Fossey

Ah, whoops, just saw you are interested in UK and Germany. Then I know less about it, other than it is even more expensive in the UK. But good schools, of course. Good luck!

I can't speak for all European countries, but I am pretty familiar with the system in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. If a location of that sort is something you are interested in, ask ahead! Some schools I can think of on top of my head is Uppsala, Lund, and Copenhagen University. Some advice to begin with... It is going to be an expensive move and education, since you are not a European citizen (the tuition fees will be more for you than others). Perhaps not as much as the a school in the US, but definitely more than Canada. That doesn't mean it's not worth it Also, make sure you get started on converting your grades because they have a different system called ECTS. You can either pay online or do it yourself.

Hi everyone! I have a quick question for any of you who have already applied for Vanier. For the two referee letters, should one of the letters be from my new supervisor that I am just starting to work with (and who barely knows me...) or from two previous supervisors? It states in the guidelines that it can be from past supervisors... But then later on, it states that I have to explain why if my new supervisor is unable to provide a referee letter. I would love any input on this as soon as possible! EDIT: this is disregarding the non-academic reference letter. I am talking about the two four-page referee letters.

I am the exact same boat and feel so scared about starting a PhD program in a different country. I am about to go long-distance with my boyfriend after having lived together for years. I will leave friends and family behind. And the place where I am going live to speaks predominantly French rather than English. I am terrified! But, what makes me feel better is that I am not the only one... It helps to know that it is normal to feel this way and that many before us have taken the same journey and succeeded in making friends and being happy! Sometimes letting go is the best thing that you can do in your life! When you let go, you welcome new experiences and people that will become dear to you! And think, what if you didn't have the courage to letting go and leaving your home? Then you would always stay in the same place and never experience the rest of the wonderful world there is!

Thanks for the replies guys! Helped a lot

Hi guys! I know a thread has already been made for this question, but I just wanted to ask a few more questions about this. I am starting a PhD in Biology in the fall and have been told to register for only one class per semester, as anything more is not normal for that program. Not only that, but the required amount of coursework for the PhD is only 3 courses, worth a total of 12 credits. I should mention that the PhD will be in Canada and the program length is 5 years. I am used to the US system, and I always thought that the norm would be around 2-3 courses per semester for the first year as a PhD student?! I am interested in applying to post-docs in the US, and I am now worried that my low amount of coursework would not look good when I apply for jobs. On the other hand, I suppose that this would give me more time to publish papers and do better research, which is what the PhD should be about... Would love to hear anyone's input and experience with this! Thanks!

I am relatively new to the Canadian system (I have spent most of my time in the US) and it seems to me that the majority of Canada programs require the MS/MA degree before starting the PhD. However, as mentioned by TakerUK, that is not the case for all programs. I applied to a fast track program at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. There, they allowed me to skip the MS, as long as I had the required GPA from my undergrad. I am not sure if this is only a case with science programs. I suppose it depends on what program you are interested in.. Still, perhaps you should look into the large schools in Canada, such as McGill and University of Toronto. Some of the programs there may not require you to have a Masters before applying to the PhD program. Now, the reason I applied for the fast track PhD, was because I was told that funding is given mostly to international PhD students rather than international Masters students. Regarding international tuition waivers, I had my international tuition waived at McGill. This was something completed by the adviser I applied to work with and was then approved by the graduate administration. I am not sure how the eligibility works, but mine was approved. I have citizenship from Denmark, but completed my HS and BS in the US. A quick side note. Usually, MS/MA programs in the US are NOT funded (unless the MS/MA is integrated with the PhD). For example, in the humanities, it is very common to do a non-funded MA before continuing to the PhD program. On the other hand, PhDs are usually always funded in the US (if not funded, it is probably not a good idea to enroll in that program!) I hope this helps somehow

Hi Ashandarei! I sent you a PM with a few more sites and suggestions hope it helps!

Field experience is always good if you want to go into this branch of biology. I think that it may even be more important than your degree title. A lot of graduate programs allow students from other disciplines (but with the right amount of relevant experience) to enter, and then, if necessary, make up the missing coursework or electives. Have you contacted any prospective advisers to see if they would want a MS student with a background in Geography? If you can find a program that would be ok with this, then the best option is to gain lots of field experience and then apply to the programs rather than invest in 2 additional years just for another degree. What sort of wildlife research are you interested in? Have you looked into Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB) programs? They might be more flexible in admitting you than programs only focusing on wildlife biology. Regarding the study abroad, if you can afford taking the loan, that might be a good idea! Especially if it is your first field experience. I paid for my first biology field school in college, and then was able to find lots of paid positions after that. However, if you can find a paid or even just volunteer position where they pay for your food, etc., then perhaps that might be a good idea too. Let me know what you are interested in I know quite a few sites online where people list cool field research jobs. For example, if you are interested in primates, Wisconsin's Primate Info Net website is an excellent place to look for fieldwork!

Born in Denmark, lived in Texas, USA most of my adult life, and starting my PhD in Montreal, Canada to study tropical biology Yay!

Ah. My apologies then I am so used to people mixing up places in Scandinavia (I am from Copenhagen but live abroad). If you need any guiding on Copenhagen, feel free to pm me! It's a fun city!

Lund is not in Copenhagen, Denmark.... Lund is in southern Sweden But it is a good school, good luck!

Hi @fernandes Yay! Thanks for the reply and good point! So my PhD funding does not require me to TA any semesters... It is really strange, because I know that most programs in the US ask PhD students to TA for at least a few semesters, like in your case. I am guessing that it is a different system in Canada?(my school is in Canada) So, in a way, it doesn't affect my funding, but I would of course get paid even more if I worked as a TA. If that makes any sense.

Hi guys! So, I am starting my first year as a PhD student this fall! So, so excited Initially, I was planning to apply for TA positions because, well... I thought that was what most PhD students do their first few years! However, my professor has strongly encouraged me to NOT apply on my first year, since I will be doing my proposal, taking classes, etc... He recommended that I wait a year, as I would get more opportunities later. Is this true? I really don't want to miss out on TA experiences and so I thought I might ask here! Do PhD students usually not become TAs on their first year? Thanks!

San Antonio is pretty cheap for a US city (compared to New York, Los Angeles, etc.). I don't know what your budget is, but a really nice apartment here is usually around $1,000 per month, and you can easily get some good deals way below that! The city is fun and there is a lot of diversity. You have the Riverwalk, Alamo, and other nice attractions to see. People are very friendly down here. Also, I feel that San Antonio is a very different kind of Texas than the rest of the state. There are lots of places to get jobs (it's a huge city!), but usually grad students at UTHSCSA rotate and work in labs on campus. So, I am sure you would have that opportunity, no? Also, keep in mind that you would most likely come in on an F-1 visa (unless you have a green card), meaning that you can ONLY work on campus and not anywhere else... I think exceptions can be made, but it is way more complicated.