Top 5 countries to study in Europe (RANKED)

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Europe is home to some of the best universities in the world. But with 30+ countries and thousands of universities, where should you start your search? Contact NavigateUni if you are considering studying in Europe!

1. The United Kingdom

 

Click here for our Complete Guide on studying in the UK!

The United Kingdom is the first country that many will think of, and that is mainly due to the outstanding reputation of its historical universities.

In fact, according to the QS World University Rankings 2022, the UK has 4 universities ranked in the top 10, with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge leading the way.

However, rankings don’t tell the full story. The truth is that UK universities are highly respected by employers around the world. Its research output is virtually unparalleled in the world – bar the United States.

Monarchs, royalties and highly gifted students around the world have made their way to the United Kingdom and it is still very much possible to do so today, no matter where in the world you are from.

Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is not part of the European Union and that may come with advantages or disadvantages, depending on your personal situation.

Tuition fees are capped at £9,250 for home students. However, tuition fees for international students vary widely from £15,000 to £50,000 per year.

While government financial aid is mostly available for local students, international students are eligible for private bursaries.

London is a world class city that hosts a large student population. If a big city isn’t for you, there are plenty of mid sized cities and student campuses that will fit your taste. 

Undergraduate students apply through a centralised system called UCAS, while postgraduate applications will vary depending on the course. 

In 2021, UCAS’ undergraduate admissions service handled 2.95 million applications from 749,570 UK, EU, and international students. From that number, 562,060 students secured a full-time place at one of over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.

UCAS is a processing company that acts as a liaison between students and universities, however this fails to tailor your application to the right set of universities. Speak to NavigateUni if you are considering applying to university in the UK.

2. Netherlands

 
 
The Netherlands is one of the richest regions in Europe and stands out in several ways.


Firstly, 95% of Dutch people speak fluent English and they are very eager to practice it, so you will not have any language barriers whatsoever.

Secondly, the Netherlands is right in the centre of Europe, making travel across the continent incredibly easy either by road, rail or plane.

Education is highly rated, particularly in the STEM fields with exceptional schools such as TU Delft and the Eindhoven University of Technology.

These two schools have extremely high employment rates for its students.

13 of the top 200 universities in the QS World University Ranking 2022 are in the Netherlands, which is quite impressive for a country that is 6 times smaller than the state of Michigan!

Although not all, more and more courses are being fully taught in English. This attracts students from across the world, contributing to a very unique student experience.

Tuition fees are very affordable for EU/EEA citizens typically between €1,500-€4,000. On the other hand, international students pay tuition fees between €4,000-€12,000 per year.

Also note that Undergraduate degrees can be 3 years and postgraduate degrees can be 1 year long (versus the standard 4 year and 2 year durations, respectively).

3. Ireland

 
Ireland is another English speaking country that attracts students from around the world.
 

However, note that Ireland is a small country and while there are a few decent universities – Trinity College Dublin, for example – you should probably apply to Ireland in conjunction with a few other options.

Dublin, the capital, is probably home to the highest number of technology companies across Europe. Big Tech is well represented with Facebook, Google, Amazon and many others having set up their regional headquarters in the city.

Studying in the country positions students extremely well to connect with professionals in the tech industry and apply for internships.

Overall, the country boasts friendly locals, an English speaking population and a lively culture. The Irish love to have fun and drink their Guinesses, but you will not be left out if you prefer to sip on a tea instead.

Tuition fees are very low for EU/EEA nationals and vary widely for international students between €9,000 – €50,000, but typically fall between €10,000 and

€20,000.

4. Sweden

 
 
Are you a fan of snow? If so, you have found your place!
 

Jokes aside, Sweden is cold country but do not let that deter you.

Sweden has amazingly funded universities with some of the best infrastructure and research output. 

While not an obvious choice for many international students, Sweden is one of our “underrated” places to pursue higher education studies. 

Education is completely free for EU/EEA citizens and relatively affordable for international students, with international student fees ranging below €7,000 – €12,000.

Also, doctoral programs are free for both local and international students!

Financial aid is more abundant for both local and international students compared to some of the aforementioned countries.

Sweden has a wide offer of English-taught postgraduate courses although the offer is more limited at the undergraduate level. However, you should definitely consider exploring this country in more detail.

Although Swedish is the local language, Swedes are known for speaking excellent English.

Multinationals often use English in all of their internal communications and you will not have any issues getting around the country.

5. Germany

Click here for our Complete Guide on studying in Germany!

Germany is also often overlooked, often due to language issues. 

There is no denying that learning and/or speaking German will make your life much easier. In fact, we would encourage all students to do so. 

However, this is not strictly required as many universities offer English-taught courses, both at undergraduate level and postgraduate level.

Germany’s universities are mostly state-funded and given Germany is the economic powerhouse of the continent, the quality of education and infrastructure are very high.

There are over 400 universities to choose from although we would recommend that you look at a smaller number.

Among the top universities in Germany are the Technical University of Munich, the University of Heidelberg, and the University of Freiburg, all of which are ranked in the top 100 universities in the world.

As of 2022, most public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees for local students, except for a few states like Baden-Württemberg, where local students are charged up to 1,500 euros per semester. 

For international students, tuition fees at public universities in Germany can range from 1,500 to 8,000 euros per semester, depending on the university and the program of study.

Medicine and engineering programs tend to be the most expensive. However, there are also some universities that offer tuition waivers or scholarships for international students.

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