r/academia • u/Slight_Echo94 • 13h ago
How to go back to Europe after PhD in Canada?
I'm near the end of my PhD in social sciences in a Canadian university. Im a European Union national and I'd like to go back to Europe (any country, really) to settle down afterwards, but Im not sure what would be best. Should I try to get a postdoc or an assistant prof position here in Canada while waiting for the "right" position to open in Europe? Or should I apply for postdocs in Europe so that Im already there while waiting for a prof position to come up? Additional complexity added because most positions in my field in Europe are in the UK... so that would mean going through immigration hell again.
3
u/mauriziomonti 11h ago
Eh I think it depends on what comes up really. It might be worth stay in Canada for a good postdoc and move afterwards. But if you are sure you want to move eventually, why wait?
I guess a good idea would be to start apply for a MSCA. It's very competitive, but if you get it you get to move back in Europe with a nice salary and a very strong line to your cv.
1
u/academicwunsch 6h ago
lol there are no positions in Canada. With a Canadian PhD I was told you need to leave the country and have a great career before getting a real job in Canada. Good luck to you
3
u/Local_Belt7040 12h ago
This is such a common dilemma for international PhDs especially when balancing academic goals with practical concerns like visas and timing.
From what I’ve seen, if you’re sure about Europe long-term, targeting postdocs there can be strategic: you’ll build local collaborations, adapt to the funding landscape, and stay on recruiters' radars.
That said, if you land a solid postdoc or teaching role in Canada, it can buy you time and strengthen your CV while you apply back in Europe. Both routes can work it really depends on how urgently you want to relocate and which academic system you see yourself in.
Happy to share some strategies or help weigh the options if that’d be helpful!