By the Portlio studio · Published · 8 min read
In many countries a PhD isn't something you pay for: it's a funded position. The trick is knowing how funding works in each system, because applying for a U.S. PhD and a Dutch or German one are very different processes.
USA: funded programs with assistantships
You apply to a department, not a supervisor. Most science, engineering and many social science programs fund admitted students for about five years with a tuition waiver, health insurance and a stipend in return for teaching or research work. Read each program's funding page; if it doesn't say "all admitted students are funded", ask.
Europe: salaried PhD positions
In the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and much of Germany, PhD candidates are often employees with a salary. Positions are advertised like jobs, for a specific project, and you apply to the supervisor or the university's job portal.
You can also bring your own funding, for example a DAAD research grant in Germany or a government scholarship from your home country.
Contacting a potential supervisor
- Read two or three of their recent papers first.
- Write a short email: who you are, the specific question you'd like to work on, how it links to their work, and your CV.
- Ask whether they're taking students and whether funding exists.
- Send individual emails, never one mass email to dozens of professors.
Your research statement and the visa interview
Be able to explain your research in plain words in under a minute, because both admission panels and visa officers ask. Officers want to understand what you'll study and why it leads to a career, not the technical details.
Practice explaining your research out loud with Stamplio. The mock officer asks follow-up questions, just like a real one. Try a practice interview
Figures, deadlines and eligibility rules were checked in October 2026 and change every year. Confirm everything on the official pages linked here before you apply. Portlio and Stamplio are not affiliated with any scholarship, university, government or embassy.
Frequently asked questions
- Are PhDs free for international students?
- In many systems, yes. Most funded U.S. PhD programs waive tuition and pay a stipend, and many European PhD positions are salaried jobs. Unfunded PhD offers exist, so always confirm funding in writing.
- Do I need a master's degree to apply for a PhD?
- In the U.S. you can usually apply straight from a bachelor's. Most European PhD positions expect a master's.
About this guide. Written by the Portlio studio as general guidance. It isn't any college's requirements and it can't predict an admissions decision, so check each program's current instructions. Last updated .
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