Every year, millions students study abroad in Europe. Europe is the place to be – if you are European and want to go to another country to gain international experience, or if you are from another continent and want to study here.

1. Study in Europe: the boost for your career – International experience has become more and more important in recent years. Large and small companies alike look for employees who have left their “comfort zone”. By studying abroad in Europe, you set the course for your career success. Many European countries also make an effort to convince foreign graduates to stay after university. That means if you decide to study in Europe, the chances are good that you will get a job offer and can stay for the longer term.
2. Europe offers world-class education and research – Many of the world’s best universities are located in Europe. Cross-border cooperations within Europe have shaped a strong international academic community that conducts cutting-edge research.
3. A wide range of education options – There are thousands of universities in Europe, offering tens of thousands of study programmes in English. You can find programmes in any academic discipline from Arts to Zoology; small, intimate universities or large international research centers; cutting edge academic research programmes or practice-oriented taught education. There is something for everybody.
4. Tuition fees are low – Compared to countries like the US, Canada or Australia, the tuition fees at most public universities in Europe are very low. In some European countries, there aren’t even any tuition fees – studying at university is free of charge! There are also lots of scholarship opportunities and other options for financial support during your studies.

5. It’s easy to travel and discover the whole continent – When you study in Europe, you should use the chance to see more countries than just one. Thanks to a wealth of cheap flight, train and bus connections, and relatively short travel times, that is even possible on a limited student budget and with tight semester schedules. If you are a non-European citizen  studying within the Schengen Area of 26 European states then you can easily obtain a student visa allowing you to visit other countries of the Schengen Area. Think of all the great experiences you can gain even far away from campus.

6. The higher education systems are well -respected and aligned – Thanks to the Bologna process of reforms, the national higher education systems of all European countries have been aligned. That means that any Bachelor or Master in Europe follows the same general academic framework. So, if you obtain your Master’s degree in Sweden, it will be equivalent to a Master’s degree from Germany, Lithuania or the United Kingdom.
7. You can study in English – Not only are there several thousand Bachelors and Masters in English that you can choose from. In most European countries, the proficiency in English is generally very high. That means even if you struggle to learn the basics in Polish, Portuguese or Swedish, you can always get by with English in everyday situations.

In order to identify each level of the European education system, an international classification is usually considered. This classification is called International Standard Classification ISCED 1997 and was carried out by the UNESCO. According to ISCED 1997, the following education levels can be differentiated:

• ISCED 1997 3A-B/4A-B: studies at this level provide students with direct access to tertiary studies, i.e., the following level of the education system. The common terms to refer to this level are Upper Secondary School (ISCED 1997 3) and Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary School (ISCED 1997 4)
• ISCED 1997 5: this level refers to studies at higher education institutions, i.e., at universities and university colleges. Furthermore, ISCED 1997 5 provides access to post-graduate studies (third cycle studies)
• ISCED 1997 6: this level of education refers to post-graduate studies, such as PhD studies (third cycle studies)

European students’ eligibility for tertiary studies is determined by following their academic achievements at ISCED 1997 3/4. In spite of the large heterogeneity of study contents and structures at upper secondary level across the different education systems, students are guaranteed the fair access to any higher education institution in Europe through the Lisbon Convention. Furthermore, the development of the Bologna Declaration and the use of the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System) increases the transparency when comparing foreign study courses and programs at ISCED 1997 5, which results in a cohesive European Higher Education Space.

Europeans have become more receptive to immigration in recent decades. That’s one of multiple new findings from an innovative study on European public opinon co-authored by an MIT political scientist.

The study aggregates public opinion polls from 27 countries over a span of 36 years, offering new insight into broad trends and changes in European politics and society. While some dramatic recent political events, such as Britain’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union, have highlighted anti-immigrant sentiment, the overall picture looks rather different.

“There has been a general liberalizing trend on immigration, which is contrary to a lot of rhetoric and commentary,” says Devin Caughey, an associate professor of political science at MIT and co-author of the study. “Europeans, on average, when you ask them the same questions over time, have given more pro-immigration answers than they did a generation ago.”

As Caughey notes, that may be due to “generational replacement,” as older citizens who view immigration less favorably may be replaced by younger, more pro-immigrant cohorts of people.

Living expenses for foreign students also vary depending on the country of residence. Living costs will include accommodation, food transport etc. European countries that have lower living costs are Italy, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden etc. You can choose your country based on your budget and the course and university you wish to study.

Non-EU citizens need a visa to study in Europe for extended periods, such as to attend university or specialized institutions. The visa is requested at the embassy or consulate of the host country.

The visa is valid for as long as the educational course the individual has enrolled on, it may be extended on a yearly basis if the original conditions continue to be met.

To be granted a student visa for Europe, applicants must present proof of:

• Admission to a recognized public or private educational institution
• Proof of academic qualifications
• Proof of organized accommodation, for instance, dormitory contract or rent agreement
• Health insurance
• Financial means to cover all living expenses, studies, and return to the country of origin

Additional requirements include:

• Two signed and fully completed application forms
• A copy of the passport’s biometric data
• Previous passports