Choose your study destination
Explore research-degree guides and compare Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD admission criteria by destination.
Start your programme assessment →See country admission criteria →
Select your programme and destination to see the next step.
United Kingdom
Research opportunities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Fully Funded PhD in United Kingdom →Master of Research in United Kingdom →Bachelor’s admission criteria →United States
Explore doctoral programmes and research degrees across US universities.
Fully Funded PhD in United States →Master of Research in United States →Bachelor’s admission criteria →Canada
Find research routes across Canadian universities and provinces.
Fully Funded PhD in Canada →Master of Research in Canada →Bachelor’s admission criteria →Australia
Explore university research degrees, scholarships and funded projects.
Fully Funded PhD in Australia →Master of Research in Australia →Bachelor’s admission criteria →New Zealand
Explore research programmes and doctoral opportunities in New Zealand.
Fully Funded PhD in New Zealand →Master of Research in New Zealand →Bachelor’s admission criteria →Europe
Explore country-specific research routes across European universities.
Fully Funded PhD in Europe →Master of Research in Europe →Bachelor’s admission criteria →European study destinations
Choose a country for your assessment. Academic requirements, programme availability and funding are checked with the individual institution.
European PhD guidance → · European research Master’s guidance →
Admission criteria by country and programme
These are broad academic entry requirements, not an individual eligibility decision. Discuss your qualifications, grades, subject, research experience, budget and preferred intake with PhD Success Academy. We will help clarify suitable routes and check the exact university and course requirements. The university makes the final admission decision; funding is assessed separately.
Compare all programmes below.
Choose a destination to compare Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD preparation. Minimum grades, accepted qualifications, English tests, intakes and deadlines are set by each university and course. Master of Research is one type of Master’s; degree titles differ by destination.
Official sources reviewed: 25 September 2026. This is an admissions planning guide; use the linked course or university requirements for a final eligibility decision.
United Kingdom
Bachelor’s
A recognised school-leaving qualification equivalent to the course’s A-level requirements; required subjects and grades vary. A foundation route may be needed if direct entry requirements are not met.
Master’s / research Master’s
A recognised Bachelor’s degree meeting the course’s classification and subject requirements. Research Master’s courses may additionally request a research outline and evidence of research preparation.
PhD
Check the doctoral course’s required degree level, grades, research fit, proposal, references and supervisor-contact policy. Some courses require a relevant Master’s; this is not a single UK-wide rule.
Official sources: Study UK application guidance · Newman country-specific requirements · Oxford doctoral example: International Development
Assess my profile →USA
Bachelor’s
Prepare your secondary-school transcript, required translations, school qualifications, application essays and references where requested. Check each university’s English and SAT/ACT policy; there is no single national admission score.
Master’s / research Master’s
Submit recognised prior degree qualifications, transcripts, a purpose statement and references as required by the department. Check degree equivalency and whether GRE/GMAT or English tests are required or waived.
PhD
Check whether the department admits from a Bachelor’s degree or requires a Master’s. Research fit, academic preparation and references matter; proposal and supervisor-contact requirements vary. Read assistantship or fellowship conditions separately from the admission offer.
Official sources: EducationUSA undergraduate checklist · EducationUSA graduate checklist · Westcliff international admissions
Assess my profile →Canada
Bachelor’s
A secondary-school qualification accepted by the institution, with the required course subjects and grades. Check the programme’s English or French language requirements.
Master’s / research Master’s
Check the university’s equivalency rules for your Bachelor’s degree, minimum academic standing and subject prerequisites. Thesis-based programmes can require research preparation and a suitable supervisor.
PhD
A relevant Master’s degree is the usual preparation. Use the graduate school’s country-specific eligibility page and departmental rules to confirm the required prior degree and research background. Direct-entry or transfer routes, where available, have separate conditions; funding terms must be confirmed in writing.
Prepare transcripts, degree certificates, language evidence, academic references, a statement of interest and any requested research proposal. UBC’s eligibility guidance is a university example, not a rule for all Canadian institutions.
Official sources: EduCanada application guidance · UBC graduate eligibility
Assess my profile →Australia
Bachelor’s
Australian Year 12 or an accepted equivalent, including prerequisite subjects where required. A foundation pathway may be an option where direct entry requirements are not met.
Master’s / research Master’s
At least an undergraduate degree is normally needed; relevant discipline, grades, research ability or work experience may also be assessed. Research and coursework Master’s degrees have different requirements.
PhD
Research doctorates generally require an honours Bachelor’s with a research component or a Master’s. Confirm the specific research experience, academic standard, proposal and supervision requirements with the university.
English-language requirements depend on the provider and course. Prepare qualification records, transcripts, language evidence and course-specific documents. Check scholarship eligibility, separate deadlines and what the award covers.
Official sources: Study Australia entry guidance · Study Australia postgraduate qualifications
Assess my profile →New Zealand
Bachelor’s
Check the institution’s international school-qualification equivalency, subject prerequisites and English requirement for your chosen Bachelor’s course.
Master’s / research Master’s
A qualification equivalent to a New Zealand Bachelor’s degree or higher is generally required. Relevant subject study and further research preparation may be needed for a research Master’s.
PhD
Your qualifications must demonstrate sufficient subject knowledge and research preparation. Check the university’s required honours or Master’s background, research component, grades, supervision and English evidence.
Prepare transcripts and degree records, research interests, references and a proposal if requested. A doctoral admission offer does not automatically include a stipend or scholarship; apply through the relevant funding process.
Official sources: Education New Zealand Master’s guidance · Education New Zealand PhD guidance
Assess my profile →Europe
Bachelor’s
Check the chosen country’s recognition of your school-leaving qualification, course subjects and language of instruction. National admission systems and entrance examinations differ.
Master’s / research Master’s
Normally requires a recognised Bachelor’s qualification in a suitable field. Required credits, grades, language evidence and documents depend on the institution and country.
PhD
A Bachelor’s and Master’s are usually needed, although alternative routes exist. Check the advertised doctoral position or doctoral school rules for research fit, supervision, proposal and language requirements.
Europe is a region, not one admissions system. Specify the country in your assessment. A salaried doctoral vacancy, scholarship and self-funded place have different conditions. Confirm qualification recognition and the language used by each programme.
Official sources: European Commission higher education guide · European Commission qualification recognition
Assess my profile →Grades, language tests and supporting evidence
There is no single CGPA, percentage or IELTS score that applies to every course in a country. We check your qualification equivalency, subject prerequisites, overall grades, accepted language test and individual component scores against each shortlisted course. An English-medium qualification is accepted as a waiver only where the university permits it.
Bachelor’s preparation
Have your school-leaving certificate, subject-wise results and transcripts ready. Depending on the course, you may need an entrance test, personal statement, reference, portfolio or interview. We can discuss direct entry or a foundation route after reviewing your qualifications.
Master’s preparation
Prepare your degree certificate, transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and references where requested. Taught and research routes differ: a research Master’s may also assess your research interests, proposal and supervisor fit. Relevant work experience is course-dependent.
PhD and funding preparation
Prepare your academic CV, degree records, research experience, references and a research statement or proposal where requested. Publications can support your profile but are not compulsory for every PhD. Follow each department’s policy on contacting supervisors. Scholarship and funded-position selection can be more competitive than the admission minimum.
Before you submit: your application checklist
- Confirm the exact course, degree level, campus, intake and international application deadline.
- Check qualification recognition, required subjects, grades and any entrance test or interview.
- Prepare certificates, full transcripts and required certified translations.
- Check accepted language tests, component scores, validity and exemption conditions.
- Prepare your CV, statement, references and research proposal or portfolio where requested.
- For research degrees, follow the department’s supervisor-contact instructions and show research fit.
- Check scholarship deadlines separately; verify tuition coverage, stipend, duration and conditions.
Publications, work experience and certifications can strengthen an application but are not compulsory for every programme. Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee admission or funding.
Our Fully Funded PhD assessment guidance (PhD only): we review grades (with 3.5/4 as a preferred academic benchmark), research experience, publications, relevant work and certifications together. This is our profile-review guidance, not a universal university minimum. Allow around 8–10 months for preparation and applications; actual timelines depend on openings and decisions.
Plan your studies. Understand your family’s options.
Family, dependants & study years toward PR
Compare Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD routes across 33 destinations. Understand who may accompany you, whether applications can be made together, and how study residence is treated for permanent or long-term residence.
Sources reviewed: 25 September 2026. For non-EU/EEA international applicants, including Pakistani nationals. Rules can change; nationality, permit type and family circumstances can change the outcome.
Family eligibility ≠ joint travel
A dependent route may exist even when the student must receive permission first. Applying together never guarantees decisions or travel on the same date. “Family” usually means an eligible partner and children—not automatically parents or siblings.
Study credit ≠ a PR guarantee
Full: one qualifying year can count as one. Half: one can count as six months. No: the study period is excluded from the named route. These labels concern residence credit, not full-time versus part-time enrolment.
The permit decides
A salaried PhD may hold a student, researcher or worker permit. National PR, EU long-term resident status and citizenship are separate. A spouse’s work rights and residence clock are also separate from the student’s.
33 destinations. Open a country to read the conditions and sources.
UK
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Normally no Student-route dependants; government-sponsored study longer than 6 months is an exception. |
| Master’s | Eligible research-based higher degree, full-time and 9 months or longer; ordinary taught Master’s normally excluded. |
| PhD | Eligible full-time doctorate of 9 months or longer. |
Application timing: Eligible partners and children can apply alongside the student. Each person needs their own application and evidence; decisions and travel dates can differ.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Full — 10-year Long Residence only
Qualifying lawful Student permission can count in full toward the 10-year Long Residence route, subject to continuity, absences and current-permission rules. It does not count toward the separate five-year Skilled Worker settlement period. Short-term Student permission is excluded.
Permit / programme distinction: A research Master’s title alone is insufficient: confirm the sponsor’s course classification. Doctoral study on a Student visa follows the Student/Long Residence rules; employment-based permission has different settlement rules.
Sources: Student dependants · Long Residence eligibility
Discuss my study plans in UK →USA
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | F-2 spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany an eligible F-1 student. |
| Master’s | Same F-1/F-2 family route. |
| PhD | Same if the doctoral student holds F-1 status. |
Application timing: Family may seek visas to accompany or join the F-1 student. Obtain a separate dependent Form I-20 and show sufficient finances. F-2 dependants cannot work.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
No automatic PR residence clock
Years in F-1 status are not a full/half-year route to a green card. Permanent residence requires a separate eligible immigration category and approval; completing any degree does not itself grant it.
Permit / programme distinction: J-1 research/exchange programmes use J-2 family rules instead. Do not apply F-2 rules to J-2, and check any home-residence requirement.
Sources: US Department of State: student visas · USC: F-2 dependants · US Department of State: immigrant visas
Discuss my study plans in USA →Canada
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family may apply for visitor/study status. Spousal open work permits are limited to listed professional degrees or other eligible programmes. |
| Master’s | Spousal open work permit generally requires a Master’s programme of at least 16 months, unless another listed exception applies. |
| PhD | A qualifying doctoral programme can support a spousal open work permit. |
Application timing: Family applications can be submitted with the student’s application, but every person must qualify. A visitor visa does not give a partner permission to work; children’s study requirements must be checked separately.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
No automatic PR clock; citizenship half-credit is separate
Study years alone do not create PR entitlement. Full-time student work does not meet Canadian Experience Class minimum work experience. After becoming a permanent resident, eligible pre-PR temporary-resident days may count as half-days toward citizenship, capped at 365 days—not toward obtaining PR.
Permit / programme distinction: The spousal-work criteria changed on 21 January 2025. Confirm the exact programme, duration and spouse’s eligibility before applying.
Sources: IRCC: spouse work eligibility · IRCC: study application guide · Student work and CEC · Citizenship eligibility
Discuss my study plans in Canada →Australia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Current applicability needs confirmation following the 17 September 2026 policy announcement. |
| Master’s | Current applicability needs confirmation; do not assume every Master’s qualifies for family inclusion. |
| PhD | Check whether the exact doctorate and applicant are covered by any exception or transitional rule. |
Application timing: General Study Australia guidance describes including a spouse/de facto partner and dependent children in the original application. A newer ministerial announcement proposes restrictions on secondary student applicants. The announcement does not settle commencement and all exceptions; obtain current Home Affairs confirmation before planning joint travel.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
No automatic PR residence clock
A Student visa is temporary. Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral study do not convert into PR simply through a fixed number of years. A separate permanent skilled, employer-sponsored, family or other eligible route is required.
Permit / programme distinction: Announcement and operative visa rules must not be treated as the same thing. Family work conditions also depend on the actual visa grant.
Sources: Study Australia: bringing family · Ministerial announcement: 17 September 2026 · Home Affairs: Student visa
Discuss my study plans in Australia →New Zealand
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Partner/children may seek visitor visas. Partner work eligibility applies only to specified eligible level 7/8 qualifications, not every Bachelor’s. |
| Master’s | Level 9 Master’s study can support a Partner of a Student Work Visa. |
| PhD | Level 10 doctoral study can support a partner work visa and eligible dependent-child student visas. |
Application timing: Family use separate applications and must satisfy relationship, funds and other requirements. They may apply in coordination with the student; do not assume simultaneous approval. For Master’s students, children’s study eligibility may depend on the partner’s work-visa route.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Student time does not count toward the two-year PRV requirement
A Permanent Resident Visa normally requires holding a resident visa for at least two years and meeting commitment requirements. Time on a temporary Student visa is not those two years. First qualify for a separate residence route.
Permit / programme distinction: Check the qualification’s NZQF level and exact family category; the degree name alone is not enough.
Sources: Immigration NZ: family of students · Partner work visa · Permanent Resident Visa
Discuss my study plans in New Zealand →Austria
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family Community permit may be available for an eligible spouse/registered partner and minor unmarried children. |
| Master’s | Same student-family route. |
| PhD | Same on a Student permit; researcher settlement permission is a different route. |
Application timing: Family applications need their own supporting documents. Confirm coordinated filing with the embassy/residence authority; eligibility does not promise joint decisions. Spouses/registered partners generally must be at least 21 when applying.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — EU long-term residence, after a qualifying switch
Student temporary-residence periods can be credited at half toward Long-term Resident–EU when followed by qualifying settlement. A Student permit alone is not settlement permission. Five qualifying years, integration and other requirements still apply.
Permit / programme distinction: A Settlement Permit–Researcher is different from a Student or other temporary permit. Check the actual permit before counting doctoral years.
Sources: OeAD: students and family · Government: Long-term Resident–EU
Discuss my study plans in Austria →Belgium
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family reunification may be available subject to the sponsor’s residence and family conditions. |
| Master’s | Same conditional route. |
| PhD | Same on student permission; researchers may use a different procedure. |
Application timing: Check the current Immigration Office procedure before submitting together. Residence status, relationship, adequate resources, housing and insurance matter; this guide does not confirm same-time filing for every student.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — EU long-term resident status
Student/training residence can count at half toward the five-year EU long-term residence period once the applicant holds an eligible residence status. A current student permit alone does not qualify for this status.
Permit / programme distinction: Researcher or employment permission may count differently from student permission, even if both involve a PhD.
Sources: Immigration Office: family reunification · EU long-term resident status
Discuss my study plans in Belgium →Bulgaria
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Conditional family reunification, normally with a sponsor residence permit valid for at least one year. |
| Master’s | Same conditional route. |
| PhD | Same on study permission; a researcher permit needs a separate assessment. |
Application timing: Family reunification approval is normally obtained before relatives apply for their long-stay visas. Do not present this as an automatic joint first-entry route.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — long-term residence calculation
The official residence regulations provide half-credit for periods granted for study. This is residence-credit calculation, not automatic permanent status; the qualifying route, continuity, resources and insurance must also be met.
Permit / programme distinction: A PhD on a study permit follows the study rule. Check research/employment permission independently.
Sources: European Commission: family procedure · Ministry of Interior: residence regulations
Discuss my study plans in Bulgaria →Croatia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Eligible family may seek reunification with a temporary-resident student. |
| Master’s | Same conditional route. |
| PhD | Same on student permission; research status is separate. |
Application timing: Family must obtain the required approval/visa and show qualifying relationship and resources. Confirm submission timing with the competent Croatian authority rather than assuming everyone can travel on the student’s approval.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — long-term residence
Study residence is credited at half toward the long-term residence qualifying period. Other residence, continuity, income and integration requirements remain; a completed degree does not itself produce permanent status.
Permit / programme distinction: Count according to the residence permit held during the doctorate, not the academic title.
Sources: European Commission: student route · European Commission: family route
Discuss my study plans in Croatia →Czechia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family-purpose long-stay visa may be possible; family-reunification residence has separate sponsor conditions. |
| Master’s | Same distinction between a family visa and a reunification residence permit. |
| PhD | Researcher status can provide an exception to ordinary waiting conditions; student PhD status alone does not. |
Application timing: The standard family-reunification residence route normally requires the sponsor to have resided for at least 15 months, with exceptions. Ask about the separate family-purpose visa for earlier arrival; neither route guarantees simultaneous processing.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — five-year permanent residence calculation
Residence for study is generally credited at half toward the five-year continuous-residence requirement. Other permit periods, absences, income and language conditions must be assessed.
Permit / programme distinction: Researcher/employee permission is not automatically treated as study permission; verify the recorded purpose of stay.
Sources: Ministry of Interior: family reunification · Ministry of Interior: continuous residence
Discuss my study plans in Czechia →Denmark
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Accompanying family possible for eligible state-approved higher education. |
| Master’s | Same for eligible state-approved programmes. |
| PhD | Accompanying family route available for qualifying PhD study. |
Application timing: Eligible spouse/partner and children under 18 can apply at the same time as the student. Maintenance and relationship requirements apply. New applications based on non-state-approved programmes are restricted from 2 May 2025.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Full qualifying lawful study residence — national PR, with further conditions
Qualifying lawful study residence may count toward the usual eight-year residence requirement; a four-year route has stricter supplementary conditions. Years of study do not replace required employment, language, self-support or other PR conditions.
Permit / programme distinction: Denmark has its own permanent-residence rules and is not part of the EU long-term resident scheme.
Sources: SIRI: accompanying student/PhD family · Permanent residence · Calculating legal residence
Discuss my study plans in Denmark →Estonia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Spouse generally faces a two-year residence condition when the sponsor holds study permission. |
| Master’s | Same general spouse waiting condition. |
| PhD | Doctoral-study exception can allow spouse reunification without the ordinary two-year wait. |
Application timing: Do not apply the spouse waiting rule automatically to minor children: child-family rules are separate. Doctoral families should confirm linked applications and documentary requirements with the Police and Border Guard Board.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — long-term resident status
Study periods can count at half toward the five-year long-term residence period after changing to an eligible residence basis. Student status alone is insufficient; income, insurance, language and continuity conditions also matter.
Permit / programme distinction: A doctoral student exception for family reunion does not automatically turn student residence into full-credit work residence.
Sources: Current Aliens Act · European Commission: student route
Discuss my study plans in Estonia →Finland
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family-ties permit may be available for an eligible partner and minor children. |
| Master’s | Same family-ties route. |
| PhD | Same family route; residence-credit rules depend on A/B status and the applicable pathway. |
Application timing: Family can apply alongside the student, but decisions may arrive separately. Funds for each family member, relationship evidence and applicable spouse-age requirements must be checked.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
National P: qualifying A-study time after graduation; EU P-EU: half
For the national permanent permit, time on a continuous A study permit can count if the degree has been completed. EU long-term P-EU counts study time at half. Rules changed on 8 January 2026: the usual national pathway is six years plus work-history and language conditions, with alternative pathways.
Permit / programme distinction: Specified degrees completed in Finland may support a separate graduate pathway without a fixed residence period, subject to language and a qualifying non-study A-permit basis. This does not cover every Bachelor’s qualification.
Sources: Migri: students’ family · Residence-period calculation · Permanent residence pathways
Discuss my study plans in Finland →France
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Ordinary family reunification normally follows at least 18 months of qualifying residence. |
| Master’s | Same on ordinary student status. |
| PhD | A qualifying talent–researcher permit can allow the accompanying-family procedure; an ordinary student PhD does not automatically qualify. |
Application timing: Ordinary students should not assume an immediate dependent-family route. A family member’s independent visitor/student application is separate and gives different rights. Talent–researcher family procedure must be checked against the actual hosting agreement and permit.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Route-specific — do not use a blanket half/full claim
Current student status is excluded from the ordinary five-year EU long-term resident application. The official general guidance does not resolve every prior-study credit scenario. Obtain a prefecture assessment of the residence history and intended route before relying on any study-year total.
Permit / programme distinction: Talent–researcher residence and ordinary student residence must be assessed separately. Citizenship residence rules are not PR rules.
Sources: Service Public: family reunification · Service Public: EU long-term residence · Service Public: family-route checker
Discuss my study plans in France →Germany
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family reunification may be available, normally where the marriage existed when the student permit was granted and the planned stay exceeds one year. |
| Master’s | Same conditional student-family route. |
| PhD | Same on study permission; researcher or skilled-worker permits have different rules. |
Application timing: Funds, suitable housing and any language requirement must be met. The Foreign Office describes reunion with a student who holds residence permission; confirm whether the responsible mission can accept coordinated initial applications.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — qualifying settlement / EU long-term residence calculation
Study or vocational-training residence is generally credited at half under the relevant permanent-residence calculation. A student permit alone does not grant settlement. German graduates may instead qualify through a separate skilled-employment route with its own work and contribution requirements.
Permit / programme distinction: A doctorate on a researcher/employee permit can have a different qualifying clock. Employment or funding alone does not prove which permit was issued.
Sources: Foreign Office: students’ families · European Commission: study and long-term residence
Discuss my study plans in Germany →Greece
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Do not assume an initial student-dependent route; confirm whether the precise student status can sponsor family. |
| Master’s | Same permit-specific check. |
| PhD | A recognised researcher route must be distinguished from doctoral student permission. |
Application timing: The general family-reunification guidance refers to two years of lawful residence and prior approval. It does not, by itself, establish immediate family eligibility for every student permit.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Study-credit percentage requires route confirmation
A five-year long-term residence route exists, but the reviewed general student/family guidance is insufficient to confirm the credit for every study permit. We do not label Greek study years as full or half without confirmation of the applicable statutory route.
Permit / programme distinction: Ask the Greek migration authority to confirm both sponsor eligibility and residence-credit treatment in writing before choosing a programme for family or PR reasons.
Sources: European Commission: students · European Commission: family reunification
Discuss my study plans in Greece →Iceland
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Eligible family may apply where the sponsor is a full-time university student. |
| Master’s | Same full-time university student route. |
| PhD | Same family route for doctoral students. |
Application timing: Apply under the correct spouse/child category with relationship, maintenance and other evidence. Confirm coordinated processing; a student’s approval does not automatically grant the family permission.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Conditional study credit — former-student exception
Student permission does not itself provide the ordinary basis for permanent residence. A former-student exception can combine previous continuous study residence with at least two years on a qualifying permit, reaching at least four years in total, subject to all conditions.
Permit / programme distinction: A separate completed-doctorate/expert-employment exception may apply. Do not advertise a PhD or four study years alone as sufficient for permanent residence.
Sources: Iceland: student residence rights · Permanent residence exceptions · Permanent residence requirements
Discuss my study plans in Iceland →Italy
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family route exists, but a two-year prior legal-residence condition generally affects spouse reunion. |
| Master’s | Same spouse waiting rule and exceptions. |
| PhD | Check whether a qualifying researcher route changes the procedure; a student doctorate alone does not remove the waiting rule. |
Application timing: Minor-child reunion has an exception to the ordinary two-year condition. Accompanying-family and reunion procedures require case-specific checks and authorisation; do not assume joint initial entry.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Prior lawful study can count — eligible status required when applying
The five-year EU long-term residence calculation can include previous lawful study residence; this is not a blanket half-credit rule. A person currently holding only study/training permission cannot obtain the status on that basis and must qualify under an eligible category.
Permit / programme distinction: Income, language, continuity and other requirements remain. Have the competent Questura confirm the permit history and applicable calculation.
Sources: Government: family reunification · Government: EU long-term residence · Legislation: long-term residence provisions
Discuss my study plans in Italy →Latvia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family residence may be available with sufficient resources and qualifying relationship. |
| Master’s | Same student-family framework. |
| PhD | Same on student permission; a researcher permit is assessed separately. |
Application timing: Confirm the family invitation, application order and documents with PMLP. The general student guidance recognises family members but does not promise same-time decisions or arrival.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — long-term resident status
Only half of the study period is credited toward long-term resident status. A later eligible residence basis and the other long-term residence requirements are still necessary.
Permit / programme distinction: Do not use old funding amounts from general summaries; obtain the current maintenance requirement for the whole family.
Sources: European Commission: student and family rules · PMLP: official authority
Discuss my study plans in Latvia →Liechtenstein
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | No accompanying-family entitlement on the ordinary third-country student route. |
| Master’s | Same restriction. |
| PhD | Same on student status; an independently eligible employment route needs separate review. |
Application timing: The Migration and Passport Office expressly states that short-term residents and students cannot bring their family members under this route. Independent permission for a relative is a different matter.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
No automatic student-to-PR route; credit requires confirmation
Do not assume a Swiss or EU half-credit rule applies. A country-specific assessment is required for any transition from temporary study to settlement and for the residence periods that can be included.
Permit / programme distinction: A doctorate does not, on its own, change a student permit into an employment or settlement permit.
Sources: Migration Office: third-country family reunification · Residence permits
Discuss my study plans in Liechtenstein →Lithuania
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | The ordinary student route does not allow accompanying family under the published student guidance. |
| Master’s | Same restriction in the published student guidance; confirm any applicable newer exception. |
| PhD | Doctoral students have an accompanying-family exception. |
Application timing: Doctoral family members still need their own applications and evidence. Confirm the current Migration Department procedure and coordination before arranging travel.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half normally; completed Lithuanian degree exception
The residence law provides half-credit for study periods, with an exception for people who completed studies in Lithuania and obtained a higher-education qualification. That exception can allow full credit; degree evidence and all remaining permanent-residence conditions are required.
Permit / programme distinction: Confirm the current consolidated law and permit history with the Migration Department. Doctoral family eligibility and residence-credit eligibility are separate tests.
Sources: European Commission: student family rules · Parliament: Law on the Legal Status of Aliens · Migration Department
Discuss my study plans in Lithuania →Luxembourg
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family eligibility needs an individual check: the ordinary sponsor route requires a qualifying permit and reasonable prospects of permanent residence. |
| Master’s | Same check; do not treat every student as an eligible family sponsor. |
| PhD | A qualifying researcher route has more favourable family provisions than ordinary student status. |
Application timing: The usual family framework refers to a permit valid for at least one year; researchers have specific exceptions. Confirm whether family applications can be coordinated for the exact sponsor category.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — EU long-term resident status
Study/training residence can be counted at half toward long-term residence after the person has an eligible residence basis. Current student status alone is not enough.
Permit / programme distinction: A research residence permit and a doctoral student permit are not interchangeable for family or long-term residence purposes.
Sources: Government: family reunification · Government: long-term residence leaflet
Discuss my study plans in Luxembourg →Malta
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family entry is not an automatic initial student entitlement; statutory and discretionary routes have separate conditions. |
| Master’s | Same distinction. |
| PhD | Same on student status; a qualifying researcher/employment route requires separate checks. |
Application timing: The family-members policy generally requires the sponsor to have completed 12 calendar months of residence, with category-specific exceptions. A policy permit is not equivalent to every statutory family-reunification right.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
No — study time under current Identità guidance
Identità’s current long-term residence FAQ excludes time on student or vocational-training permits from the five-year calculation and says a qualifying period begins after switching to regular eligible residence. Do not apply a generic EU half-credit claim to Malta.
Permit / programme distinction: Dependants’ own residence category also matters: time under the Family Members Policy is listed as excluded in the same FAQ.
Sources: Identità: family policy · Identità: long-term residence FAQ
Discuss my study plans in Malta →Netherlands
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Eligible partner/children may use the family route; a partner of a student is not allowed to work on that dependent permit. |
| Master’s | Same student-family route and partner work restriction. |
| PhD | Check student versus researcher/employee permission: family work rights may differ. |
Application timing: Coordinate the family application with IND and the institution where applicable. Each relative must satisfy their own conditions; family eligibility is not a guarantee of simultaneous approval.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
National permanent residence: full eligible years; EU long-term: half study years
National permanent residence normally requires five consecutive years with valid residence and a current non-temporary purpose; prior study years can be included. EU long-term resident status applies half-credit to study periods. Income, continuity, civic integration and current-status requirements remain.
Permit / programme distinction: A researcher permit is different from student permission. Confirm both the intended permanent route and each year’s residence purpose.
Sources: IND: partner residence · IND: national permanent residence · IND: EU long-term residence
Discuss my study plans in Netherlands →Norway
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Eligible family may apply under family immigration, subject to sponsor and maintenance conditions. |
| Master’s | Same family route. |
| PhD | Same on study permission; an employed researcher may instead qualify as a skilled worker. |
Application timing: UDI expressly warns that it currently cannot process the family application at the same time as the student’s application. Plan for separate processing and possible later arrival.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
No — ordinary study permit
A study permit does not form a basis for Norwegian permanent residence, so those study years are not the qualifying PR period. A later permit that does form a basis for permanent residence starts the relevant qualifying calculation.
Permit / programme distinction: Do not assume a funded PhD is a skilled-worker permit. Check the actual grant; researcher-with-own-funds and employed-researcher routes differ.
Sources: UDI: study permits and family · UDI: permanent residence
Discuss my study plans in Norway →Poland
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | A family member may seek an appropriate visa/other temporary basis; ordinary statutory reunification has sponsor-residence conditions. |
| Master’s | Same distinction. |
| PhD | A qualifying researcher permit may provide an exception; student PhD status alone does not. |
Application timing: The ordinary reunification route generally requires at least two years on successive temporary permits, with the latest permit granted for at least one year. Earlier family stay needs its own eligible basis, not an assumed joint student-dependent right.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — EU long-term resident status
Study residence is credited at half toward the five-year EU long-term resident calculation. The applicant must no longer be in an excluded study category and must satisfy income, insurance, Polish-language and continuity conditions.
Permit / programme distinction: Research and work permits may change the family and residence-credit treatment. Review the exact permit rather than the degree title.
Sources: European Commission: student route and long-term residence · European Commission: family route
Discuss my study plans in Poland →Portugal
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Ordinary spouse reunion generally follows two years of residence; statutory exceptions may allow earlier reunion. |
| Master’s | Same waiting rules and exceptions. |
| PhD | Check whether the actual researcher permit falls within an exempt category; doctoral student status alone is not an exemption. |
Application timing: Since 23 October 2025, the general wait is two years; it can be 15 months for a spouse with qualifying prior cohabitation. Minor/dependent incapable children, a co-parent of such a child and specified permit categories have exceptions. Application coordination still needs AIMA/consular confirmation.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
National permanent: full qualifying permit years; EU long-term: half study years
Article 80 uses five years holding temporary residence for national permanent residence, with language, resources and other conditions. Article 126 applies half-credit to study for EU long-term status after a qualifying change of basis. These are different routes.
Permit / programme distinction: Confirm the exact family exception and permit history before relying on either residence calculation.
Sources: Official law: family changes · Consolidated residence law: Articles 80 and 126
Discuss my study plans in Portugal →Romania
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family reunification possible with a qualifying sponsor permit, generally valid for one year. |
| Master’s | Same conditional family route. |
| PhD | Same on student status; research-specific rules may differ. |
Application timing: The sponsor normally obtains IGI family-reunification approval before relatives seek long-stay visas. This is not an automatic simultaneous first-entry procedure.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — long-term residence
Study periods count at half toward the five-year long-term residence requirement. A person staying solely on study permission cannot obtain long-term residence on that basis; eligible current status and other conditions are necessary.
Permit / programme distinction: Use the actual permit category to distinguish student doctoral residence from research/employment residence.
Sources: IGI: family reunification · IGI: long-term residence
Discuss my study plans in Romania →Slovakia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family reunification may be available with a qualifying temporary-resident student. |
| Master’s | Same conditional route. |
| PhD | Same on student permission; research permission has separate provisions. |
Application timing: Eligible spouse and children need their own residence applications and evidence. Confirm the order of filing and approval; student-family eligibility does not itself ensure joint first entry.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — long-term residence
Study residence is credited at half toward the five-year long-term residence requirement after moving to an eligible non-study basis. Continuity and the other long-term conditions must also be met.
Permit / programme distinction: Do not infer full residence credit from a scholarship or PhD admission letter; check the purpose recorded on the residence permit.
Sources: European Commission: student and family rules · European Commission: family route
Discuss my study plans in Slovakia →Slovenia
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Ordinary family reunification generally requires one year’s prior temporary residence and a permit issued for at least one year. |
| Master’s | Same ordinary waiting rule. |
| PhD | Recognised researcher/higher-education employment categories may have exceptions; student PhD status alone is insufficient. |
Application timing: Confirm the relevant exception before planning family arrival with the student. Relatives need their own permission, relationship evidence and maintenance arrangements.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — permanent residence qualifying period
Study residence is generally credited at half toward the five-year continuous-residence calculation. Eligible current residence, continuity, means and applicable language requirements must also be satisfied.
Permit / programme distinction: Researcher/employee residence may be treated differently from permission issued specifically for study.
Sources: European Commission: student route · Government information: student residence
Discuss my study plans in Slovenia →Spain
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Eligible higher-education students may be accompanied by qualifying spouse/partner and children. |
| Master’s | Same eligible higher-education family route. |
| PhD | Same on a study authorisation; a researcher residence authorisation is different. |
Application timing: Current consular guidance requires the student visa to be granted before family visa applications. Do not promise same-time filing or approval. Family study-accompanying permission does not itself authorise employment.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Half — EU long-term residence; ordinary study stay is not national residence
For EU long-term residence, study/training stay can count at half, provided the applicant holds eligible residence when applying. National long-term residence uses a different residence test: do not equate ordinary study stay with residence permission.
Permit / programme distinction: Check whether the doctorate uses study stay or a researcher residence permit before calculating years or family rights.
Sources: Spanish Consulate: student and family visas · Ministry: EU long-term residence
Discuss my study plans in Spain →Sweden
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Eligible family can apply with a higher-education student. |
| Master’s | Same accompanying-family route. |
| PhD | Eligible family can apply with the doctoral student. |
Application timing: Family may apply at the same time, subject to maintenance, relationship and other conditions. Separate decisions remain possible.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Bachelor’s/Master’s: no study credit; doctoral route: qualifying time counts
Below-doctoral study is excluded from the five-year long-term resident calculation. Doctoral residence can count. The doctoral permanent-residence page specifies three consecutive qualifying years or four qualifying years in the last seven, plus self-support and other conditions.
Permit / programme distinction: The June 2026 doctoral changes and July 2026 long-term-resident changes are different: newly granted EU long-term status no longer automatically brings a national permanent permit. Check the exact route rather than treating these statuses as identical.
Sources: Migration Agency: study and family · Doctoral permanent-residence route · Long-term resident status
Discuss my study plans in Sweden →Switzerland
Can my family accompany me?
| Programme | Student-family route |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Family admission for a non-EU/EFTA student is conditional and requires cantonal assessment; it is not an automatic right. |
| Master’s | Same cantonal and permit-specific assessment. |
| PhD | Check student versus employment/research permission and canton requirements. |
Application timing: Ask the canton and Swiss mission whether linked applications can be accepted and what housing, financial and relationship evidence is required. EU/EFTA family rules must not be applied to a Pakistani/non-EU student.
Do study years count toward permanent residence?
Conditional credit — settlement permit C
Temporary study periods do not ordinarily count toward the uninterrupted final five-year settlement requirement. Education periods may be taken into account after two uninterrupted years holding residence permission for a durable stay. Overall duration, nationality, integration and canton conditions remain relevant.
Permit / programme distinction: This is not a general EU half-credit system. Confirm the exact permit history and Article 34 calculation with the canton.
Sources: Swiss federal law: Article 34 · SEM: entry and residence information
Discuss my study plans in Switzerland →Before choosing a university or paying a deposit
- Confirm the exact course, duration and visa/residence category with the institution and immigration authority.
- Check spouse/partner eligibility, children’s ages, custody/consent, marriage or cohabitation evidence and document legalisation.
- Budget for every family member: required funds, housing, insurance, visa fees and any school costs. Check current official amounts.
- Confirm whether dependants apply together or later, and whether their own permit allows work or study.
- For PR planning, check the named route, residence history, absences, work/contributions, language and income requirements. Each family member may need to qualify independently.
PhD Success Academy can help discuss your academic options. For an individual visa or permanent-residence determination, use the immigration authority or an appropriately authorised immigration adviser. Admission, funding, dependent visas and PR are separate decisions.
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