Find the best programme globally in which to pursue your doctorate, and don’t let the application process deter you – all you need is good planning and persistance. Here’s how it works.
Key takeaways
- What is a PhD and is it right for you?
- How to find out what programmes are available globally.
- What do you need to apply for a PhD?
- What will the application process look like?
- Once you’ve been accepted, what is life like for a PhD candidate?
What is a PhD?
A PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy. People often simply call it a “doctorate”, but in fact, it is just one of the many types of doctorates out there. It is the highest degree you can earn.
According to Academia Insider, “A master’s degree helps you master your field, while a PhD forces you to take it apart piece by piece and contribute new knowledge to it.”
PhD vs Master’s: What’s the difference?
A PhD and a Master’s are both post-graduate degrees, but they have different goals. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) summarises: “Choose a Master’s Degree if you want to advance your career, gain specialised knowledge or switch fields without committing to years of research. Choose a PhD if you're passionate about research, academia or advanced roles that require expertise in a specific field.”
| Masters | PhD |
What you learn | Gives you a better understanding of a particular field than a bachelor’s degree does, with a focus on workplace application. | Aims to generate new knowledge and advance the subject. |
Your career goals | · Beneficial for advancing in your field or entering a new field. · May be required or advance opportunities in some fields.
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How long does it take? | 1 to 2 years, depending on whether you’re studying full- or part-time. |
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What will you be doing? | Coursework, often complemented with a project or thesis. |
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Which is harder? | A Master’s requires a lot of commitment in terms of time and effort but is not as intensive as a PhD. |
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Find PhD programmes overseas
Studyportals’ PhDPortal database lists thousands of degree programmes worldwide. You can browse courses within your discipline, and there are also resources for finding a programme, and country, which suit your personality and requirements.
The PhD portal also strives to collect information such as fee structures, length of the course and application requirements.
Once you have short-listed your preferred programmes, you can google the school to find out how to contact their PhD or Post-Graduate department for more information.
What documents will you need in your application?
To submit an application for a PhD abroad, you will need the following on hand:
Your academic record
Not surprisingly, you’ll need to demonstrate strong academic credentials, especially if you’re applying for financial aid such as scholarships. You’ll need to submit official academic transcripts which will certify that you graduated, which school/s you attended and which courses you have completed.
Your resume
A resume summarises your educational and work experience but, when applying for a PhD, you need to prove that you have been doing more than just fulfilling the requirements of a degree. You want to show that you are routinely engaging with and dedicated to your subject.
You can demonstrate this with things like research experience, publications in academic journals, awards and extracurriculars.
A letter of motivation
On the surface, this is a letter laying out your goals for your PhD and should include the research area(s) you’re interested in and your career plans.
However, it should also demonstrate your long-term commitment to your field of study, showing how you’ve pursued experience and qualifications and how you’ve prepared yourself for advanced research.
You want to convince applications officers that you can make a positive contribution to your field, and that you have the personal qualities – dedication, motivation, and expertise – to complete a difficult and demanding degree.
Read up on how to write a good motivation letter for a PhD.
Letters of recommendation
You will usuallly need letters from three referees, showing that your academic or professional mentors have faith in you and are willing to testify to your ability. Typically, admissions officers will also be able to get a sense of your character.
Optional requirements
Not every school requires the following, but many do:
- A language proficiency certificate: An especially common requirement for schools with a high intake of international students. Often a specific certification will be required, such as the IELTS or TOEFL for English or the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) for Mandarin
- Entrance exams: Requirements vary by school.
- A Master’s degree: You may be able to enter a PhD programme with a bachelor’s degree, but often a Master’s is a “step” required in the process.
- Here are some more tips on how to successfully apply for a doctoral programme.
Finalise and formalise
Once you have picked a doctoral programme, you’ll need to make the decisions that will determine the course of your doctorate. You’ll have to lay out detailed plans as part of your application process.
Research proposal
A keystone of your application, your research proposal must lay out your central hyphothesis, a methodology, a research plan and a timetable. It must also summarise the existing literature available on your topic and show why your work is worth doing. The University of Sheffield has a more detailed breakdown of what you need to include.
To really elevate your proposal, get as much feedback as you can from your professors, tutors, colleagues and even your potential supervisor.
Find a supervisor
As part of the application process, you may have to find and approach potential supervisors who must be well-versed in your specific area of research. You may want to start with the people who are writing the important literature and articles you encountered during your literature review for your research proposal.
Oxford University has advice on how to approach a possible supervisor, and you can find advice on contacting professors via email here.
Find funding
The PhDPortal can give you some indication of the scholarship options attached to your chosen programme, and the department to which you’re applying will be able to give you more information. Your prospective supervisor may be able to advise you on available funding or grants related to their research.
You can also look into external grants and fellowships, including government-backed grants like the Chevening scholarship for UK study or national fellowships like the US National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). We recommend looking at scholarship sites for the country or area in which you’ll be studying, such as the pan-European site Euraxess. Grants can also be backed by the relevant industry.
In many cases however, PhD candidates are actually employed by the department where they’re pursuing their degree. These jobs usually involve research work or teaching. These posts may be advertised in the same way as any other job, your supervisor or department may be looking for help or you can approach your prospective school’s PhD or post-graduate department. Be aware that tuition fees may still be required.
An impressive interview
The final stage of the application process will be an in-person interview. This is a chance to meet your future supervisor and other department members, but it’s also a chance for you to demonstrate not just your knowledge, but your passion and commitment
You need to cover three bases:
- Yourself: You need to give an indication of the qualities that will make you a credit to the department, and a reliable and desirable member of the team. You’ll need to go into your academic and professional history.
- Your project: What your PhD will entail and why this question or hypothesis is worth pursuing. You need to be very specific: not only must you explain your knowledge, skills and qualifications, you need to show how they make you the right candidate for this specific project.
- Your choice of school: Without flattering or exaggerating, explain why this particular programme us the right fit for you – and vice versa. What attracts you to them, and why will you be a valuable contributor?
Living that PhD life
So let’s skip forward – you’ve been accepted as an international PhD candidate. Now what? In general, your daily life will involve a lot of reading, writing and research.
Some aspects of the process will be challenging. Not only will your work towards your degree be intensive, but you will probably have a job involving further research or teaching on behalf of your department. These jobs generally offer very low pay. Furthermore, to stand any chance of an academic career going forward, you will have to build a reputation by publishing in academic journals.
You will be expected to become more independent as your degree progresses and aspects such as coursework fall away, meaning you’ll need to be organised and self-motivated. The lack of structure and the unpredictability of the research journey are stressful and isolating for many people. Doubt and uncertainty are common among PhD candidates, as is “imposter syndrome”.
However, there are serious benefits too. You will be working in a community of like-minded people, and will have opportunities to meet more of them at events such as seminars. The one thing you can be sure of is that your colleagues will be as passionate about your field of study as you are!
The autonomy you will have can be liberating and fulfilling as well as challenging. Best of all however, you will be able to dedicate yourself to a subject which fascinates you and acquire deep, specialised knowledge about it.
Above all, like any degree, a PhD is a step towards the life you dream of. Good luck!
