- Note the monthly amount and currency — and whether the ad says gross or net. If only a salary grade is named (TV-L E13, CAO scale), look up the published table for your year and experience step.
- Open the matching country page in PhD Living Costs. Prefer a city page when the host is in an expensive capital.
- Ask what is included — housing subsidy, health insurance, tuition, travel to conferences, family allowances.
- Stress-test the gap — if rent alone consumes most of the stipend, prioritise employed tracks, cheaper cities, or top-ups before you apply.
A practical four-step check
Stipend vs salary in this comparison
A stipend is a grant for living costs; an employment salary usually comes with social security and different tax treatment. Comparing “headline monthly” figures across the two models without adjusting for insurance and net pay is misleading. Prefer ads that state a clear monthly amount, then confirm with the host HR or international office.
Official amounts (examples only)
- AWI (Germany): doctoral candidates are usually employed via advertised PhD positions — confirm salary grade and enrolment on the vacancy. Source: AWI jobs.
- WUR Scholarship PhD: the admission page publishes a living-allowance threshold for scholarship candidates (amount and dates on that page — do not invent a different figure). Source: WUR admission requirements.
- SLU: employed doctoral students follow the internal SEK salary ladder — cite the agreement, do not convert to a fake euro stipend. Source: doctoral student salary agreement.
- TU Delft: PhD vacancy acceptance typically means CLA employment pay, not a generic stipend cheque. Source: Working at TU Delft — PhD.
Pair any of these with the matching country/city page on PhD Living Costs.
Where our data helps — and where it stops
Institute scholarship cards often show indicative monthly grants. Affordability pages relate those bands to estimated student living costs — useful for filtering countries and cities, not for a personal budget spreadsheet. Family size, dual rent, and fieldwork travel can change the picture overnight.
If the stipend looks tight, ask the institute about teaching top-ups, housing, or project allowances — or prioritise employed PhD calls in that country. See also fully vs partially funded.
Browse path
Shortlist programmes on PhD Scholarships, open active calls on Open PhD Positions, then compare bands on PhD Living Costs. Country scholarship landings and affordability country pages should be opened as a pair.
Frequently asked questions
Why compare stipend to living costs?
A high-sounding monthly figure can be tight in expensive cities. Use affordability country and city pages alongside the advertised band before you relocate.
Are living-cost figures exact take-home pay?
No. They are indicative price-level context. Tax, insurance, and family situation change net income — confirm with the host and local rules.
What if the stipend looks too low?
Ask the institute about top-ups, teaching duties, or housing support, or prioritise calls with employment contracts in that country.
Next step