Study PhD Programmes in Washington, D. C., United States

Washington, D. C. at a glance

International students who choose Washington D.C. for their studies will appreciate the cultural diversity and the open attitude towards foreigners. Students from over 90 countries enrol in universities in Washington D.C., as higher educational institutions encourage social interaction and have set agreements with international universities from countries like: Thailand, China, Belgium, Greece, France, UK, South Africa, or South Korea. Washington D.C., also known as ‘the District’ or ‘DC’ is the capital of the United States, located in the middle of the Atlantic region of the East Coast.

610K

Population
1705 - 2980 USD/month

Living Costs
3

Universities

Studying

Studying in Washington, D. C.

For all degree levels, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD (doctoral studies), universities in D.C. offer a wide array of subject areas students can specialise in. You can choose between: accounting, biochemistry, business economics, computer science, languages, marketing, sociology, political science, law, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, counselling, and more.

In some universities, you can find interdisciplinary doctoral degrees, enabling you to customise your programme and combine three disciplines.

Students interested in online degrees (distance learning), they can follow master programmes like: criminal justice, engineering, food science, biosciences and MBA’s. You can also enrol in summer school courses online and study plenty of equally relevant subjects either as an introduction or as an intensive learning experience.

The George Washington University, Howard University, and Georgetown University all have very reputable medical programmes, collaborating with associated teaching hospitals.

Career

Career opportunities in Washington, D. C.

Washington has a growing and diversified economy, mostly focusing on professional and business service jobs. As the capital of U.S., and the federal government having its headquarters here, Washington D.C. is abundant in law firms, non-profit organizations, lobbying firms, trade unions, industry trade groups, and professional associations. Tourism is Washington's second largest industry, followed by education, finance, public policy, and scientific research.

Famous companies with local offices are: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Pan American Health Organization, The Washington Post, National Geographic Channel, Atlantic Media, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, AT&T, NASA, Greenpeace, Virginia Tech.

Students can pursue numerous internships, for example inside National Geographic Magazine, often offering these kind of opportunities.

Life

Washington, D. C. city life

Washington is an incredible city to explore and everywhere you walk you will discover places or monuments that speak about the American heritage. Walking or biking throughout the city is highly recommended, as most of the city's attractions are located close to each other.

Apart from the famous White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol, interesting places you should visit are: the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Pier, the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art.

If you are interested in music and dance, you should go to the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, which is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, and the Washington Ballet.

Students passionate about sports can watch different team matches, as the Washington Wizards basketball team, the Washington Capitals, the Washington Mystics, Washington Nationals or The Washington Redskins.

In summer, you can watch free outdoor movie shows, or climb up to the Kennedy Centre Rooftop Terrace, and attend the Jazz in the Garden concert series.

Washington hosts numerous festivals, like the Shakespeare Free for All, every early September, in the Harman Centre for the Arts, or the annual D.C. Blues Festival.

International atmosphere in Washington, D. C.

The U.S. government has its headquarter in Washington D.C., and numerous embassies and plenty of international organisations are active in this city. International professionals from almost every country in the world work and live in this city.

Around 13% percent of the population is foreign born, with major ethnic communities belonging to Asian, Indian, Hawaiian, Hispanic and Pacific Islander people. D.C. also has a big African immigrant population, with an exceptionally large community from Ethiopia.

The locals of D.C. are very involved in politics and ready to debate with anyone interested, including students coming from abroad.

Weather Washington, D. C.

D.C. experiences four distinct seasons. Springs and falls are warm, winters are chilly with snowfalls. Temperatures during winter are around 3 °C (38 °F). Summers are hot and very humid with average temperatures of 26 °C (79.5 °F).

Universities in Washington, D. C.

Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America is unique as the national university of the Catholic Church and as the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University began offering undergraduate education in 1904. 

See 40 PhDs

Georgetown University

Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, offering a unique educational experience that prepares the next generation of global citizens to lead and make a difference in the world.

See 31 PhDs

George Washington University

The George Washington University, an independent academic institution chartered by the Congress of the United States in 1821, dedicates itself to furthering human well-being.

See 81 PhDs