Manuel Said:

Average cost for an international student to do a PhD in UK?

We Answered:

The above poster gives a good listing of schools that offer PhD but I would also include Leeds University. The cost to do a PhD in the UK varies on the type of course (taught, or research), school, and the filed (e.g. Nursing, Engineering, Medicine, or English). Also you need to keep in mind that cost (fees, tuition, and living expenses) is a function of the exchange rate and right now it is about $1.43 for every £1. This is a low as the rate normally tends to be around $1.50 - $1.75 for every £1 and during the summer of 2008 it was almost $2.10 for every £1. This means any calculations need to account for variations in the currency exchange rates.

Below I have posted costs for Home Students (UK students that qualify) & international / Overseas students from two universities in the North. As you can see that the fees vary greatly by program. Also these programs are in northern England which generally is cheaper to live than if you were in the London area.

I know the Home Office has a maintenance requirement for the Tier 4 student visa and with the recent election I personally feel the minimum might increase. Also I feel that there will be some further tightening of the visa rules especially Tier 4 in the months following the election. Therefore it is important that you keep abreast of the changes to the immigration rules. The amount that they require I feel is below what you need to live, especially if you are not in student accommodations and even if you were in student accommodations the amount is probably the bare minimum. In my honest opinion I would add at least another £3,000 - £5,000 to ensure you had enough especially if you are not planning on working the 20 hours that the visa allows. Even if you did work the 20 hours allowed the most you would be able to find are jobs that pays near minimum wage. Then from there I would plan for each year beyond my first year in the UK I would include in any calculation an inflation rate of at least 4% to ensure you do not fall short of cash.

In conclusion it is not possible to provide you with solid answers to your question due to the fluctuations in the exchange rates, varying costs of each program, and the cost of living to each area. The best that I have been able to do is give you a very broad estimate of what your cost to attend would be as an international student and it is up to you to refine that estimate in order to meet your needs.

Marsha Said:

I need only maintenance grant /loan during my PhD studies here in UK?Any advice?I have sources for the tuition

We Answered:

Visit GRANT.com.
I hope you shall get your desired grant information.

Gloria Said:

Im an international student, looking forward to continuing my studies for a Phd in physics in a US university.

We Answered:

For international students, US schools will look especially hard at your GRE scores at recommendations, since they may not know exactly how your grades compare with the rest of the applicant pool. If your physics and math grades and board scores aren't that good, you may want to think twice about whether you really want to go to graduate school. You will usually have to pass a very difficult qualification exam after your first year of study.

--What hotdog says is true. In the US, your first year is earning a master's degree (although most grads who go on to a PhD don't bother with the paperwork of getting the MS). A lot of foreign students show up with the equivalent of an MS already in hand. So they can retake the classes (never a bad idea, especially if your English skills are soso) or skip directly to the second year courses--specialized classes in their field.

As for getting admitted, there are a whole lot of places in the US that can give you a PhD in physics--at least 50, maybe more. Admissions varies from extremely competitive to not especially competitive. You should apply to a few from across the spectrum. Don't just apply to MIT, CalTech, and Princeton. Include some less-known places.

Renee Said:

What is a good school to go to for diplomacy and international relations/studies?

We Answered:

Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., is the unofficial "official" university for graduate studies for these careers in the U.S. Foreign Service. Obviously this field is extremely competitive. Start by learning Arabic and Mandarin Chinese in addition to French or Spanish. Tufts and some Ivies have excellent programs as well, but Georgetown has the advantage of being in Washington and having a good alumni network in the State Department.

BTW, in the U.S. Foreign Service, a diplomat may have the title of "minister", but the United States has a Secretary of State, not a foreign minister. I mention this issue because if you are not a United States citizen and would like to become foreign minister in your home country, you should pursue part of your graduate education there.

Best wishes.

Brian Said:

How long does it take to get a PhD if you already have a Masters?

We Answered:

Beyond just the classes required for a PhD; you will need to do a thesis & defend it--that can add 1-6 years onto the PhD course depending on your thesis, research, changes, defense etc. (no one mentioned that in the answers).