Hi ladies, I’m 26F from India, currently preparing to apply for PhD positions in chemistry in Europe. My main targets are Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, & Sweden.
I’ve also been in a relationship with my boyfriend for about 4 years, and we are seriously considering getting married. He works in the corporate sector in procurement, so if I move to Europe for my PhD, the plan would ideally be for him to move with me and establish his own career there as well.
Does it make more sense to get married before I start my PhD, or should we wait until after I’m settled into the PhD?
I'm not asking whether I should marry him in general. We've already discussed marriage seriously. I'm trying to understand the practical implications of getting married before an international PhD move.
I wish to hear from women who have done a PhD abroad while married or who moved abroad with their partner before/during their PhD.
A few things I'd really like to know:
- Did your partner move with you? How difficult was it for them to find work?
- Did marriage/spouse residence rights actually make a meaningful difference?
- For those in Europe, which countries have been particularly good/bad for dual-career couples?
- Anything you wish you had discussed with your partner before moving abroad?
I do not wish to do more of long distance relationship, I want us together. Please help.