Anyone familiar with well-known institutes in Europe? Are they strict for international applications?

[common_2012]

As I am planning to start my research in quantum optics and cold atom physics, I heard a lot of big names in Europe. In this field it seems many of the best universities are in Europe For instances I know lab of Bloch's at Max Planck Institute, many more big names in Innsbruck Austria. I don't know why I cannot find many discussions on going abroad to Europe for the opportunities. I guess it may be they offer a master program first? Or are they unfriendly to international applicants outside of the EU? I'd really hope someone on this forum can see this question and possibly help me out.

[common_2012]

I guess there are plenty of applicants in EU in this forum. I need your help..

What about the fundings for graduate students at those institutions?

[Caustic]

Most institutions in Europe indeed require a Master's degree. Funding varies, unsurprisingly, from country to country, but covers life expenses quite well: you can live with 1-2 flatmates just fine (except in Britain maybe, where they sometimes offer PhDs with no funding attached, since it's well known that you don't need to eat or sleep if you live in the UK). Both the places you mentioned are in German-speaking countries. Do you speak German?

[common_2012]

Most institutions in Europe indeed require a Master's degree. Funding varies, unsurprisingly, from country to country, but covers life expenses quite well: you can live with 1-2 flatmates just fine (except in Britain maybe, where they sometimes offer PhDs with no funding attached, since it's well known that you don't need to eat or sleep if you live in the UK). Both the places you mentioned are in German-speaking countries. Do you speak German?

Thank you Caustic! No I don't speak German but I am pretty interested in the programs in German-speaking regions. Possibly because their names appear frequently when I read papers. The UK seems fine to me too, while it seems hard to get in Cambridge or Oxford.. lol. And their non-funded Phd is a concern. I'd rather do a master first indeed. Do you know about good places for quantum optics or cold atoms, or for overall physics? Thx.

[Caustic]

If you want to do a Master's the school doesn't matter as much. I know many places have Master's degrees focused on Quantum Optics, so you should aim to get in one of those to show potential PhD supervisors that you have the skills they want (plus having a specific program is a sign that the university has a large and dynamical group in the area). There is very little funding for Masters degrees, so you need to be able to afford it.