One of the easiest ways to enter the EU is through education. Not only is it the easiest way, but it is also the most reliable. But the question is how to choose a university in the EU? to Study Abroad in EU. I first came here to do my bachelor’s degree, and I’ve just been progressing my educational career since then.
Before coming here, I had to do some research. Of course, looking back now, there are several things I would have done differently and other things I would have considered or wish someone would have helped me think about. This is why I’m here. To help you avoid some of the landmines I later came across because of poor planning or poor research skills.
Read Also Benefits Of Studying In A European University
First thing to consider is what you wish to achieve or do after graduation. I know, it sounds like looking too far into the future, but if you want to avoid regret later, you’ve got to start here. Think about exactly what goal you wish to achieve.
Do you want to become an EU citizen? Do you want to live in the EU? Do you want to work in the EU? Do you want to just get an education and leave? Do you want to just have a study abroad experience? Do you want to just travel? What is it exactly that you want to achieve? Answering these or similar questions is fundamental in picking the right country and university to attend.
I’ll give an example, if you want to get citizenship as an end goal, you need to pick a country that includes your university years in the years accrued to get a citizenship. So this is the starting point. Life changes and other things come up and disrupt plans, but generally, having those clear goals will help you decide.
Next thing is the quality of education. If this is important to you, then you need to be looking at university rankings as you decide. My favourite website for this is QS Top Universities. It provides you with a list of all the top universities, and when you find one you like, you can check it’s ranking and decide if that works for you before you apply. I also recommend checking whether the degree or diploma you will receive upon graduation will be accredited. You can read more about that here.
After considering your goals and the quality of education, I believe the next thing would be cost and language requirements. Some universities in Europe offer free education, but more often than not, those free programs are conducted in the local language. Germany, for example, is one such place where most bachelor programs are in German and are free; however, you would need to know the language in order to get accepted, and usually it’s at B1 or B2 level that is required.
You can read about language levels here in case these letters are something new to you. So, most programs, from bachelor’s level that are in English require payment. The cost of which depends on program and university at times.
It’s up to you to decide if you are willing to pay for your education or you prefer to learn the language whilst you’re still in your home country (from an institution whose certificates will be recognized). Granted, learning the language first will be a longer route, but at least it would be cheaper. If you can pay for your education, then you certainly have more options to explore and can choose the university and country you want. Just always be sure to read the application requirements carefully so you don’t end up stuck at any stage of the process.
On cost, you may also need to consider cost of living as a student. Especially now, cost of living is generally on the rise. Prices for accommodation, transportation, food and activities are high. You will need to get a general overview of how much money you’ll need monthly in order to support your stay. It’s not always easy to find jobs in the EU as a student, especially without a first degree or speaking the local language, so be sure to think about this as well. Pick a place that matches your pocket – believe me, you’ll suffer less.
Last thing I’d say is important in figuring out which university to pick is immigration laws and visa procedures. If you pick a country that doesn’t have an embassy in your home country, you’re already starting up a complicated process.
I recommend looking into visa requirements as you search for your university. Some countries need you to show over 12 000 Euros in your bank account, and if you can’t put this money together, it may be better to aim a little lower and find a place where you’ll be able to meet all the visa requirements.
You should also think about ease of application and application fees too because at times, you may be required to DHL documents when applying and that may be such an expensive process to invest in if your chances of getting accepted are slim. The application fee may also be too high with a low change of acceptance so try to gauge these things as well.
Essential Steps to Study Abroad in EU
In summary, when picking a university, these are the primary things to consider when creating your list:
- 1. Your goal post graduation. If you plan on getting citizenship or a job, think about what it takes to get there if you pick that university. Is it fast? Is it slow? Is it expensive? Are the less guarantees? Ask as many questions as possible to see if that university fits your goals.
- 2. Quality of education. You need to know if the quality of education will match up with industry standards and get you the jobs you need afterwards.
- 3. Cost of education and living. You need to research and find out whether you are fit to get free education at the university and if so, what the requirements are. Also, will you be able to afford living in that city, even if you can’t get a job immediately?
- 4. Immigration laws, visa requirements and chances of getting accepted. You don’t want to get into a situation where you get the university, but you don’t meet the visa requirements or vice-versa. Check if you’re able to meet all the requirements from both the university and immigration department so you don’t waste time or money.
All in all, anything is possible, but above all, knowledge is power. The more you find out, the better.
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions. I’ll be happy to answer!