Funding guide
In Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands most PhD positions are salaried jobs with no tuition fees, and doctoral education in Finland is tuition-free, so you usually apply for a funded PhD vacancy rather than a scholarship. Scholarships matter most for master's studies, where students from outside the EU/EEA often pay tuition fees.
Reviewed
Listings that state a salary or stipend, updated from the live catalogue.
A PhD in Sweden takes four years of full-time study (240 credits). Most doctoral students are employed by the university on a salaried doctoral studentship, so you apply for an advertised position rather than a scholarship. There are no tuition fees for doctoral education.
PhD in Sweden: open positions and guideA PhD in Norway normally takes three years of full-time research, or four years when 25% of the time is duty work such as teaching. PhD candidates are usually employed as research fellows (stipendiat) with a salary and employee rights, and PhD study at public institutions is tuition-free for every nationality.
PhD in Norway: open positions and guideA PhD in Finland normally takes about four years. Doctoral education is tuition-free for every nationality, but you need funding for living costs: most often a paid doctoral researcher position at a university, or a personal grant from a foundation. At many universities, admission to a doctoral programme and funding are separate steps.
PhD in Finland: open positions and guideA PhD in the Netherlands usually takes four years. Most PhD candidates (promovendi) are employed by a university with a salary set by the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities, which also includes an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. You apply for an advertised vacancy rather than to a programme.
PhD in the Netherlands: open positions and guideAmounts, deadlines and eligible countries change every year. Always confirm the current terms on the official page.
PhD · Europe
EU-funded doctoral positions in international research networks. Doctoral candidates are recruited for advertised positions: you apply to the network's vacancy, not to the European Commission.
Eligibility: A mobility rule applies: you must not have lived or carried out your main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment.
Official pageMaster's · Europe (programmes run across several countries)
Scholarships for joint master's programmes run by university consortia, covering participation costs, travel and installation, and a monthly allowance.
Eligibility: Apply directly to the programme's consortium; there is no separate scholarship application.
Official pageMaster's · Sweden
Scholarships for master's studies in Sweden covering tuition fees and living costs.
Eligibility: Open to citizens of selected countries with relevant work and leadership experience; check the current list of eligible countries and dates.
Official pageBachelor's and master's · Netherlands
A one-off scholarship paid in the first year of study at participating Dutch universities.
Eligibility: For students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Official pageBachelor's and master's · Finland
Individual Finnish universities offer competitive scholarships or tuition-fee waivers, usually covering tuition partly or fully rather than living costs. Application timing varies by university.
Eligibility: For non-EU/EEA students liable to pay tuition fees; doctoral education in Finland is tuition-free.
Official pageMaster's, PhD and research stays · Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service funds study and research in Germany. Its database lists programmes by level, subject and country of origin.
Eligibility: Depends on the programme; filter the database by your nationality and level.
Official pagePhD and research positions · Europe
The European Commission's portal for research jobs, including funded PhD positions and MSCA vacancies.
Eligibility: Each vacancy sets its own requirements.
Official pageUsually not. In Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands most PhD candidates are employed by the university and paid a salary, and doctoral education has no tuition fees. In Finland doctoral education is tuition-free and many doctoral researchers hold paid positions, while others are funded by grants. Apply for advertised, funded PhD positions.
A fully funded PhD covers any tuition and your living costs for the whole doctorate, usually through a salary or stipend. Most PhD positions in the Nordic countries and the Netherlands are salaried jobs, so they are funded by design; the listing states the conditions.
The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals fund master's studies for citizens of selected countries, and most Swedish universities offer their own tuition-fee scholarships to fee-paying students. EU/EEA citizens do not pay tuition fees in Sweden.
Since 2023 most students from outside the EU/EEA pay tuition fees for bachelor's and master's programmes at Norwegian public universities. PhD study remains tuition-free for all nationalities, and PhD candidates are salaried employees.
Yes. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks recruit funded doctoral candidates across Europe, DAAD funds doctoral study in Germany, and many universities advertise funded PhD positions. Graduates Corner lists funded PhD positions with their stated funding.
