend, and in some instances, up to $1,000 towards travel.

Academic year FLAS Fellowships are awarded to undergraduate, graduate or professional students who are enrolled in a course of study at Ohio State that requires both language and area studies expertise. Students are required to take one language and one area studies course in both autumn and spring semesters, completing one academic year language sequence. The fellowship provides a stipend of $20,000 and tuition support up to $18,000 for graduate and professional students, though Graduate School contributions cover all tuition costs for most fellows. For undergraduate students, it provides a stipend of $5,000 and tuition and fees up to $10,000.

View a complete list of FLAS recipients . 

Date: 5/7/2024 12:00:00 AM

Unit: System.String[]