Being a PhD student means being at the high level of education process where you are required to always have the willingness to learn something new. Your intelligence is in fact not the most important aspect of your PhD life which will determine the success of your PhD. Your persistence is in fact the one taking you to get the degree.
There are many countries providing the education for people to do their PhD. You can choose and you always have choices, a lots of choices. But among those choices you need to consider some aspects other than the education it self such as the support of the environment for your study, the security of the living, your own budget or financial and still there are many other personal aspects to consider.
First, you need to have a closer look at the country you are going to go for your PhD. You need to consider the pollution level for example, just to make sure that you can live in a healthy place. Next you need to consider the safety of the city you are going to spend your three to four years for your degree. Next, think of the living cost. This last consideration is very important as you should not worry about your financial stuff while you are studying. If you are worried about money then you will reduce your time of study as you just keep thinking of money matters. It will never effective if you think of finance like when you need to extend your study or you need some new stuff but then you can hardly afford it.
For me, I am choosing New Zealand as this country has almost 0 level of pollution, which means that this country has a good quality of environment to live my life. I can get the fresh air and I have no worry of the pollution which may affect my health. Then this country also has only less than 4.5 million populations meaning that it is not too crowded. This country is also fairly safe for a woman like me. I can go home from my office at around 10 or 11 pm and no problem at all. The transport is also convenient. The buses operate almost 24 hours per day and the residents are so kind to foreigners. You can always ask if you get lost. They will help you by showing you the way or taking you home.
Another big consideration I take is because New Zealand offers a domestic rate for the international student to take the PhD. So this is what attracts me more. As I am not an English native speaker, I have certain level of worry that I cannot finish my study on time. So, I just try to be realistic, and I imagine, what if I cannot finish in 3 years, Can I afford the tuition fees and the living costs ? Can I save from now on to prepare everything if it does happen?
Living here is not that expensive and the tuition fees in New Zealand universities are much affordable compared to any other universities offering the PhD program in other countries. I think I am choosing the right place for taking PhD. I am feeling much safer when I do not need to think of a big amount of money when I do not finish on time. It's good if I can finish on time but if no, then I am not getting into a big problem as I can still afford it due to the affordable living cost and the domestic rate for the international student offered.
Hope this writing helps you to consider your future country to take your PhD..
