Europe, a continent of sophisticated culture, grace, and charm is totally awe-inspiring. For many international students, studying in Europe will be a dream come true.
Getting educated in a European university is a popular choice and most European universities are pretty selective of their students.
Europe offers over a thousand options and opportunities for bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., and short-term exchange programs to international students. Choosing to study in Europe is one decision that international students as graduates will relieve time and time again even after leaving the continent.
The European experience is never totally forgotten. One distinct characteristic of European Universities is that they are really advanced in multiple diverse fields and are open and welcoming towards international students and visitors generally. Globally acclaimed institutions like Harvard and Oxford are pride institutions of the European continent.
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Why Study in Europe?
Choosing to study in Europe can help you advance in your academic and career journey. Mostly at the mention of the institution’s name, you catch the attention of the audience, an employer, or a soon-to-be business partner.
Europe has some of the most outstanding educational systems for different programs. In Switzerland, there is the best system for Hotel and Tourism Management Education, in France, outstanding fashion, arts, culinary, and business courses and in Germany? Quality engineering education at the lowest possible tuition fee ever.
So why not study in Europe?
Study in Europe
For a student who wants to study in Europe, you need to understand the educational system in Europe and how the higher institutions in Europe operate.
Here, we’d first take a look at Europe’s educational system.
The European Education System
There is no uniform educational Policy across European academic institutions. There is no international body to regulate, intervene or impose specific requirements regarding the education systems in any of the European countries. Rather, each country is allowed to develop and tailor its education system and curriculum according to its society.
Ideas and innovations are often shared across countries and with this, each nation’s academic institutions develop simultaneously but individually.
Therefore, the education system between the two European countries may be different but with a couple of similarities. Even though there is no interference in the individual education systems and policies, education is overtly supported by international bodies such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO.
Below, we will explore the educational systems of a couple of European nations.
The Education System in Great Britain
In Great Britain, children begin education at the age of five. Primary, Secondary school (equivalent to already closed junior high schools) and High school is mandatory for every child.
Furthering your studies to Higher education is optional and for most institutions, students get in by merit.
The Education System in Germany
In Germany, like most European countries, the child starts his education from primary school, this level is known as Grundschule and the child is taught to master writing, reading, and basic arithmetic. When Grundschule has been completed, the student gets to choose from either of the following three institutions to further their studies.
- Hauptschule: an education that prepares the student to practice craft work or artworks and become perfect in them.
- Realschule: this is an education that provides a more theoretical curriculum mostly for science-related courses and foreign languages.
- Gymnasium: the Gymnasium exposes the students to a wide range of subjects which prepares them for college education.
Only students who complete the gymnasium get to go to college education and obtain a degree.
The Education System in France
The education system in France divides the stages of study into three compulsory levels. These three levels in the educational system of France include:
- L’école élémentaire- in this stage the child who is mostly below six years old is enrolled and engaged in writing and learning skills.
- Le college – this stage exposes the child to different specific subjects.
- Le lycee – at this stage the student has to make a choice between a three-year high school (lycee) or a vocational school (lycee professional). The vocational school prepares the student for a specific handwork profession, while high school prepares the students for a higher level of education. Vocational students who want to further their studies will have to add an additional two years of studies to prepare them for the next academic step.
Higher Institutions in Europe
Many universities in Europe are globally recognized and have made solid names for themselves over the years. Choosing to study in a European university stands you out from the crowd.
Not only are these universities prestigious, but they also provide the best educational services and are rated highly globally. With the influx of international students to Europe, education there exposes you to multicultural backgrounds and helps build your global network reach. An invaluable experience.
Below are some of the top-ranked European Universities to which you may love to apply to and get your academic degree.
Top-Ranked Universities to Study in Europe
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- ETH Zurich
- University College London (UCL)
- EPFL
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Manchester
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- LMU Munich
- King’s College London
- Universite PSL
- Karolinska Institute
- Technical University of Munich
- University of Bologna
- University of Amsterdam
- Heidelberg University
- KU Leuven
- Wageningen University & Research
- Leiden University
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- The Delft University of Technology.
Popular Courses to Study in Europe
- Business Administration
- Foreign Languages
- Culinary Arts
- Law
- Architecture
- Data Science
- International Relations
- Natural Sciences
- Finance
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Marketing.
Best Countries to Study in Europe
As there are multiple education systems and different educational policies for each nation in Europe, there should be a scale of preference that should rank studies in some nations as better than others.
Now, this is not to say that any of the European nations have substandard educational institutions. Not at all. Rather this curated listing shows you the better locations in which you may love to study at if you choose to study in Europe.
1. Germany
Popular for the low tuition for prestigious universities and for its commitment to research and development, studying in Germany presents one of the best choices one can make to study in Europe. Some of the very popular German Universities include;
- Technical University of Munich
- Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich
- Heidelberg University
- The Humboldt University of Berlin.
2. Austria
Internationally reputed for its innovation in music, the arts, and architecture, the centrally placed country of Austria presents another great location choice for study in Europe. Here are some of the very foremost academic institutions in Austria with a plethora of programs to offer;
- University of Vienna
- Ghent University
- UCLouvain
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- The University of Antwerp.
3. United Kingdom
The UK, home to the most age-long prestigious universities is one country that definitely should be part of this curation. Most UK institutions are known for their academic excellence. Some of them include;
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- University College London
- The University of Edinburgh.
4. Poland
Popular for being the crossroad between eastern and western Europe, Poland provides irresistible education programs with reasonable policies. Some of the more popular universities in Poland include;
- Jagiellonian University
- University of Warsaw
- Warsaw University of Technology.
5. Netherlands
In the Netherlands, although the population speaks Dutch, provisions are made for students who speak English to be taught in English. One of the first European nations to begin with this, they have drawn multiple international students into their education system and have become a brewing pot for multiculturalism.
Here are some of the Dutch universities you will find indispensable;
- University of Groningen
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Delft University of Technology
- University of Amsterdam
- Leiden University.
6. Finland
The Finnish education system is known as the best in the world with high-quality higher education standards and an easy approach to learning. Higher education in Finland consists of vocational-oriented Polytechnics and academic-oriented universities. Here are some of the most top rated universities in Finland ;
- University of Helsinki
- Aalto University
- University of Turku
- The University of Oulu.
7. France
France’s capital, the city of romance, Paris, is surprisingly not a city known only for its many red roses. It is also a city where both international and local students hit the books.
Known as one of the best countries for study in Europe, studying in France offers you a variety of choices with brimming multicultural society.
Some of her best universities Include ;
- Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University)
- Ecole Polytechnique (ParisTech)
- Sorbonne University
- Sciences Po Paris.
8. Switzerland
Blessed with nature and great business acumen, Switzerland is a force to reckon with in business education. Not only will you be exposed to the majestic culture of the locals, you also get to learn first-hand how to manage businesses the Swiss way.
Here are some swiss universities you will find interesting;
- ETH Zurich
- EPFL Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
- University of Zurich
- The University of Geneva.
Studying in Europe without IELTS and TOEFL
Some universities in Europe do not require international students to write IELTS or TOEFL, before making applications.
Here are some universities to study in Europe without IELTS and TOEFL:
- Braunschweig University of Technology (TU Braunschweig)
- Free University of Berlin
- American Business School, Paris
- EBS Paris
- University of Bologna
- Polytechnic University of Milan
- Medical University of Warsaw
- University of Bialystok
- Ghent University.
Study Masters in Europe
Despite having many top-ranking universities around the globe, Europe remains one of the continents with low-cost tuition for master’s programs. Many international students prefer to have their master’s education in a European nation. That is the kind of prestige and legacy Europe has built over hundreds of years.
To study master’s in Europe, the basic requirement is proficiency in the English language and a bachelor’s degree in the program of interest.
Conclusion:
Are you aspiring to study in Europe and you need more information? Do not hesitate, to use the comment section below or contact us. We will be most delighted to assist you.
We wish you success in your academic journey. Good luck!