What should be considered, such as housing, funding, and visas, when planning a combined master's and PhD in psychology in Europe?

You should plan this as two separate stages rather than one seamless track, since true combined masters-PhD programmes are rare in Europe; instead you will finish a masters, then apply again for a PhD position, often as a paid employee rather than a student.

Funding And Status By Region

Visa And Practice Considerations You Cannot Skip

• A masters phase needs a standard student visa, usually capping work at 10 to 20 hours weekly and requiring proof of funds, around 11,900 euros yearly for Germany
• A PhD tied to an employment contract, common in the Netherlands, needs a researcher work permit instead of a student visa, often with better residency prospects
• Most countries offer a 12 to 24 month job-seeker visa after your masters to search for a PhD position
• If you want to practise clinically, remember a research PhD alone will not license you; clinical registration is strictly regulated and usually requires the local language

My Advice

Decide early whether you want a research career or clinical practice, since that single choice determines whether you need to learn German, Dutch, or French to a professional level. Also apply for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network funding when you reach the PhD stage, since it is one of the few genuinely open, fully funded international routes into a European psychology PhD.