Expert: Daniel Mazur - 6/23/2009

Question
Hi Dany!
How are you?
I am Vinoth from INDIA! I am currently working as a Software Engineer in one of the top MNC in the world!
But actually i was from PHYSICS background. Completed my Post Graduate in physics in 2006. Actually i have a great passion towards doing PH.D in Physics(Areas of interest: Astrophysics, electromagnetism, Nanotechnology and many other areas)across Europe. Due to family commitment i started my career as Software Engineer. Now i am planning to pursue my PH.D in physics around Europe. Please help me answering my questions listed below:
1) Whether i am eligible to apply for Full time PH.D in Physics across universities in Europe?
2) Please let me know which universities in Europe are good for taking PH.D in Physics?
3) If so, how to apply for the PH.D? i mean whether i need to write any exams or need to attend any interview for the same?
3) Whether there will be any scholarship available for foreign students?

Answer
Hello Vinoth.

Thank you for the question, it has the potential to help more people than one.

1) Yes, you are eligible to apply, because you have a Master's degree. When you say you're from physics background, do you mean you actually have an M.S. in Physics, or did you have a Bc.S. in Physics and then Master's in Engineering? Some universities make it obligatory that you must have a Physics M.S. and not other to enroll a Physics Ph.D. program.

2) Many universities are good for Ph.D. The best one for you will depend exactly on what you want to do. Your interests are broad: from astrophysics to nanotechnology, that means almost everything and as such, it's as good as saying "any physics at all". You first need to pick ONE of the directions, preferably based on something that you did before. Only then I can tell you more about which universities are strong in that field.
Please, understand that it is not even enough to say "nanomaterials" (I use it below as an example).  You need to think, if you want to do experiments, pure theory or model computations. You may have the least chance in theory, because your experience in Engineering is practically of no use there. You might have a good chance when applying for a PhD in the model computation branch of nanomaterials physics. Computation is very much about coding (especially for computational clusters), algorithm optimization and similar. Still, you need to be strong in the practical aspects of theory of solids and know as much as possible about algorithms used in the computing: the DFT method, APW method, their modifications... I can say, that if you know already what DFT and APW stand for, you have a chance for a Ph.D. in this branch of physics. Finally, in the experimental physics you need to pick an experimental method (or a few of them) that you know something about, plus you need to have some experience (at the very least from an internship during university studies, preferably of course from your Master's thesis work) with some of the common tools and methods like: handling pressurized gas, lasers, high-voltage supplies, ultra high vacuum, dangerous chemicals, cryogenic liquids (nitrogen or helium), soldering, and several others. You don't need to know all by far, but you should have at least taken classes on some of these subjects. If you don't have any such experience, your chances for getting into experimental physics (like in nanomaterials) field are slim.

3) You apply for a Ph.D. usually at the Admissions Office of the University. They handle the paperwork and pass it on to the the department, where you'd like to study. Every university has a slightly different approach to taking Ph.D. students, even different colleges of one university have differences. In general you will be asked to mail your C.V., letter of purpose, university grades official transcripts, notary-certified copies/translations of your diplomas (Master's and, if you got one, Bachelor's) and other pertinent documents (e.g. standard language exams). And of course you should indicate (in your letter of purpose), what kind of physics you'd like most to do.
If your paperwork arrives withing all deadlines, the faculty (of physics in our case) reviews it along with all other applications and they select a number of applicants, who they invite for interviews. Usually they don't pay for your travel expenses for the trip to the interview, but it is always better to ask. In Europe there are usually no entry tests to take and pass. You just come to the interview, during which you give a presentation of your current/past work in front of the department's faculty, post-docs and students. This presentation is half way between a seminar talk and a thesis defense (or an oral examination). The faculty will ask you deep questions about your presented work and your understanding of physics and you must be prepared to answer them. On the same day you would see a few professors individually for some more specialized interviews, because each group needs slightly different qualities in their students. After this is over, after a few days you will be informed, which professors (if any) would like you to join their teams. That's all there is about Ph.D. application in Europe I can tell you on this general level.

4) Yes, there are such scholarships for both foreign and native students. One needs to distinguish between two kinds: merit stipends and assistantships. The former is granted to students for some remarkable achievements and it is kind of award money. The latter (assistantships) mean that you are actually employed by the degree-awarding university and do work for the university, for which you are getting paid salary. There are multiple sources existing at most universities, the paid work is always either teaching (of undergraduates) or doing research and frequently you do both. At every university the assitantships are different sums of money, sometimes it differs between individual groups as well. You need to ask, when you apply.
There are also financial resources outside this, of course. There may be Indian government stipends available for brilliant students to study abroad. These are usually tied with a contract, that you serve some years as a professor at a state university after your graduation (I have a Turkish acquaintance, who studied in the USA this way). In the western world there are also some foundations to help students from the "developing countries". I have no experience with them, unfortunately, so I cannot tell you, how they work. Finally, there is some chance of a student loan, but that would again have to come from an Indian bank. Foreigners everywhere have a restricted access to bank services, it's not just Europe.

What to add? That I expect a follow-up, where you reveal some more details about what your physics background is about, and where you also provide some details about what in physics interests you (the more details the better), so that I can pinpoint a couple of concrete universities with world-class programs in those fields. Also I know that my department at the University of Geneva, Switzerland is looing for Ph.D. students, so if you are interested, I could give you some details about my department.

Good luck!
Daniel