Pursuing a PhD can be both daunting and rewarding, with tuition cost being one factor that may stand in their way; however, several countries provide free or low-cost PhD programs for prospective candidates.
Students enrolling in fully-funded PhD programs generally pay only a nominal stipend in addition to university fees, which allows them to focus solely on their studies, research and writing without worrying about financial obligations. Scholarships of this sort may be available both domestically and internationally and come in various fields and disciplines.
Finland stands out as a standout, providing free PhD courses to both domestic and international students alike. Finland boasts two of the world’s top 150 universities – University of Helsinki and Aalto University, plus stunning natural phenomena like midnight sun and Aurora Borealis.
Other European nations that provide free PhD programs include Germany, Norway and Sweden. Sweden waives tuition for all students regardless of nationality while providing them with a competitive stipend to cover living expenses while they pursue their PhD studies there.
Norway provides free doctorates to all domestic and international students; however, its higher cost of living may require extra savings for living expenses.