Luxembourg has a single public university with a multilingual model, strong in finance, law, computer science and space resources. Doctoral candidates are employed with salaries comparable to Switzerland.
Master's fees are moderate, but living costs are high and accommodation is the real constraint.
At a glance
| Language | English, French or German depending on the programme |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Roughly €400–€6,000 a year depending on the master's |
| Living costs for the permit | Around €1,200 a month evidenced |
| Main intake | September |
| Where you apply | University of Luxembourg portal |
| After graduation | 9 months to seek work |
What they require
- Bachelor's in a related field
- Proficiency in the language of instruction
- Motivation letter and CV
- Interview in selective programmes
How admission actually works
Small cohorts with selective admission; decisions come in rounds between March and July.
How much does a supervisor matter?
Not needed for master's. Doctoral candidates are employees.
Doctoral positions are advertised as jobs with salary and benefits; apply to the call and write to the named supervisor.
When applications open and close
The pattern below is what these systems normally do. Every programme sets its own dates, so treat this as the planning shape and confirm on the official portal linked at the end.
Funding that genuinely exists here
Salaried positions at the university and at LIST and LISER.
National research fund support for doctoral and postdoctoral work.
Limited.
Documents this country asks for
- Transcripts and degree certificate
- Language certificates
- Motivation letter and CV
- Proof of funds and accommodation for the permit
Visa and permit
A temporary authorisation to stay, then a residence permit after arrival; accommodation proof is the usual bottleneck.
After you graduate
9 months to seek work
A nine-month residence permit for job search is available after graduating, in a labour market where finance and EU institutions hire continuously.
What they favour
- Multilingual applicants
- Finance, law and computing specialisations
- Applicants who solve accommodation early
Where applications fail
- Underestimating housing costs and scarcity
- Applying without the required language
- Missing the earlier rounds
Official sources
Rules and dates change, sometimes mid-cycle. These are the pages that carry the authoritative version; if anything here disagrees with them, they are right. Reviewed September 2026.