Academic Career Path in the EU: My Story From Bachelor’s to PhD

Last updated: October 2026

My academic career path in the EU (written in December 2024)

When I first wrote this in December 2024, I had been living in the EU for about seven years, going on eight. I spent most of my twenties here, and almost every step of my academic career path happened at the same university. I am sharing it because I wish someone had told me early on how much the small choices add up.

The bachelor’s years: teaching, clubs and a growing CV

I did my bachelor’s degree at the university where I would later study for my master’s and PhD. The tuition was about €3,000 a year, which I thought was fair for that university. It was still a real commitment, so I needed to work.

I had taught before leaving home, so I found work as an English language teacher. Teaching adults who were two or three times my age took some adjustment at first. I also taught children for a few hours a week, which was a completely different kind of energy.

Alongside my studies and work, I joined several university clubs and student groups. I was deliberately trying to become an all-rounder. At the time it felt like being busy for the sake of it, but looking back, it was the start of a CV that later shaped my academic career path.

A free master’s degree and my first official job

After I graduated, the university offered me a free master’s degree. That was a turning point. It meant I could keep studying without the tuition burden, keep my legal status in the country, and keep building years of residence. When I wrote this, I was planning to apply for permanent residence in the coming year and expected to become eligible for citizenship in about two years.

I also received my first official job offer after my first degree. Within about a year I was promoted, and my employer was flexible enough to let me fit work around my master’s classes. Combining a job and a degree was tiring, but the work experience carried real weight later, inside and outside academia.

The PhD that fell into my lap

Then the PhD came along, and honestly, it almost fell into my lap. By that point I had built a reputation at the university, so finding a supervisor was easy. People already knew my work and how I behaved as a colleague.

My PhD came with a scholarship in the form of a monthly stipend. At the time of writing, I was in the third year of a four-year PhD. None of it was instant. My academic career path was the result of years of showing up, saying yes to opportunities and doing the work well.

What I would tell anyone starting an academic career path in Europe

If you are hoping to follow a similar route, this is the advice I would give my younger self:

• Be proactive during your bachelor’s. Join clubs and groups, volunteer and take on small responsibilities. Lecturers notice students who turn up and contribute.
• Try to publish during your master’s. Even one paper, conference poster or co-authored report shows you can do research, which is exactly what a PhD supervisor wants to see.
• Get involved with research departments or administration. Assisting on a project or helping with university admin puts you in the rooms where opportunities are discussed.
• Keep building your CV with work. Teaching, tutoring or any job that shows reliability and communication skills counts.
• Work hard and be consistent. Reputation is built slowly. My PhD felt easy to get only because of the years before it.
• Think about the long term. An academic career path takes many years, so consider where you want to live and how your residence status will develop along the way.

If you are still choosing where to begin, our study abroad support can help you compare universities and programmes, and our guide to the top universities in Lithuania is a good starting point.

How an academic career in Europe is structured

Job titles differ a lot between countries, which makes planning an academic career in Europe confusing at first. To make careers comparable, the EU uses four broad research profiles, which you will see on many job adverts. EURAXESS, the EU’s portal for researchers, describes them like this:

In practice, a typical academic career path runs from PhD candidate (R1) to postdoc or junior lecturer (R2), then to an assistant or associate professor post (R3), and for some, to full professor (R4). Not everyone moves in a straight line, and many people leave the academic career path after a PhD to build excellent careers outside universities.

What is tenure track on the academic career path?

Some European universities now offer tenure-track posts. The League of European Research Universities (LERU) describes these as fixed-term contracts, usually for three to six or more years, that can lead to a permanent position at a higher level after a positive evaluation. LERU also notes that the model is still relatively new in Europe, so do not assume every country or university offers it.

PhD in Europe for international students: how funding works

This is the part that surprises many people. A PhD in Europe for international students can look very different depending on the country. In some places you are a student who receives a stipend; in others you are hired as a member of staff with a salary and an employment contract.

A few examples from official and university sources:

• Lithuania: Vilnius University says full-time doctoral studies last four years. For the 2026 intake, doctoral students in state-funded places receive a monthly scholarship of €1,406 in the first year and €1,628 from the second year. Only full-time students in state-funded places receive it.
• Germany: According to Research in Germany, edited by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), more than three quarters of doctoral students follow the traditional individual doctorate with one supervisor. Many work part-time as research associates at their university, while structured programmes often offer grants or paid doctoral positions.
• The Netherlands: At Erasmus University Rotterdam’s ERIM doctoral programme, for example, appointed PhD candidates are employees of the university, paid in line with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities.

Funding shapes your whole academic career path, so when you compare a PhD stipend in Europe with a salaried PhD post, look beyond the headline figure. Ask whether you pay tax and social security, whether you are covered for health insurance and pension, and how long the funding lasts compared with the expected length of the degree.

If you are self-funding part of your studies, our article on financial aid for students in Lithuania explains other options worth checking.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: EU-funded doctoral and postdoc positions

The EU’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fund some of the most international research positions in Europe. They are worth knowing about whatever stage of your academic career path you are at.

MSCA Doctoral Networks are partnerships of universities and other organisations that recruit doctoral candidates. According to the European Commission, candidates can be of any nationality and must not already hold a doctorate when recruited. Vacancies are advertised on EURAXESS, and you apply directly to the project.

There is an important mobility rule: you generally must not have lived or worked in the recruiting organisation’s country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment. That means a student who has spent years in one country, as I had, would usually need to look at networks based in another country.

After the PhD, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships fund researchers with up to eight years of experience since their doctorate. European Postdoctoral Fellowships last one to two years and are open to researchers of any nationality, again with a similar mobility rule.

Where to find PhD and research jobs

Many international students only look at the university they already know. That worked for me, but you should search more widely too:

1. EURAXESS: the EU’s portal lists research vacancies across Europe, including MSCA positions, and links to national EURAXESS service centres that help with practical questions such as entry rules.
2. University job and doctoral admissions pages: many PhD places, especially state-funded ones, are announced only on the university’s own site, with fixed deadlines.
3. Your own network: lecturers, supervisors and research groups often know about funded positions before they are advertised.

Our career guidance service can help you shape a research CV and motivation letter, and if you plan to work outside academia first, read our guide on how to get a job in Lithuania after studies.

Residence permits for researchers

Most EU countries admit researchers from outside the EU under rules based on the EU Students and Researchers Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/801). Under these rules, a researcher normally needs a hosting agreement with a research organisation, which the organisation can sign only if funding is available and it is satisfied with your qualifications.

The directive encourages countries to treat doctoral candidates as researchers where appropriate, but each country decides how it applies this. Depending on where you study, you may hold a researcher permit or a student permit during your PhD. The directive also gives researchers and students the possibility to stay for at least nine months after finishing, to look for work or start a business. Denmark and Ireland are not bound by it.

Because the details vary by country, always check the national EURAXESS portal and the migration office of the country you are moving to. If you are already in Lithuania, our guide to the post-study temporary residence permit explains your options after graduation.

The honest downsides of an academic career path

I loved my route, but an academic career in Europe has harder parts too, and you deserve to hear them:

• Competition is real. Funded PhD places and permanent academic posts are limited, and many people do several fixed-term contracts before finding stability.
• Funding can feel tight. A stipend may cover living costs, but it rarely leaves much room for savings, especially if you support family at home.
• Moving may be expected. Schemes such as MSCA reward mobility, which can mean leaving a country where you have built a life.
• Juggling is exhausting. Working while studying helped my CV, but it took discipline and a lot of late evenings.

Frequently asked questions

Can international students get a funded PhD in Europe?

Yes. Many funded positions are open to any nationality, including MSCA Doctoral Networks. Eligibility for state-funded places differs by country and university, so check each admissions page.

How long does a PhD take in Europe?

It varies. Full-time doctoral studies at Vilnius University last four years, while Research in Germany says structured programmes usually take three to five years and individual doctorates often longer.

Is a PhD stipend in Europe the same as a salary?

Not always. Some countries pay a scholarship to doctoral students, while others employ PhD candidates as staff. This affects tax, social security and your rights as a worker.

What is the first step on an academic career path in Europe?

For most people it is a master’s degree followed by a PhD (the R1 stage). Publishing, research assistance and good relationships with lecturers during your master’s make the next step much easier.

Where can I find PhD positions in Europe?

Start with EURAXESS, which lists research vacancies at every stage of the academic career path. Then check the doctoral admissions and job pages of universities that interest you. Many state-funded places are only announced on university websites.

Every academic career path looks different, and mine began with simply saying yes to opportunities during my bachelor’s. If you would like help planning your studies or your next step in Europe, book a free consultation with us and we will talk it through.