<p>Hi, I will be starting my undergrad physics degree my home country (UK) this autumn.</p>
<p>I know its early to even be thinking about postgrad but better too early then too late.</p>
<p>Anyway initially I was put off the idea of PhD due to cost, then I read that most people pay for their PhDs (STEM students at least). I read that the tuition is usually waived and work as TA/RA earns a modest amount to cover living expenses.</p>
<p>Looking on a couple of US college websites it says financial aid for internationals is very limited. Additionally the UCLA website estimated a cost of around $50k p.a for a PhD (I may have misinterpreted this).</p>
<p>So if I wanted a 'free' PhD would I be able to do it in the US? or would I have to do it in the UK?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If you are not awarded full support for your PhD program either by an agency in your own country that provides support for PhD studies abroad, or by the institution where you will be pursuing your PhD, it is a clear indication that no one believes that you truly are a viable PhD candidate. In an STEM field, if you do not receive full support, don’t go. It really dies work like that.</p>
<p>Physics at the PhD level is a world-wide applicant pool. When you get to that point, your undergraduate professors in the UK will be able to advise you on the process. The “no aid for internationals” does not apply at that level except in very rare cases - most of which have to do with research that is related to specific government or military security interests.</p>
<p>Thanks for you reply.</p>
<p>So basically when applying they don’t expect you to be able to fund the PhD? And if your admitted without funding from a 3rd party agency/home country, the university will give you the necessary support?</p>
<hr>
<p>Also the following sentence was meant to read:</p>
<p>’‘Anyway initially I was put off the idea of PhD due to cost, then I read that most people don’t pay for their PhDs (STEM students at least).’’</p>
<p>They may admit you without support. It does happen. However, if you are admitted without support it means they don’t like you all that much. If they do like you, and believe you will prove to be an asset to Dr. X’s lab or research group, they will give you money. Don’t do a PhD in an STEM field if you have to pay for it. Just don’t. Get a job with that Bachelor’s degree instead, and re-apply in a year or so.</p>
<p>
There is no ‘free lunch’ or ‘free PhD’ in US.
If you want someone else to fund your PhD degree, you have to do research; and to do research in STEM with someone else money, you have to be very good in STEM.
So how good are you in the STEM?</p>
<p>Interesting how welcoming the US is to foreign students with financial aid, but the opposite is not true.</p>
<p>The OP mentions the UCs, but in another thread there was a mention that OOS UC PhD students are expected/helped to get instate status after one year to lower their funded tuition rates. Since that wouldn’t be possible for int’ls, I wonder if the UCs would be less likely to accept int’ls for PhDs? anyone know?</p>