The latest development of my situation: I declined Galway's offer as well. I'm not willing to go living somewhere so unconvenient to reach from home. I only regret not having taken this decision a few months ago, but at least it's better that I did it now rather than after the start of the project.

I took the risk of having no job offers at the moment, but I already saw an interesting advertisement. It's for a self-designed PhD project in Bremen. Self-designed means that I should be liking the research I proposed myself. Plus, in Bremen I should feel well connected to the rest of Europe. So now I'm hoping that somebody there will find my proposal interesting. This time, after debit consideration, I should have no hesitation in accepting an offer. If they're not interested, then I'll look forward.

In the end I declined Trondheim's offer. Although I regret this decision for the new experieces I would have done with everything concerned with living so north, everytime I think again of the project, I convince myself that mine was indeed the right choice. Considering that I would have spent most of my time working on a project that doesn't appeal me much, I'm happy I avoided it.

Ad far as Bremen is concerned, it's simply too late now for joining them. Fair enough, if I really wanted that position I could have accepted it way earlier (we agreed in the end of May, beginning of June).

The remaining alternative is then Galway. I should like the project there, but I am still very much undecided to start a commitment of at least 3 years in a place where -now- I think I wouldn't stay longer. Going on holiday is one thing, living is a completely different affair. So it's not yet sure that I will actually end up over there.

So now I'm going to read more in detail a few articles I've been sent from Bremen, and I'll try to imagine myself working on that subject for a few years. The good point is that I would have all the time for PhD-related work. So no extra-work, as it usually happens in Germany.

By the way, may I ask where are you from, Shani? Just curious.

Anyway, I think I will be more than happy with the money of Galway or Bremen, which would allow me to live comfortably, get a new bike, a nice camera and, when not utterly busy with the work, to travel around.

I'm actually more attracted by living in Bremen, as well as by their education offer (I mean the side courses I can follow to get a wider background). At the same time, I always had some doubts about the project in Galway. These doubts are mainly due to the fact that they first got the money for research, and then they looked for a way of using it. This explains why they proposed me to investigate some topics that are interesting to me. I'm a little worried to get stuck somewhere, I must say.

Hey, I'm 30 and feeling -as well- definitely young enough to start a PhD. Although my lifestyle hasn't changed since then, I'm not 23 anymore so that's why I am thinking about starting to pay a pension contribution. This is an advantage of getting a salary instead of a scholarship.

You are right regarding taxation. Scholarships are indeed tax-exempted, while a salary is not. However, the amounts I mentioned above about PhD salary in Germany and Norway are effectively what you get after taxation.

I agree that if the main concern is earning money, then doing a job which does not require to pass exams (as it is instead for PhDs in Norway), would be a better way. Also, a PhD should take about 3 years, after which there will hopefully be more economically interesting opportunities. But if I don't choose Norway I would still miss my almost daily cross-country skiing!

Thank you very much for your feedback, Shani.

I've noticed that younger people at the beginning of their carreer (like you, I suppose) tend to priviledge the project. Instead, talking with elder people they have no doubt in going where they pay more.. maybe that is because the latter people are not really satisfied with their own job, but it can also be that they are giving importance to my minor but still non negligible interest for the Norwegian PhD, so why not being better remunerated.

Considering nature, I must say that I'm more attracted by what I could experience in Norway rather than the Ireland. That's simply because I like to see trees and I'd love to experience snow.

Anyway, Bremen (the less payed position) is gaining points in my decision. Altough nature over there is less interesting than in the other two locations, it represents the place where I think I'd live more comfortably. But I haven't decided yet...

I come from Italy, sorry for not mentioning it earlier. Two good friends of mine whom I met in different occasions are from Galway. I have been there twice, but just for a few days each time. I also explored bits of Connemara and the Aran Islands (archipelago at the west end of Galway Bay). Impressive, dramatic scenarios that I'd be glad of discovering more in depth. Not sure how often it'd be possible for me to do that on a bike though, considering the dramatic weather of western Irealnd...

What aspect would you proviledge? The two most important ones are interest for research and money. But other aspects such as weather, nature, language may make the difference. I have gathered good opinions on all the potential supervisors. I still have a (very) few days to decide and I'm curious to get some feedback!

Finally, Norway. As far as the project is concerned, it's the one that interests me less but also the one which is payed best. Salary is the equivalent of about 2500 Euro/month netto including the pension contribution, which is a lot of money even considering that Norway is one of the world's most expensive countries to live in. In addition, I like outdoor activities and there I would have plenty of opportunity to learn skiing in wintertime and to go cycling in summertime. It is however quite a difficult and expensive location to reach, so I would not go back home often.

In Germany, I would do a slightly less attractive research, but still interesting at a good extent. This is also because it is a so called integrated PhD, where I would have opportunity to follow many interesting side activities and courses. I would also go on a visit of several months to New Zealand. Bremen itself is a very nice city, comfortable to live in and easily reachable for me. Moreover, I'd be able to learn German. The salary there is of about 1100 Euro/month netto on average, plus contribution to pension scheme and some travel refunds.

In Ireland, I could concentrate on the topic that interest me most. But Galway is quite a small town, isolated from the rest of Europe, and the weather over there is mostly miserable due to lots of rain and wind. Also, I would receive a scholarship rather than a salary. It is of about 1600 Euro/month netto but it does not cover a pension scheme.

Hi all,

some people say I'm in a luxurious situation because I can choose between 3 PhD positions I have been offered. I find it instead quite an uncomfortable situation since they all seem attractive for some reasons but also have some negative points. The 3 options are Galway (Ireland), Bremen (Germany) or Trondheim (Norway).