Resource library
387 trusted resources from around the world, for every field and every stage of graduate school, including national ones for 35 countries. Most are free, and every link was checked by hand.
Showing 387 of 387 resources.
Academic writing22
- Academic PhrasebankUniversity of Manchester
It sorts a large bank of everyday academic phrases by what you're trying to do, like introducing a topic or hedging a claim. Use it when you know what you mean but not how to say it.
- Academic Skills ToolkitUNSW Sydney
UNSW's open toolkit covers essays, literature reviews, referencing and presentations, with pages on writing a thesis and a research proposal. It's practical for postgraduates at any university.
- Academic Writing CenterMiddle East Technical University (METU)
METU's writing centre shares handouts on academic English and common types of writing, from research papers to applications. It also links to dictionaries and style manuals.
- Academic Writing in English (AWELU)Lund University
This open guide to writing in English covers theses, abstracts, grammar, style and referencing for students and researchers. It's especially handy if English isn't your first language.
- Brief Guides to Writing in the DisciplinesHarvard College Writing Center
These short guides explain how writing works in history, philosophy, English, psychology and other fields. They're aimed at undergraduates, which makes them a quick primer when you change fields.
- EQUATOR NetworkEQUATOR Network
EQUATOR collects reporting guidelines such as CONSORT, PRISMA and STROBE, which set out what to include when you write up health research. Check the right one before drafting a chapter or paper.
- Interinstitutional Style GuidePublications Office of the European Union
These are the official EU rules for writing, citing and formatting in all 24 EU languages, including how to refer to EU laws and institutions. They help when your thesis deals with EU law or policy.
- Learn HQMonash University
Monash's open guides cover academic writing, presentations, academic English and graduate study, many with annotated examples. They're worth a look when you want to see what good work looks like.
- LEOUniversidad de los Andes
LEO is a free Spanish-language portal with guides, exercises and planning templates for academic reading, writing and speaking. It's helpful if you study, write or present in Spanish.
- MIT Communication LabMassachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT's CommKit gives tips and annotated examples for papers, posters, slides and fellowship applications in science and engineering. It's open to everyone, though coaching is only for MIT students.
- Mohamed Taymour Writing and Communication CenterThe American University in Cairo
AUC's writing centre walks through each stage of writing a paper, from brainstorming and outlining to using sources, revising and proofreading. It's a simple refresher before you start something new.
- patterPat Thomson
Education professor Pat Thomson blogs about academic writing, from literature reviews to turning a thesis into papers. New posts appear often, and there's a large archive to search.
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)Purdue University
Free guides on every part of academic writing, from structuring a paragraph to citing sources. A good first stop when you're unsure how something should look.
- Reading, Writing, and Researching for HistoryPatrick Rael, Bowdoin College
Historian Patrick Rael explains how historians read sources, build arguments and write papers. It's helpful if you're new to history or coming back to it from another field.
- Rising ScholarsINASP
Formerly called AuthorAID, Rising Scholars offers free online courses and mentoring in research and proposal writing. It's aimed mainly at researchers in the Global South.
- Skills@LibraryUniversity of Leeds
Leeds shares clear guides on report writing, academic style, editing, dissertations, posters and talks. They make a quick refresher before you start a new piece of work.
- Study and assignment supportMassey University
Massey's guides cover assignment types, postgraduate and PhD writing, and referencing in APA, Chicago, MLA and other styles. It's a practical place to check structure and citations as you go.
- Writing About ArtMarjorie Munsterberg
This free online book explains the main approaches to analysing art, with steps for researching, writing and citing. Annotated sample papers show how the advice works in practice.
- Writing AdviceUniversity of Toronto
Short, practical pages walk you through planning, drafting and revising, with advice on literature reviews, lab reports and using sources. They're easy to dip into when you have one question.
- Writing an exegesisCharles Darwin University
This guide explains what an exegesis is, how it relates to your creative work and how you might structure one. It's written for practice-based research students in the creative arts.
- Writing Center Tips & ToolsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Short, friendly handouts answer almost any writing question, from literature reviews and abstracts to passive voice and conclusions. Reach for them when one particular thing is tripping you up.
- Writing Tips for PhD StudentsJohn H. Cochrane
This short, frank guide covers how to write an academic paper, from stating your main contribution early to cutting clutter. It was written for economics PhD students but suits any first paper.
References and citation16
- APA StyleAmerican Psychological Association
The official APA Style site has free guides and sample papers on references, in-text citations, tables and bias-free language. It's the place to check when your field uses APA.
- Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC)Melbourne University Law Review
The AGLC is Australia's uniform system of legal citation, written for students, academics and practitioners. A view-only PDF of the fourth edition is free to download from this page.
- Chicago-Style Citation Quick GuideUniversity of Chicago Press
This free guide gives examples of Chicago notes and bibliography and author-date citations for common sources. It's handy for history, art history and other fields that follow Chicago.
- CitaviLumivero
Citavi organises sources, quotations and notes, and it's widely used at universities in German-speaking countries. Many institutions have a campus licence, so ask your library first.
- Citing and referencingMonash University Library
Monash Library has clear guides to APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, Vancouver and AGLC, plus short referencing tutorials. It also explains how to cite Indigenous knowledges and AI-generated content.
- Citing MedicineNational Library of Medicine
The National Library of Medicine's free guide to citing sources in medicine and health underpins the widely used Vancouver style. It has examples for articles, books, websites and more.
- EndNoteClarivate
EndNote is a long-established reference manager that many universities provide free to students and staff. Check your library's website before paying for it yourself.
- IEEE Editorial Style ManualIEEE
IEEE's guidance covers style, equations and references, with a link to the IEEE Reference Guide for numbered citations. It's useful for engineering and computing theses and papers.
- Introduction to Basic Legal CitationLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
This free online guide explains the reasoning behind US legal citation rules, with examples that follow both the Bluebook and the ALWD Guide. It's handy if you can't get hold of the Bluebook.
- JabRefJabRef e.V.
JabRef is a free, open-source reference manager built around BibTeX, so it fits neatly with LaTeX and Overleaf. It suits anyone writing a thesis in LaTeX.
- Mendeley Reference ManagerElsevier
Mendeley helps you organise PDFs, add notes and insert citations into Word. It's free, but you'll need an Elsevier account to use it.
- MLA Style CenterModern Language Association
The MLA's own site offers free guidance on MLA citation and formatting, with sample papers and an archive of answered questions. It's useful for literature, languages and other humanities work.
- MORE (Mecanismo Online para Referências)Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)
MORE is a free tool that builds references in Brazil's ABNT style (NBR 6023), with an optional login to save your lists. It's helpful for theses and papers written for Brazilian institutions.
- New Zealand Law Style GuideNew Zealand Law Foundation
The full third edition of New Zealand's guide to legal citation and style is free to read online. It covers cases, legislation and secondary sources, with examples throughout.
- OSCOLAFaculty of Law, University of Oxford
OSCOLA is the Oxford standard for citing cases, legislation and other legal sources, now in its fifth edition. The full guide and a quick reference sheet are free to download.
- ZoteroCorporation for Digital Scholarship
Zotero is a free, open-source reference manager that saves sources from your browser and adds citations in Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice. It works with thousands of citation styles.
Thesis tools and examples17
- Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD)IBICT
BDTD searches master's and doctoral theses from Brazilian universities in one place, with links to the full text. It's useful for Portuguese-language research on almost any topic.
- Learn LaTeXOverleaf
Overleaf's free tutorials and reference pages cover LaTeX from a 30-minute introduction to tables, bibliographies and long documents. They're useful whether or not you write in Overleaf itself.
- List of Resources for Finding ETDsNetworked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)
This directory lists national and regional thesis collections around the world, from Theses Canada to Shodhganga. It's handy for finding past theses to see how others shaped theirs.
- National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in TaiwanNational Central Library, Taiwan
Taiwan's national database of master's and doctoral theses offers many in free full text. It's mostly in Chinese and helpful for research involving Taiwan or Chinese-language scholarship.
- NZ ResearchDigitalNZ
This DigitalNZ collection gathers New Zealand theses and research papers, and you can filter by master's or doctoral level. It holds the material from the retired NZresearch.org site.
- OverleafOverleaf (Digital Science)
Overleaf is an online LaTeX editor with real-time collaboration and a large gallery of university thesis templates. The free plan covers the basics, with paid extras for heavier use.
- Portail National de Signalement des Thèses (PNST)CERIST
Algeria's national register of doctoral thesis topics can be searched in French, Arabic or English. It's handy for checking what others are already working on before you settle on a topic.
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses GlobalProQuest (Clarivate)
This very large database of dissertations and theses is strongest for North American universities, and many records include full text. It's usually available through your university library.
- Research CatalogueSociety for Artistic Research
Artists and designers use this international platform to document and share practice-based research, including doctoral projects. Browse it for ideas on presenting creative research.
- RISSKorea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS)
Korea's main academic search service includes a large collection of Korean master's and doctoral theses, many in full text. The site is mostly in Korean.
- ShodhgangaINFLIBNET Centre
Shodhganga is India's national repository of PhD theses, with full text from hundreds of universities. It's a good place to find related work and see how Indian theses are laid out.
- TESEOMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Spain's national database of doctoral theses holds over 300,000 records you can search by topic, university or person. It's good for checking what has been studied in Spain.
- TeX Stack ExchangeStack Exchange
On this question-and-answer site, LaTeX users help each other solve formatting problems. Search before you ask, since most thesis layout questions already have answers.
- The Thesis WhispererInger Mewburn, Australian National University
Inger Mewburn's long-running blog about doing a PhD covers thesis writing, supervision, productivity and life after the degree. It's warm and practical, with plenty of readers' stories.
- Theses CanadaLibrary and Archives Canada
Theses Canada lets you search Canadian master's and doctoral theses, with open access to many digital copies. It's useful for finding related work and seeing how Canadian theses are organised.
- theses.frAgence bibliographique de l'enseignement supérieur (ABES)
This national portal lets you search French doctoral theses, including those still in progress, with links to full text where available. It shows what has already been done on your topic in France.
- Ulusal Tez MerkeziCouncil of Higher Education (YÖK)
Türkiye's national thesis centre lets you search master's and doctoral theses from Turkish universities and read many in full. It's useful for finding related work before you begin.
Presenting and conferences7
- Better PostersZen Faulkes
Zen Faulkes's long-running blog is all about clearer conference posters, with critiques, makeovers and practical tips. It's worth browsing before you start your next poster.
- Climate VisualsClimate Outreach
Climate Visuals offers a photo library and research-based advice on choosing images that help people connect with climate change. It's free with an account and handy for talks and posters.
- Designing conference postersColin Purrington
This detailed page covers planning, laying out and presenting a research poster, with free templates to download. It's a useful read before your first poster session.
- Ma thèse en 180 secondesFrance Universités and CNRS
In France's version of the three-minute thesis contest, doctoral students present their research in French to a general audience. The site covers each year's finalists and how to take part.
- The Assertion-Evidence ApproachMichael Alley, Penn State
This site shows how to build talks around sentence headlines backed by visual evidence, with templates, model talks and a PhD defence tutorial. It suits science and engineering talks especially well.
- The Message BoxCOMPASS
This free workbook helps you work out why your research matters to a particular audience. Try it before an interview, a public talk or a plain-language summary.
- Three Minute Thesis (3MT)The University of Queensland
In this competition, research students explain their thesis in three minutes with a single slide, and it now runs at universities around the world. Watching past finalists is a useful way to learn.
Academic English and languages8
- Academic Vocabulary ListMark Davies and Dee Gardner
These free lists cover about 3,000 core words of academic English, drawn from 120 million words of academic texts. You can download them or explore each word's uses and collocates online.
- Ciberdúvidas da Língua PortuguesaIscte, University Institute of Lisbon
This long-running service answers questions about Portuguese grammar, spelling and usage across all Portuguese-speaking countries. Search its archive whenever you're writing in Portuguese.
- Diccionario panhispánico de dudasReal Academia Española and ASALE
The Spanish language academies answer common questions about Spanish here, from accents and punctuation to grammar and borrowed words. It's free to consult online.
- SKELLSketch Engine
SKELL shows how words are really used, with example sentences, common word partners and similar words. It's handy when you're unsure whether a phrase sounds natural.
- The Academic Word ListTe Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington
The Academic Word List gathers the 570 word families that appear most often in academic texts across fields. It helps you build the vocabulary you'll meet in reading and need in writing.
- Using English for Academic Purposes (UEfAP)Andy Gillett
UEfAP has free lessons and exercises on academic reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary and grammar. It was made for students who study in English as a second language.
- Vitrine linguistiqueOffice québécois de la langue française
Québec's language office offers free tools for writing in French, including the Banque de dépannage linguistique for grammar and usage questions. It's useful for theses and papers in French.
- Yazım KurallarıTürk Dil Kurumu
The Turkish Language Association publishes the official Turkish spelling and punctuation rules here, alongside free online dictionaries. It's the standard reference when you write in Turkish.
Teaching and tutoring14
- Advance HEAdvance HE
Advance HE runs the Professional Standards Framework and Fellowship (FHEA), a teaching recognition many UK universities value. It also shares free guides and case studies on teaching.
- Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)American University of Beirut
AUB's teaching centre shares resources on online teaching, teaching in the age of AI and the scholarship of teaching and learning. It's useful for anyone teaching at a university in the region.
- Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT)University of Cape Town
UCT's teaching centre shares open guides on assessment and teaching with AI, along with free online courses. It's a good starting point for tutors and postgraduates who teach.
- CIRTL NetworkCenter for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
CIRTL helps graduate students and postdocs learn evidence-based teaching through online courses and events, many open to all. It focuses on science, engineering and maths.
- CORE EconCORE Econ
CORE offers free, open economics textbooks such as The Economy 2.0, with teaching resources for instructors. It's useful if you're a teaching assistant in economics.
- Dirección de Enseñanza e Innovación Docente (CDDoc)Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
UC Chile's teaching centre shares Spanish-language articles and resources on university teaching and runs training for teaching assistants. It's useful if you teach in Spanish.
- Eberly CenterCarnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon's teaching centre shares open resources on course design, syllabi, inclusive teaching and generative AI. It also has pages for graduate students and future faculty.
- Observatorio del Instituto para el Futuro de la EducaciónTecnológico de Monterrey
This observatory publishes news, analysis and reports on teaching and educational innovation, mostly in Spanish. It's helpful for keeping up with new ideas in Latin American higher education.
- Poorvu Center for Teaching and LearningYale University
Yale's teaching centre keeps an open resource library on active learning, inclusive classrooms and AI in teaching. It's useful when you're preparing to lead a section or seminar.
- Science Education Resource Center (SERC)Carleton College
SERC hosts a large open collection of teaching activities and methods for the earth sciences and other STEM subjects. Dip in when you need ideas for a lab, tutorial or class.
- Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC)The University of Hong Kong
HKU's teaching centre shares open guides on outcomes-based teaching, grading and online course design. It also runs courses for research postgraduates who teach.
- The Economics NetworkThe Economics Network
This UK network shares resources for teaching economics at university, including a handbook, teaching ideas and workshops for graduate teaching assistants.
- The Learning ScientistsThe Learning Scientists
Cognitive scientists share free materials, a blog and a podcast on evidence-based learning strategies such as retrieval practice. They're useful for planning your teaching and for your own studying.
- The WAC ClearinghouseThe WAC Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse publishes free open-access books, journals and materials on teaching writing in any subject. It helps if you teach a course with writing assignments or study writing itself.
Finding and reading research36
- African Journals OnLine (AJOL)African Journals OnLine
Hundreds of peer-reviewed journals published in Africa, covering every field. Many articles are open access, so it's a good place to find and cite African research.
- BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine)Bielefeld University Library
A search engine covering hundreds of millions of documents from open repositories worldwide, many with free full text. It's a good way to find open copies of papers in many languages.
- Campbell CollaborationThe Campbell Collaboration
Free systematic reviews on what works in education, social welfare, crime and justice, climate, international development and more. Plain language summaries make them quick to digest.
- CiNii ResearchNational Institute of Informatics (NII)
A Japanese search service covering articles, books, dissertations, research projects and data in one place. Use it to find research published in Japan, much of it in Japanese.
- CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure)Tongfang CNKI Digital Technology
A large database of research published in China, including journals, dissertations, conference papers and statistics, mostly in Chinese. Full text usually needs a library subscription.
- COREThe Open University
A not-for-profit search across hundreds of millions of research papers from repositories and journals worldwide. Many have free full text you can read and download.
- dblp computer science bibliographySchloss Dagstuhl, Leibniz Center for Informatics
A carefully curated bibliography of computer science journals and conference papers, free to use. It's handy for checking an author's publications or finding every paper from a conference.
- DergiParkTÜBİTAK ULAKBİM
Turkey's national platform for academic journals, with free full text in every field. It has an English interface, though much of the content is in Turkish.
- DRS Digital LibraryDesign Research Society
Free papers from Design Research Society conferences, covering design theory, practice and education. It's a good way into the design research literature.
- ERICInstitute of Education Sciences, US Department of Education
A free database of education research, from journal articles to reports. Tick the peer reviewed and full text boxes to narrow your results quickly.
- ÉruditÉrudit Consortium
A Canadian platform for scholarly journals, books and theses, strongest in the humanities and social sciences and mostly in French. Much of it is free to read.
- EUR-LexPublications Office of the European Union
Free, official access to EU treaties, regulations, directives and case law in every official EU language. Use it when you need the exact text of an EU law.
- Europe PMCEMBL-EBI
A free search of life sciences and health research, including full text articles and preprints. Searching full text helps you find methods and data buried deep inside papers.
- EuropeanaEuropeana Foundation
Millions of digitised artworks, books, photographs, films and archival records from European museums, libraries and archives. Many items are free to reuse in your own work.
- Garuda (Garba Rujukan Digital)Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
Indonesia's national portal for articles from Indonesian journals and universities, free to search and read. Most of the content is in Bahasa Indonesia.
- Global Index MedicusWorld Health Organization
A WHO search across regional medical indexes for Africa, Latin America, the Eastern Mediterranean, South East Asia and the Western Pacific. It finds health research that big databases often miss.
- Google ScholarGoogle
A free search engine for scholarly articles, theses, books and court opinions in every field. Set up alerts so new papers on your topic come to you.
- IDEAS (RePEc)RePEc, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
A free database of economics working papers, articles, books and software, built on RePEc. Author pages and rankings help you see who works on what.
- J-STAGEJapan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Thousands of Japanese journals and conference proceedings, most with free full text. It has an English interface, and many journals publish in English as well as Japanese.
- JSTORITHAKA
A digital library of journals, books and primary sources, strongest in the humanities and social sciences. Your library usually gives full access, and some content is free for everyone.
- Korea Citation Index (KCI)National Research Foundation of Korea
Korea's national citation index for scholarly journals, with free full text for many articles. Turn to it for research published in Korea, most of it in Korean.
- Legal Information Institute (LII)Cornell Law School
Free access to US law, including the Constitution, the US Code, federal regulations and Supreme Court decisions, plus Wex, a plain language legal encyclopedia.
- Media History Digital LibraryWisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research
Millions of digitised pages of trade papers, fan magazines and books on film, broadcasting and recorded sound, free to search and read. It's useful for film, media and music history projects.
- NASA Astrophysics Data SystemSmithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for NASA
A free digital library of astronomy and physics papers, with citation tracking and links to data. It's growing into Science Explorer (SciX), which adds earth and planetary science.
- One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)Government of India, through INFLIBNET
India's national scheme giving students and researchers at member institutions access to more than 13,000 journals from major publishers. Ask your library whether you're covered.
- OpenAlexOurResearch
A free, open index of hundreds of millions of scholarly works, authors and institutions. You can search it directly or use its data for bibliometric research.
- PhilPapersPhilPapers Foundation
A free index of philosophy research with millions of entries sorted by topic. Many entries link to open access copies, and specialist editors keep the categories in order.
- PubMedUS National Library of Medicine
The US National Library of Medicine's free database of biomedical and life sciences literature. Many records link straight to free full text in PubMed Central.
- RedalycUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de México
A nonprofit platform of open access journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. It's free to read and especially rich in the social sciences and humanities.
- SAFLII (Southern African Legal Information Institute)Southern African Legal Information Institute
Free access to South African court judgments, legislation and law journals, plus legal material from other countries in the region. Start here for South African case law.
- SciELOSciELO Network
A free library of open access journals from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and South Africa. You can search in Spanish, Portuguese or English across every field.
- Semantic ScholarAllen Institute for AI (Ai2)
A free search engine for research papers from a nonprofit AI institute. One-line summaries and citation links help you see how a topic fits together.
- ShamaaArab Educational Information Network
A free database of education research from and about the Arab world, including articles, theses and reports, mostly in Arabic. It also has short guides for education researchers.
- TroveNational Library of Australia
Search millions of digitised Australian newspapers, books, photos, diaries and archives for free. It's a rich source of primary material for history and social research.
- UnpaywallOurResearch
A free browser extension that tells you when a legal, free copy of a paywalled article exists. It draws on an open database of tens of millions of articles.
- WorldLIIAustLII and partner legal information institutes
A free gateway to legislation and case law from many countries, linking national institutes such as AustLII, BAILII, CanLII and PacLII. It's a good first stop for comparative law.
Research methods13
- ARRIVE guidelinesNC3Rs
Checklists for planning and reporting research that uses animals, with an explanation and example for each item. Many journals ask authors to follow them.
- Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of InterventionsCochrane
A detailed guide to planning and carrying out systematic reviews and meta-analyses of health interventions, free to read online. Cochrane's own review teams work from it.
- Design KitIDEO.org
Free human-centred design methods, from interviews to prototyping, each with a short how-to. They're helpful for design research and for projects that shape ideas with communities.
- GlobaLexHauser Global Law School Program, NYU School of Law
Free guides to the legal systems of countries around the world and to international law topics, written by law librarians and scholars. Start here when researching foreign law.
- J-PAL Research ResourcesAbdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
Free guides to designing and running randomised evaluations, from power calculations to survey design and data security. They're written for economics but useful well beyond it.
- National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM)University of Southampton, funded by the ESRC
Free videos, podcasts and short guides on quantitative, qualitative, digital, creative and mixed methods from the UK's national methods centre. Plenty of them suit complete beginners.
- NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical MethodsNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
A free handbook of statistical methods for scientists and engineers, with worked examples on experimental design, process control and data analysis. Keep it open while you plan experiments.
- PRISMAPRISMA Group
The reporting guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with the checklist, flow diagram templates and extensions for scoping and other reviews. Many journals expect you to follow it.
- Programming HistorianProgHist Ltd
Free, peer-reviewed tutorials on digital methods for humanities research, from text mining to mapping. Lessons are published in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
- protocols.ioSpringer Nature
A platform for finding, writing and sharing step by step research protocols, with version history and DOIs. It suits lab, field and computational methods alike.
- RayyanRayyan Systems, Inc.
A web tool for screening titles and abstracts in systematic and scoping reviews, alone or with a team. The free plan covers basic use, and paid plans add more features.
- Sage Research MethodsSage Publishing
Books, case studies, videos and practice data sets on research methods, from interviews to regression. Your library usually provides access.
- Thematic AnalysisVirginia Braun and Victoria Clarke
Guidance on reflexive thematic analysis from the researchers who developed it, with FAQs, examples and reading lists. It's worth reading before you start coding qualitative data.
Data, statistics and software22
- AfrobarometerAfrobarometer
Survey data on democracy, governance, the economy and society from dozens of African countries, gathered over more than two decades. The data and online analysis tools are free.
- Arab BarometerArab Barometer
Nationally representative survey data on the attitudes and values of people across the Middle East and North Africa. You can download it free for research.
- DMP ToolCalifornia Digital Library
A free tool that guides you through writing a data management plan, with templates for many funders, especially in the US. Some universities add their own guidance.
- ERF Data PortalEconomic Research Forum
Household, labour market and enterprise survey microdata for Arab countries, Iran and Turkey, from the Economic Research Forum. The data are free for research once you register.
- FAOSTATFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Free statistics on food and agriculture for over 245 countries and territories, from crops and trade to land use and emissions. Explore the tables online or download them.
- GBIFGlobal Biodiversity Information Facility
Free, open data on where species have been recorded, with billions of records from museums, surveys and citizen science. Every download gets a DOI you can cite.
- ICPSRUniversity of Michigan
A large archive of social and behavioural science data on education, health, crime, politics and more. Some studies are open to everyone, and if your university is a member you can use the rest.
- IPUMSUniversity of Minnesota
Harmonised census and survey microdata from the US and around the world, free for research. A free account lets you build extracts with just the variables you need.
- jamoviThe jamovi project
Free, open source statistics software built on R, laid out like a spreadsheet so it's easy to pick up. The desktop version is always free, and add-on modules cover advanced analyses.
- JASPUniversity of Amsterdam
Free, open source statistics software with a point and click interface, covering t tests, ANOVA, regression and Bayesian analyses. It will feel familiar if you've used SPSS.
- NASA EarthdataNASA
Free satellite and Earth observation data on climate, land, oceans and the atmosphere, with tools and tutorials. You'll need a free Earthdata Login for most downloads.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)US National Library of Medicine
Free databases and tools for molecular biology, including GenBank, BLAST, Gene and the Sequence Read Archive. Turn here whenever your project involves genes, proteins or sequences.
- Our World in DataGlobal Change Data Lab
Free charts and downloadable data on health, poverty, energy, climate, education and more, with clear notes on sources. It's good for background figures and quick comparisons.
- QGISQGIS.org
Free, open source software for making maps and analysing spatial data. It's widely used in geography, ecology, planning and public health research.
- QualCoderColin Curtain and contributors
Free, open source software for coding qualitative data, including text, images, audio and video. It's a capable alternative to paid programs like NVivo.
- R for Data ScienceHadley Wickham, Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel and Garrett Grolemund
A free online book that teaches you to import, tidy, visualise and model data in R. It's a friendly starting point if you've never coded before.
- Research Data AustraliaAustralian Research Data Commons (ARDC)
Search data collections from Australian universities, government agencies and research institutes in every field, with clear notes on access and reuse.
- Software Carpentry lessonsThe Carpentries
Free, hands-on lessons that teach researchers the Unix shell, Git, Python and R. Work through them on your own or look for a workshop near you.
- Statistics CanadaGovernment of Canada
Canada's national statistics agency, with free data tables, census results and analysis in English and French. Researchers can also apply to use detailed microdata.
- UIS Data BrowserUNESCO Institute for Statistics
Free international data on education, science and culture, from enrolment and completion to learning outcomes and research spending. Filter it online or download it.
- UK Data ServiceUniversity of Essex and partners, funded by the ESRC
Thousands of social, economic and population data sets, including major UK surveys and census data, with free training on using them. Most downloads need a free account.
- World Bank Open DataWorld Bank
Free development indicators for every country, from GDP and poverty to education, health and the environment. Explore them online or download whole data sets.
Open research and sharing17
- AEA RCT RegistryAmerican Economic Association
A free registry for randomised controlled trials in economics and other social sciences. Registering before you start creates a public record of what you planned to test.
- AfricArXivAfricArXiv
A community-led open repository for African research. Share your preprints, data and other work there, and find research from across the continent.
- arXivCornell University
The long-running open preprint server for physics, mathematics, computer science, statistics, electrical engineering and economics. New work often appears here before journals.
- AsPredictedWharton Credibility Lab, University of Pennsylvania
A simple way to preregister a study by answering a few questions about your hypotheses and analysis plan. Each preregistration becomes a time-stamped PDF you can share.
- bioRxivopenRxiv
A free preprint server for the life sciences, where researchers share new work before peer review. Look for the published version later, as findings can change.
- FigshareDigital Science
A free repository where you can share data, figures, code, posters and papers, each with a DOI. Your university may also run its own Figshare portal.
- HALCCSD (CNRS, Inria and INRAE)
France's national open archive, where researchers deposit articles, theses and preprints in every field. It's free to search and read, with an English interface.
- Harvard DataverseHarvard University
A free data repository open to researchers in any field. Search it for data to reuse, or deposit your own and get a DOI so others can cite it.
- LA ReferenciaLA Referencia network
A free search that brings together open access articles, theses and data from national repositories across Latin America and Spain.
- medRxivopenRxiv
A free preprint server for medical and health research. These papers haven't been peer reviewed yet, so read them with care and don't treat them as clinical guidance.
- ORCIDORCID
A free, persistent identifier that keeps your publications, grants and other work linked to you, even if your name or institution changes. Many journals and funders ask for one.
- OSFCenter for Open Science
A free platform for planning, preregistering, storing and sharing your research, on your own or with collaborators. It also hosts preprint servers for many fields.
- PROSPEROCentre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York
An international register for planned systematic reviews with a health-related outcome. Registering your protocol here is free, and many journals expect it.
- Registered ReportsCenter for Open Science
With Registered Reports, a journal peer reviews your study plan before you collect data and accepts the paper in principle, whatever the results. Find participating journals here.
- SSRNElsevier
A large repository of preprints and working papers in the social sciences, law, economics and the humanities. Many legal and business papers appear here first.
- The Turing WayThe Turing Way community, supported by The Alan Turing Institute
A free, community-written handbook on reproducible, ethical and collaborative data science. It explains version control, data management and sharing code in plain terms.
- ZenodoCERN
A free repository run by CERN where you can share papers, data, code, slides and posters. Every upload gets a DOI, so your work is easy to cite.
Publishing and peer review11
- COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)Committee on Publication Ethics
Guidance, flowcharts and case studies on publication ethics, from authorship disputes to peer review and plagiarism. It helps when something feels wrong in the publishing process.
- CRediT (Contributor Role Taxonomy)NISO
Fourteen standard roles, from conceptualisation to writing, for describing who did what on a paper. Many journals ask for a CRediT statement, so agree on roles early.
- DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)Infrastructure Services for Open Access (IS4OA)
A curated list of peer-reviewed open access journals in every field. Use it to find journals to read and to check that a journal you're considering is legitimate.
- Elsevier Researcher AcademyElsevier
Free short courses from Elsevier on research, writing, publishing and peer review. They're handy for learning how journals work before your first submission.
- ICMJE RecommendationsInternational Committee of Medical Journal Editors
Guidance many medical journals follow on authorship, conflicts of interest, trial registration and preparing manuscripts. Check the authorship criteria before you start writing up.
- JANE (Journal/Author Name Estimator)The Biosemantics Group
Paste in your title or abstract and JANE suggests journals that publish similar work, drawing on PubMed. It can also point you to related papers and experts.
- LatindexLatindex network, coordinated by UNAM
A regional directory and catalogue of scholarly journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. The catalogue lists journals that meet its quality criteria.
- Open policy finderJisc
Check a journal's open access policies, including which version of your paper you can share and where. It replaced Sherpa Romeo, so older guides may still use that name.
- Scimago Journal & Country RankSCImago Lab
Free journal rankings and metrics based on Scopus data, searchable by field and country. Use it to compare journals and see how long one has been indexed.
- Think. Check. Submit.Think. Check. Submit. coalition
Simple checklists to help you judge whether a journal or book publisher can be trusted before you submit. They're available in many languages.
- Web of Science Master Journal ListClarivate
Search the journals indexed in Web of Science by title, ISSN or subject, and see which indexes cover each one. A free account adds a tool that suggests journals for your manuscript.
Ethics and integrity11
- Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of ResearchNHMRC, Australian Research Council and Universities Australia
Australia's code for responsible research, setting out what researchers and institutions are expected to do. Separate guides cover authorship, data management and handling breaches.
- ICMR Bioethics UnitIndian Council of Medical Research
This is where the Indian Council of Medical Research shares India's National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research, with related guidance and training.
- National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human ResearchNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Australia's national guidance on ethical conduct in human research, updated in 2023. Read the relevant chapters before you write your ethics application.
- Office of Research Integrity (ORI)US Department of Health and Human Services
The US Office of Research Integrity shares free resources on responsible conduct, including case summaries, training materials and guidance on handling misconduct.
- Retraction Watch DatabaseRetraction Watch (Center for Scientific Integrity)
A searchable database of retracted papers, now openly available through Crossref. Check it before you cite a paper you're unsure about.
- TCPS 2: CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics)Panel on Research Ethics, Government of Canada
Canada's free online course on ethics in research with people, based on the Tri-Council Policy Statement. You get a certificate at the end, which many ethics boards ask for.
- Te Mana RaraungaTe Mana Raraunga, Māori Data Sovereignty Network
Principles and resources on Māori data sovereignty, covering how data about Māori should be collected, used and governed. It's helpful for any research in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- The Belmont ReportUS Department of Health and Human Services
The US report that set out the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence and justice in research with people. It's short and still widely taught.
- The European Code of Conduct for Research IntegrityALLEA (All European Academies)
Revised in 2023, it sets out the principles and good practice expected of researchers in Europe. You can read it for free in many languages.
- UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)UK Research Integrity Office
This independent charity gives confidential advice on research conduct and shares guidance on good practice, including its Code of Practice for Research.
- WMA Declaration of HelsinkiWorld Medical Association
The World Medical Association's ethical principles for medical research involving people, most recently revised in 2024. It's a key reference for any health study with participants.
Scholarships and funding55
- ADB-Japan Scholarship ProgramAsian Development Bank
Full scholarships for master's study in fields like economics, development, public policy and science at partner universities, for people from ADB developing member countries with work experience.
- ANID scholarshipsNational Research and Development Agency (ANID), Chile
Chile's research and development agency, which funds doctoral study in Chile and graduate study abroad through Becas Chile, for Chilean citizens and permanent residents. The site is in Spanish.
- Australia Awards ScholarshipsAustralian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian government scholarships for people from partner developing countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa to study in Australia, mostly at master's level, and then return home.
- Canada Graduate Research ScholarshipsCIHR, NSERC and SSHRC, Government of Canada
Canada's main federal awards for master's and doctoral students, run by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. Most are for Canadians and permanent residents, but some doctoral awards go to international students.
- CAPESCoordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Brazil
Brazil's federal agency for graduate education, which funds master's and PhD scholarships through Brazilian programs and supports study and research abroad. The site is in Portuguese.
- Chevening ScholarshipsUK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Fully funded one-year master's scholarships in the UK for future leaders from eligible countries. You'll need two years of work experience, and applications open about a year before you'd start.
- Clarendon Fund scholarshipsUniversity of Oxford
Fully funded graduate scholarships at the University of Oxford, open to any nationality and subject. You're considered automatically if you apply to your course by its funding deadline.
- COLFUTURO Crédito-BecaCOLFUTURO
Funding for Colombians doing a master's or PhD abroad, given as a loan that can be partly forgiven, especially if you come back to Colombia. The site is in Spanish.
- Commonwealth ScholarshipsCommonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
UK government scholarships for master's and PhD study in the UK, for people from eligible Commonwealth countries. The scholarship finder shows which awards are open to you.
- DAAD scholarship databaseGerman Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Search DAAD and other scholarships for study or research in Germany, filtered by your country, subject and level. A good first stop if you're thinking about Germany.
- Erasmus Mundus CatalogueEuropean Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
The official list of EU-funded joint master's programs in two or more countries. Many offer full scholarships to students from anywhere, and most applications open between October and January.
- EURAXESSEuropean Commission
The EU's portal for researchers, listing research jobs, PhD positions and funding across Europe and beyond, with service centres that help with visas and moving.
- France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship ProgramCampus France, for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
French government scholarships for international master's and PhD students. You can't apply on your own: the French university or school you apply to has to put you forward, so ask them early.
- Fulbright Foreign Student ProgramUS Department of State
Scholarships for graduate study and research in the US for students from around the world. You apply through the Fulbright commission or US embassy in your country, and dates vary by country.
- Fulbright New ZealandFulbright New Zealand
Awards for New Zealand graduates to study in the US, including ones for science and for Māori and Indigenous research, plus awards for US graduate students to study in New Zealand.
- Fundación Carolina scholarshipsFundación Carolina
Scholarships for people from Latin America and other Ibero-American countries to do a master's, PhD or short postdoctoral stay in Spain. The site is in Spanish.
- Gates Cambridge ScholarshipsGates Cambridge Trust
Full-cost scholarships for students from outside the UK doing a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. You apply through the university's graduate application.
- Gerda Henkel Foundation PhD scholarshipsGerda Henkel Foundation
Doctoral scholarships in history, archaeology, art history and related historical fields, open to any nationality and to doctorates done anywhere. You can apply at any time of year.
- Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced StudyHoward Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
Fellowships for second- and third-year PhD students in the biological and biomedical sciences in the US, who apply with their adviser. International students at eligible universities can apply.
- Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)National Institute for International Education (NIIED), Korea
Korean government scholarships for international students doing a degree in Korea, often with a year of Korean language study first. You apply through a Korean embassy or a designated university.
- HBKU graduate scholarshipsHamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)
Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar considers graduate applicants, including international students, for tuition waivers and stipends as part of admission. Support varies by program.
- Hertz FellowshipFannie and John Hertz Foundation
Fellowships for US citizens and permanent residents in their first years of a PhD in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics or engineering at a US university.
- Hong Kong PhD Fellowship SchemeResearch Grants Council, Hong Kong
Fellowships for students of any nationality starting a full-time PhD at one of eight Hong Kong universities, with a stipend and travel allowance for up to three years.
- IsDB Scholarship ProgramsIslamic Development Bank
Scholarships for master's, PhD and postdoctoral study in science and technology, for citizens of IsDB member countries and Muslim communities elsewhere. The levels offered change each year.
- Japanese Government (MEXT) ScholarshipMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan
Japanese government scholarships for international students, including research students doing a master's or PhD. You apply through a Japanese embassy or through a Japanese university with a quota.
- John Monash ScholarshipsGeneral Sir John Monash Foundation
Scholarships for Australians who want to do postgraduate study at universities overseas, in any field.
- Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship ProgramWorld Bank, funded by the Government of Japan
Scholarships for development-related master's programs at partner universities abroad, for people from eligible developing countries with at least three years of relevant work experience.
- KAUST FellowshipKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Everyone admitted to a master's or PhD at KAUST in Saudi Arabia gets the KAUST Fellowship, covering tuition, a living allowance, housing and medical care. Programs focus on science and engineering.
- Knight-Hennessy ScholarsStanford University
Funding for any graduate degree at Stanford University, with a leadership program alongside, for applicants of any nationality. You apply to Knight-Hennessy and to your Stanford program separately.
- L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in ScienceFondation L'Oréal and UNESCO
Awards and fellowships for women scientists, including national and regional programs that support PhD students and postdocs. Rules and dates differ by country, so look for the one where you study.
- Manaaki New Zealand ScholarshipsNew Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Zealand government scholarships for people from partner countries, mainly in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, to study in New Zealand, including postgraduate degrees. Check the country list first.
- Mandela Rhodes ScholarshipMandela Rhodes Foundation
Scholarships for young Africans to do an honours or master's degree at a South African university, with a leadership development program alongside. Applicants must be citizens of an African country.
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie ActionsEuropean Commission
EU funding for researchers of any nationality, including paid PhD places in Doctoral Networks and fellowships for people who already have a PhD. Open PhD places are advertised on EURAXESS.
- Marshall ScholarshipsMarshall Aid Commemoration Commission
Funding for US citizens who recently finished their first degree at a US university to do a master's or PhD at any university in the UK.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars ProgramMastercard Foundation
Scholarships for young Africans, especially from underserved communities, for secondary, undergraduate and master's study. You apply through a partner university, each with its own process.
- Mitacs research internshipsMitacs
Paid research internships for graduate students and postdocs in Canada, working on projects with companies and nonprofit partners. Your supervisor applies with you and the partner.
- NAEd/Spencer Dissertation FellowshipNational Academy of Education and Spencer Foundation
A one-year fellowship for doctoral candidates at US universities whose dissertation is about education. Students from any discipline and any nationality can apply.
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ProgramUS National Science Foundation
Funding for research master's and PhD students in science, engineering, psychology and social sciences in the US, for citizens and permanent residents applying as seniors or early in grad school.
- OAS ScholarshipsOrganization of American States
Scholarships and tuition discounts for graduate study and research, for citizens of OAS member states in the Americas and the Caribbean. The awards are for study outside your own country.
- On the MoveOn the Move
A free guide to cultural mobility, with country and regional guides to funding for artists and cultural workers who want to work or study abroad, plus open calls that cover travel.
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New AmericansPaul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Graduate school funding for immigrants and the children of immigrants to the US, in any field, along with a community of past fellows.
- Research Training Program (RTP)Australian Government Department of Education
Australian government funding for domestic and international students in research master's and PhD degrees, covering fees and often a stipend. You apply through your university, not the government.
- Rhodes ScholarshipRhodes Trust
Fully funded postgraduate study at the University of Oxford for young people from around the world. Eligibility and dates differ by country, so check the page for yours first.
- Russell E. Train FellowshipsWWF Education for Nature
Funding for master's and PhD study in conservation for people from WWF priority countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, with a network of conservation leaders alongside.
- Schwarzman ScholarsSchwarzman Scholars
A fully funded one-year master's in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, open to young people from any country who are interested in leadership and China.
- SECIHTI graduate scholarshipsSecretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI), Mexico
Mexico's science ministry, which replaced CONAHCYT, funds graduate scholarships in Mexico and abroad for Mexican students. Calls are published on the site, which is in Spanish.
- Stipendium HungaricumTempus Public Foundation, for the Government of Hungary
Hungarian government scholarships for bachelor's, master's and PhD study in Hungary, for students from partner countries worldwide. A partner body in your home country nominates applicants.
- Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global ProfessionalsSwedish Institute
Scholarships for master's study in Sweden for professionals with work and leadership experience from eligible countries. You apply to your master's program first, then to the scholarship.
- Swiss Government Excellence ScholarshipsState Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Switzerland
Research scholarships in Switzerland for early-career researchers from abroad who hold a master's, plus arts scholarships for some countries. You'll need a Swiss supervisor who supports your project.
- TEACH GrantFederal Student Aid, US Department of Education
A US federal grant for students, including graduate students, training to teach high-need subjects. It becomes a loan if you don't later teach in a low-income school for the required time.
- Trudeau Foundation ScholarshipsPierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Three-year doctoral scholarships for PhD students in the humanities and social sciences, with research and travel funding, mentoring and a community of fellow scholars.
- Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB)
Turkish government scholarships for international students at every level, from bachelor's to PhD and research programs at universities in Türkiye. Applications usually open once a year.
- TWAS fellowshipsThe World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
PhD and postdoctoral fellowships for scientists from developing countries, hosted at institutions in countries such as China, India, Brazil and Pakistan. Calls open at different times of year.
- UKRI studentshipsUK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Explains how UK research council funding for PhDs works, including stipends and fees. You don't apply to UKRI: you apply for a funded place advertised by a university or doctoral training program.
- VLIR-UOS scholarshipsVLIR-UOS (Flemish universities)
Full scholarships for English-taught master's programs in Flanders on topics like rural development, water and public health, for people from eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Applying to graduate school15
- Duolingo English TestDuolingo
An online English test you can take at home, accepted by many universities. Check that your programs accept it before you pay, and use the free practice test first.
- ELLIS PhD ProgramEuropean Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS)
One central application for PhD places in machine learning and AI at many European labs, with supervision across two countries and a research exchange.
- FindAMastersFindAUniversity
A directory of master's degrees and other postgraduate courses at universities around the world, with guides to funding and applying. Handy for comparing taught and research master's options.
- FindAPhDFindAUniversity
A large searchable database of PhD projects, programs and funded studentships, strongest for the UK and Europe but with places worldwide. You can filter by subject, country and funding.
- GMAT ExamGraduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
The official site for the GMAT, the admissions test many business schools use for MBA and business master's programs, with free starter prep and test booking.
- GRE General TestETS
The official site for the GRE General Test, which some graduate programs ask for. Check whether your programs still require it before you book, and use the free official practice tests.
- IELTSBritish Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment
The official site for IELTS, a widely accepted English test for study, work and migration. Find test centres and dates, check the format and try free practice materials.
- Law School Admission Council (LSAC)Law School Admission Council
Runs the LSAT and the application service for law schools in the US and Canada, with free official LSAT practice through LawHub and fee waivers for those who qualify.
- MastersportalStudyportals
Search and compare master's programs worldwide by subject, country, fees and scholarships. Browsing is free, and a free account lets you save programs.
- PhDportalStudyportals
Search PhD programs around the world by discipline and country, with country guides, scholarship listings and articles about applying for a doctorate.
- SOPHASAssociation of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)
The shared application service for many public health master's and doctoral programs, mostly in the US. One application can go to several schools.
- TOEFL iBTETS
The official site for the TOEFL iBT English test, accepted by many universities. Check which score your programs need, and try the free official practice materials before you book.
- UCAS PostgraduateUCAS
Advice from UCAS on whether postgraduate study is right for you, what and where to study in the UK and how to fund it, with pages for international students and teacher training.
- uni-assistuni-assist e.V.
The service many German universities use to check applications from international students. Find out whether your program applies through uni-assist and which documents it needs.
- Writing Your StatementsUC Berkeley Graduate Division
Clear advice from UC Berkeley on writing a statement of purpose and a personal history statement, with a four-part structure that works for most graduate applications.
Studying in another country15
- Campus FranceCampus France
France's agency for international students, with a program search, a scholarship directory and step-by-step help with applications and visas from your home country.
- EduCanadaGovernment of Canada
Canada's official guide for international students, covering how to choose a school, scholarships for international students and how to get a study permit.
- Education IrelandEnterprise Ireland, for the Irish Government
The Irish government's guide for international students, with help choosing a program and institution, funding, visa requirements and life in Ireland.
- EducationUSAUS Department of State
The US government's network of advising centres for students who want to study in the United States, with a five-step guide to choosing programs, funding, applying and visas.
- EU Immigration PortalEuropean Commission
The EU's official guide to moving to an EU country to study or do research, with separate pages for each country on visas, permits and procedures.
- Student visaUK Government (GOV.UK)
The official UK government guide to the Student visa, explaining who can apply, how much money you need to show, how long you can stay and how to apply.
- Study AustraliaAustralian Government
The Australian government's guide for international students, with a course search, scholarship information, living costs and the steps to get a student visa.
- Study in GermanyGerman Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
DAAD's official guide to studying in Germany, covering programs, admission requirements, visas, proof of funds, scholarships and everyday student life.
- Study in JapanJapan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
Japan's official study abroad site, with guides to graduate schools, entrance exams, scholarships, living costs and visas for international students.
- Study in KoreaNational Institute for International Education (NIIED), Korea
The Korean government's site for international students, with information on universities and programs, scholarships including GKS, and practical guides to living in Korea.
- Study in NLNuffic
The official Dutch guide for international students, with a search for English-taught programs and clear information on costs, scholarships and visas.
- Study in SwedenSwedish Institute
The Swedish Institute's guide to studying in Sweden, covering how to find and apply for programs, scholarships, costs and residence permits.
- Study in TürkiyeCouncil of Higher Education (YÖK), Türkiye
Türkiye's official site for international students, run by the Council of Higher Education, with a search of universities and programs and guidance on admission and visas.
- Study permitImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
The Canadian government's official page on study permits, covering eligibility, documents, how to apply and the rules on working while you study.
- Study with New ZealandEducation New Zealand
New Zealand's official guide for international students, with a course search, scholarships, costs and what life is like while you study.
Careers in and beyond academia28
- AAAS Science & Technology Policy FellowshipsAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Year-long fellowships for US citizens with a doctorate in science, engineering or social science to work in government policy roles, and a track at nonprofits and think tanks.
- AcademicTransferAcademicTransfer
Academic jobs and PhD positions at Dutch universities and research institutes. In the Netherlands most PhD candidates are paid employees, so these listings double as funded places.
- AGU Career CenterAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)
Jobs in the Earth and space sciences, from postdocs and faculty posts to government and industry roles, posted by the American Geophysical Union.
- ArtquestUniversity of the Arts London
Free resources for visual artists from University of the Arts London, including opportunity listings, legal information and career advice. Most useful if you're based in the UK.
- AWARD fellowshipsAfrican Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
Career development fellowships for women agricultural scientists in Africa, combining mentoring, science skills training and leadership development.
- CGIAR careersCGIAR
Job vacancies at CGIAR's international agricultural research centres, such as CIMMYT, IFPRI, IRRI and ILRI, for scientists and specialists working on food, land and water systems.
- Get Into TeachingDepartment for Education, UK Government
The UK government's guide to becoming a teacher in England, including postgraduate teacher training, bursaries and scholarships, and how to apply.
- H-Net Job GuideH-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online
Academic job listings in history, the humanities and the social sciences, including faculty posts and postdoctoral fellowships, mostly in North America with some worldwide.
- ImaginePhDGraduate Career Consortium
A career exploration and planning tool for PhD students in the humanities and social sciences, with self-assessments and guides to job families inside and outside academia.
- Inside Higher Ed CareersInside Higher Ed
A large board of US higher education jobs, from faculty posts to roles in administration, student services and research.
- jobs.ac.ukjobs.ac.uk
The main UK job board for universities and research, listing PhD studentships, research posts and lecturing jobs, with career advice for researchers.
- JOE NetworkAmerican Economic Association
The American Economic Association's network for the economics job market, listing faculty, research and policy jobs for economists, with tools for applications and reference letters.
- Judicial Fellowship ProgrammeInternational Court of Justice
A ten-month placement at the International Court of Justice in The Hague for recent law graduates. Only universities can nominate candidates, so talk to your law faculty well ahead.
- MathJobs.OrgAmerican Mathematical Society
Job listings and online applications for mathematics positions at universities and institutes worldwide, including postdocs and faculty jobs. It's free for applicants.
- myIDPScience Careers (AAAS)
An online individual development plan for PhD students and postdocs in the sciences. It helps you assess your skills and interests, explore career paths and set goals.
- Nature CareersSpringer Nature
Science jobs around the world, including PhD positions and postdocs, alongside career advice articles and podcasts for researchers.
- Prospects careers adviceProspects, part of Jisc
UK careers advice for graduates and postgraduates, with job profiles, CV and cover letter guides, interview tips and information on postgraduate study.
- PSJDNALP
A free database of public interest legal jobs, internships and fellowships, mostly in the US, with a resource centre on public service law careers and funding.
- Science CareersAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
The job board from the journal Science, listing faculty, postdoc, industry and government jobs in the sciences around the world.
- THEunijobsTimes Higher Education
University jobs around the world from Times Higher Education, including academic, research and professional roles, which you can filter by country and field.
- TransArtistsDutchCulture
A free database of artist-in-residence programs worldwide, with open calls, deadlines and practical advice on applying for residencies.
- UN Young Professionals ProgrammeUnited Nations Secretariat
An entrance exam that can lead to a first professional job at the UN, for young graduates from countries on that year's participating list. Exam subjects and countries change every year.
- University Affairs careersUniversities Canada
Job listings for faculty, research and administrative roles at Canadian universities, plus career advice columns for grad students and early-career academics.
- Versatile PhDThe Versatile PhD
Helps PhD students and graduates explore careers beyond academia, with real career stories, job search guides and forums. Access is usually through your university's subscription.
- VitaeCareers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC)
Career development resources for doctoral researchers and research staff, from managing your PhD to planning a career in or beyond academia. Some resources need your university to be a member.
- Vitae Researcher Development FrameworkCareers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC)
A framework that describes the knowledge, skills and behaviours of effective researchers. Use it, with its planner, to spot your strengths, set goals and plan your development.
- WHO Internship ProgrammeWorld Health Organization
WHO internships for students and recent graduates in public health, medicine, social sciences, management and communications, with a living allowance for those who need it.
- World Bank Young Professionals ProgramWorld Bank Group
A program for people with a master's or PhD and a few years of relevant experience who want a career in international development. Applications open once a year.
Wellbeing and support25
- Active MindsActive Minds
A youth-led US nonprofit with student chapters on campuses, working to make mental health easier to talk about. You can join a chapter or start one at your university.
- Befrienders WorldwideBefrienders Worldwide
A directory of emotional support centres around the world, where trained volunteers listen without judging. Search by country to find one you can contact.
- Beyond BlueBeyond Blue
Free, confidential support by phone or webchat at any hour, plus anonymous forums where people share how they cope. It's open to anyone in Australia.
- Doing What Matters in Times of StressWorld Health Organization
An illustrated WHO guide to coping with stress, built on short self-help exercises you can practise for a few minutes a day. It's free, with audio, in many languages.
- Dragonfly Mental HealthDragonfly Mental Health
A volunteer-run nonprofit started by academics to improve mental health in research. Its free online Dragonfly Café meets three times a week for academics in any field.
- EmbraceEmbrace
A Lebanese mental health charity that runs the free, confidential National Lifeline at any hour, along with a mental health centre offering consultations.
- ERANERAN
Anonymous emotional first aid by phone or online chat for anyone in Israel, given by trained volunteers. Support is offered in several languages, including Hebrew and Arabic.
- Find A HelplineThroughLine
Search by country and topic to find free, confidential helplines you can call, text or chat with. It works wherever you're studying, including just after a move abroad.
- Good2TalkKids Help Phone
Free, confidential support for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia, by phone or text at any hour, with online chat in Ontario too.
- headspaceheadspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation
Australia's youth mental health foundation for people aged 12 to 25, with centres around the country and free online and phone support.
- Higher HealthHigher Health
South Africa's national agency for health and wellbeing in universities and colleges, with a free 24-hour helpline for students.
- iCallTata Institute of Social Sciences
Free, confidential counselling by phone and email from trained mental health professionals, run by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in India.
- London NightlineLondon Nightline
Free, anonymous listening from trained student volunteers for students at London universities, through the night by phone, chat or email. Reach out when it's late and you need to talk.
- Mapa da Saúde MentalInstituto Vita Alere
A Brazilian directory of free and low-cost mental health care, online and in person, including university clinics and support groups. It's in Portuguese.
- Mental Health Foundation of New ZealandMental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Practical ideas for looking after your wellbeing, stories from people who've been there, and a clear guide to the help available in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Mentally Aware Nigeria InitiativeMANI
A youth-run Nigerian charity offering counselling support, a resource centre and an online forum, while working to reduce the stigma around mental health.
- mindline.sgMOH Office for Healthcare Transformation
Singapore's online first stop for mental health, with a 24-hour helpline and chat, an anonymous peer support forum, self-care tools and a guide to services near you.
- Nightline FranceNightline France
A free, anonymous listening service run by trained student volunteers, open every evening by phone or chat. It's in French, for young people and students in France.
- South African Depression and Anxiety GroupSADAG
A South African charity with toll-free helplines, over 200 free support groups and contact numbers for students at universities and colleges.
- Student MindsStudent Minds
The UK's student mental health charity, with advice for getting through the hard parts of student life and for supporting a friend who's struggling.
- TELLTokyo English Life Line
A free, anonymous Lifeline by phone and chat for the international community in Japan, with professional counselling available if you need more support.
- The Jed FoundationThe Jed Foundation
A US nonprofit for the emotional health of teens and young adults, with plain guides on stress, loneliness and low mood, getting help and supporting a friend.
- The Wellbeing ThesisUniversity of Derby, King's College London and Student Minds
Tips, videos and action plans for looking after yourself at each stage of a research degree, made with postgraduate researchers. There's something for the start, the middle and the final stretch.
- TogetherallTogetherall
An anonymous online community for talking through how you're feeling, with self-help tools alongside. Many universities offer it free, so check with your student email.
- WellbeingVitae
Vitae's advice for researchers on staying well, from setting boundaries and resting properly to noticing habits like perfectionism and overcommitting. It also points you to further support.
Planning and focus10
- FocusmateFocusmate
Book a short video session with another person, say what you'll work on, then work quietly side by side. The free plan gives you three sessions a week.
- GanttProjectGanttProject
Free, open-source software for drawing a Gantt chart of your thesis timeline, so you can see each stage and deadline at a glance. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- LeechBlock NGProginosko
A free browser extension that blocks the sites you lose time on during the hours you choose. It works in Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Opera.
- NCFDDNational Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
Courses, webinars and a 14-day writing challenge on planning, writing and managing your time. Graduate students at member universities join free, so check whether yours is one.
- PomofocusPomofocus
A free Pomodoro timer that runs in your browser, so you can work in focused blocks with short breaks. You can add a task list without signing up.
- Shut Up & Write!Writing Partners
Free writing sessions, online and in person in over 80 countries, where you write quietly alongside others for a set time. It's a gentle push when you keep putting off your thesis.
- Thesis planningFederation University Australia
Step-by-step advice on sketching your thesis structure, planning each year, month and week with a Gantt chart, and keeping your supervisors up to date.
- Time managementVitae
Vitae's guide to managing research time, with simple techniques like logging your hours, separating urgent from important, and working back from deadlines.
- Time management and organizationUniversity of Neuchâtel
A clear guide for doctoral students on planning a thesis, from Gantt charts and weekly time blocking to dealing with distractions, with links to free tools and templates.
- Toggl TrackToggl
A simple timer for seeing where your hours actually go, which helps when you're planning realistic weeks. The free plan is enough for tracking your own time.
Communities and networks33
- AISESAmerican Indian Science and Engineering Society
A nonprofit supporting Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in STEM, with college chapters and a yearly national conference.
- ANIP ChileAsociación Nacional de Investigadores en Postgrado
Chile's national association of postgraduate researchers, which campaigns on scholarships and working conditions and runs talks on labour rights. It's in Spanish.
- APAGSAmerican Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association's community for graduate students, with grants, leadership roles, a campus ambassador scheme and advice on training.
- Arab Council for the Social SciencesACSS
A regional council supporting social science research in the Arab world, with early career fellowships, working groups and a conference. The site is in English and Arabic.
- AWISAssociation for Women in Science
A US association for women in science, technology, engineering and maths, with local chapters, career resources and advocacy for fairer workplaces.
- Black in AIBlack in AI
A global community of Black researchers and practitioners in AI, with free membership, travel grants and a grad prep scheme for people applying to graduate school.
- Black In NeuroBlack In Neuro
A community celebrating Black scholars in neuroscience and related fields, with free membership, a member directory, events and Black In Neuro Week.
- CAACollege Art Association
A US association for artists, art historians and designers in universities, with a yearly conference and a committee for students and emerging professionals.
- CLACSOConsejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales
A network of social science research centres across Latin America and the Caribbean, with a postgraduate network, short courses, scholarships and working groups.
- CODESRIACouncil for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
Africa's council for social science research, with training institutes, grants and a wide network of researchers across the continent. The site is in English and French.
- Comparative and International Education SocietyCIES
A society for comparative and international education with over 4,000 members worldwide, special interest groups and a yearly conference where students can present.
- Council of Australian Postgraduate AssociationsCAPA
The national body representing over 570,000 postgraduate students in Australia, working through the postgraduate associations at member universities.
- CSWEPAmerican Economic Association
The American Economic Association's committee for women in economics, with mentoring workshops, networking events and a newsletter with career advice.
- Deep Learning IndabaDeep Learning Indaba
A community strengthening machine learning and AI across Africa, with a yearly Indaba, local IndabaX events in many countries and a mentoring scheme open to students.
- Design Research SocietyDRS
A global community for design researchers, with special interest groups, discussion forums and a major conference every two years. Students pay a reduced membership fee.
- Earth Science Women's NetworkESWN
A free, member-led network for women in the earth and environmental sciences, with a discussion board, job listings and online and in-person networking events.
- ELSAThe European Law Students' Association
A network of about 60,000 law students and young lawyers in more than 40 countries across Europe, with law schools, moot courts, legal research groups and traineeships.
- Emerging Researchers' GroupEuropean Educational Research Association
EERA's support for doctoral and early career researchers in education, including an Emerging Researchers' Conference, a summer school, bursaries and methods workshops.
- EurodocEurodoc
The European federation of national associations of doctoral candidates and early career researchers. It speaks up on pay and conditions and can point you to your country's association.
- Graduate Student CouncilAmerican Educational Research Association
AERA's graduate student community, with campus representatives, a newsletter, sessions at the annual meeting and tips for submitting your first conference paper.
- Law and Society AssociationLaw and Society Association
An international network for sociolegal researchers, with an annual meeting and Collaborative Research Networks where you can find people working on similar questions.
- Minorities and Philosophy (MAP)MAP
An international network of over 180 chapters led by graduate students, working to remove barriers for under-represented people in academic philosophy.
- Ms. JDMs. JD
A US nonprofit for women in law, with a free online community, mentoring and support for law students and early career lawyers.
- oSTEMoSTEM
A free-to-join US society for LGBTQ+ people in STEM, with student chapters and an annual conference that includes a graduate school expo.
- OWSDOrganization for Women in Science for the Developing World
A network of women scientists in the Global South, with national chapters, fellowships and awards. Membership is free for women with a degree in the natural or social sciences.
- Parent in ScienceParent in Science
A Brazilian movement for mothers and fathers in academia, sharing research, initiatives and resources on balancing a research career with family life. It's in Portuguese.
- Promovendi Netwerk NederlandPNN
The national voice for PhD candidates in the Netherlands, pushing for fair contracts, good supervision and mental health support, with reports and events you can join.
- SACNASSociety for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science
A US network for Chicano, Hispanic and Native American people in science, with more than 150 chapters, mentoring and a big annual conference.
- Society for Artistic ResearchSAR
An international society for research through artistic practice, with an annual conference, a peer-reviewed journal and the free Research Catalogue for sharing your work.
- Te Kupenga o MAINgā Pae o te Māramatanga
The national network for Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students in Aotearoa New Zealand, with groups at every university and a doctoral conference.
- The PhD ProjectThe PhD Project
A nonprofit that helps people explore and complete a business PhD, with mentoring, a supportive network and an annual conference for those considering one.
- The Sadie CollectiveThe Sadie Collective
The collective is named for Sadie T. M. Alexander, the first Black American to earn a PhD in economics. It runs an annual conference, a research symposium and skills workshops.
- Women in Global HealthWomen in Global Health
A women-led movement with 65 chapters in 60 countries, working for gender equity in health leadership. A local chapter is a good way to meet people across the health field.
Disability and accessibility12
- ADCETAustralian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training
Australia's clearinghouse on disability in post-secondary education, with plain guides for students on disclosure, reasonable adjustments and your rights.
- AHEADAssociation on Higher Education And Disability
The US association for people who run disability services at universities. Its guidance on documentation is worth reading before you ask for accommodations.
- AHEAD JAPANAHEAD JAPAN
Japan's association for disability support in higher education, with a yearly conference, a journal and profiles of how universities support disabled students. It's in Japanese.
- British Dyslexia AssociationBritish Dyslexia Association
The UK's dyslexia charity, with a free, confidential helpline and advice for adults on assessments and support at university and work.
- Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)GOV.UK
Official guidance on extra help with study costs linked to a disability, health condition or learning difficulty, such as equipment or a note taker. Postgraduates can apply too.
- Funding Postgraduate Education for Disabled StudentsDisability Rights UK
A detailed factsheet on paying for a master's or PhD as a disabled student in the UK, covering Disabled Students' Allowance, loans, charitable trusts and benefits.
- HEDSAHigher and Further Education Disability Services Association
South Africa's network of university disability services, with guides, assistive technology information and a directory to help you find the disability unit at your institution.
- MadaMada Center
Qatar's assistive technology centre, with advice on tools for disabled people, Arabic accessibility resources and support for inclusive education. The site is in Arabic and English.
- NEADSNational Educational Association of Disabled Students
A Canada-wide, cross-disability organisation that speaks up for disabled college and university students and shares resources on access, funding and work.
- NVDANV Access
A free, open-source screen reader for Windows that reads text aloud or sends it to a braille display. It's made by a nonprofit.
- Studieren mit BehinderungDeutsches Studierendenwerk
Germany's information and advice centre for studying with a disability or chronic illness, covering admission, exams, funding, study abroad and careers. It's in German.
- Sugamya PustakalayaDAISY Forum of India
India's online library of accessible books for people who are blind or have other print disabilities, with hundreds of thousands of titles in many languages.
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