[SheffieldWednesday4ever]

I am considering the UK, Germany, or perhaps the Netherlands for a PhD after I obtain my BSc. I know it varies, but for computational work, typically, how long will it take, how much funding do I receive, and how long are my Holidays? (ie. how much time do I spend in school in a year, and how much time do I spend out of school)

Cheers

[Dan]

I have no experience with Germany or the Netherlands, but for the UK:

Most PhD programs are 3 years and have no taught element - by this I mean they are purely experimental, there are no lectures or classes to go to. I think most PhD candidates have master's degrees in the UK, but it's not essential, you can enter with a BSc.

There are also quite a lot of 4 year programs where most or all of the first year is a taught course. These are often in interdisciplinary areas.

It is normal for a PhD to overrun by up to a year.

Funding will normally be the EPSRC rate, which is ~£13500 pa. If you are in London you get a bit extra. As a student you do not pay tax, I found the stipend perfectly adequate.

Holidays and working hours depend on your supervisor. You'd be expected to work at least 5 days a week, and probably something like 4-6 weeks holiday each year.