Country guides
Grad school, country by country.
Master’s and PhD basics for 43 countries: how long degrees take, what they cost, how PhDs are funded, and what happens after you graduate.
How to read a guide
The same six questions for every country.
Every guide covers these topics in the same order. Institution and scholarship examples are labelled; unverified national fee and duration estimates are omitted. Each guide includes official sources and its last checked date.
- 01 Degree length
- 02 How admission works
- 03 Master’s tuition
- 04 PhD funding
- 05 Graduate visa status
- 06 Useful feature and current warning
Read the actual course requirements
How long a Master’s takes.
- Curriculum Check the full-time and part-time course length.
- Research Read the thesis and research-credit requirements.
- Funding An award period is not a promised graduation date.
Course length does not tell you how much research it includes.
Department, supervisor, or job
How PhD admission varies.
For each programme, check whether you apply to a department, need a supervisor before applying, or compete for an advertised research position. Follow the institution’s current instructions; this guide does not assign one admission model to an entire country.
Region 01
English-speaking university systems
- Compare programme curricula
- Check the current tuition schedule
- Read the written funding offer
- Confirm residence and work conditions
United States
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- 4 to 5 yrs at Princeton
United Kingdom
- Master’s
- Often 1 yr full-time
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Canada
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Australia
- Master’s
- 1 to 2 yrs
- PhD
- 3 to 4 yrs
Ireland
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
New Zealand
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Region 02
Continental European university systems
- Compare programme curricula
- Check the current tuition schedule
- Read the written funding offer
- Confirm residence and work conditions
Germany
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
France
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- 3 to 4 yrs after a master’s
Switzerland
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Italy
- Master’s
- 2 yrs (Laurea Magistrale)
- PhD
- At least 3 yrs
Austria
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Spain
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Estonia
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- 4 yrs at Tartu
Cyprus
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Luxembourg
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- 3 to 4 yrs in Uni.lu Education
Lithuania
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Region 03
Nordic countries and Benelux
- Compare programme curricula
- Check the current tuition schedule
- Read the written funding offer
- Confirm residence and work conditions
Netherlands
- Master’s
- 1 to 3 yrs at research universities
- PhD
- 4 yrs
Sweden
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Denmark
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- 3 yrs after a master’s; integrated routes differ
Norway
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- 3 yrs; 4 with duties at UiO
Finland
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- About 4 yrs
Belgium
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Iceland
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Region 04
East Asian university systems
- Compare programme curricula
- Check the current tuition schedule
- Read the written funding offer
- Confirm residence and work conditions
Singapore
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Japan
- Master’s
- Generally 2 yrs
- PhD
- Usually 3 yrs after a master’s
South Korea
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
China
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Hong Kong
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Taiwan
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Thailand
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Brunei
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Indonesia
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Region 05
Middle Eastern university systems
- Compare programme curricula
- Check the current tuition schedule
- Read the written funding offer
- Confirm residence and work conditions
United Arab Emirates
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Saudi Arabia
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Qatar
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Turkey
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Israel
- Master’s
- 2 yrs at Weizmann Mathematics and Computer Science
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Region 06
Other destinations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
- Compare programme curricula
- Check the current tuition schedule
- Read the written funding offer
- Confirm residence and work conditions
Kazakhstan
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
South Africa
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Brazil
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
India
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Mexico
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Chile
- Master’s
- Programme-specific
- PhD
- Programme-specific
Fees, funding, and visa rules change. Confirm current terms with the university or the government source before you apply.