Studying abroad opens the door to internationally recognised degrees, new career opportunities and the chance to discover another culture. Millions of students go abroad to study every year, and a handful of countries have long led the way. This article gives a general overview of the most sought-after destinations.
Germany leads the way on affordable higher education: in most federal states, study at public universities is free of charge. Admission is decided by competition between school certificates, with no entrance exams. Its strongest fields are engineering, IT, the natural sciences and business, and graduates are given an extended period in which to look for work.
France welcomes hundreds of thousands of international students every year. A notable feature of its universities is the lack of entrance exams: any school-leaver with a leaving certificate can enrol. Alongside the mainstream universities sit the elite Grandes Écoles, which train future managers and engineers. Strong fields include art, fashion, business, engineering and the humanities.
Austria draws students with its quality education and central European location. There are no entrance exams, except in medicine and the creative subjects. A hallmark of the system is academic freedom: students design their own study plans. The strongest fields are the exact sciences, law, music and the visual arts.
Spain attracts students with its climate, high quality of life and rich cultural heritage. University admission requires passing the Selectividad entrance exams. The most sought-after fields are the humanities, architecture, art, tourism, economics and business administration. After their studies, graduates may stay on to find work and gain professional experience.
Italy appeals to students with its quality education and rich cultural heritage, and many university programmes are taught in English. The strongest fields are architecture, design, art, engineering, economics and medicine. After their studies, graduates can build successful careers in Italy or elsewhere in Europe and gain valuable international experience.
Switzerland is renowned for its prestigious universities and quality education, especially in finance, engineering and hospitality management. Its federal institutes of technology rank among the best in the world. You can study in German, French, Italian or English, and graduates of Swiss universities are highly valued by international employers and enjoy strong career prospects across the EU.
Ireland is an English-speaking country that draws students with its quality education and friendly atmosphere. It hosts the European headquarters of many of the world's largest technology companies, which creates excellent career prospects. Students may work while studying, and after graduating they can obtain a visa to look for work and continue their professional development within an EU career.
The United Kingdom remains one of the most prestigious destinations for higher education, and British degrees are highly valued by employers worldwide. A defining feature of the system is early specialisation, which begins in the very first year. The strongest fields are medicine, law, engineering, finance, art and the humanities. After graduating, students enjoy wide-ranging international career opportunities.
The USA has the largest and one of the most prestigious education systems in the world, and American universities consistently top the global rankings. A key feature is the flexibility of their curricula: students can choose their specialisation as they go. Strong fields include computer science, engineering, business administration and medicine.
Canada combines quality education with a safe, multicultural environment and offers bilingual study in English and French. Its most renowned universities are in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Students may work while studying, and after graduating they can apply for permanent residence and go on building their careers in the country.
Australia draws students with its quality education and excellent immigration prospects, and many of its universities feature in the global rankings. Strong fields include engineering, IT, medicine, business and the environmental sciences. Students can work while studying, and after graduating they have the chance to stay on to work.
Beyond the countries already mentioned, other popular choices include the Netherlands, with its wide range of English-taught programmes; the Scandinavian countries, with their innovative courses and high standard of living; and New Zealand, which pairs quality education with stunning natural surroundings.
The right country to study in depends on many things: the language you prefer, the field you want, your cultural affinity and your immigration plans. European countries — especially Germany, France and Austria — are attractive for their affordable education. English-speaking countries (the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland) offer a wide choice of English-taught programmes, strong international mobility and excellent career prospects, and they often let you work during your studies and stay on afterwards to find work and gain experience.
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