With rising tuition fees in England, and the growing importance of languages and international experience when seeking employment, more young people are looking at studying for a degree out of the UK, especially in the other countries of the European Union and in the USA.
The European Union encourages mobility for students (and support short term study in other countries through the ERASMUS programme) and in some countries an increasing number of courses are being taught through the medium of English!
European Universities also recognise each others’ qualifications and the EU has set up a joint system for accreditation called ECTIS and under the Bologna Agreement most universities have established a degree structure similar to that of the UK. However entry procedures and requirements differ greatly between countries and sometimes regions and individual universities.
There are a number of web sites to help you find out about options for studying abroad.
The European Commission has a website called Study in Europe providing practical details on applying to study in Europe. You can find out about the application, visa and residency requirements and the funding possibilities that exist. It works through three practical steps:
- Prioritise your requirements
- Gather information
- Search and find
Thew section on European Higher Education provides links to official national university web sites for European Union countries.
The commercial site also called Study in Europe provides useful information about:
- Admission requirements
- Accredited universities and colleges
- How to apply
- Tips and advise about studies in Europe
- Fees
It also provides links to further information for each European country. However, the featured courses are quite limited and appear to be sponsored.
For finding out about studying in the USA, the official U.S. Higher Education website has launched “Your Five Steps to U.S. Study” on the “For International Students” section of the site. It is designed to “help students navigate their way through the sometimes overwhelming college search, application, financial aid, visa, and pre-departure process. They recommend the following steps all students should take:
- Research Your Options
- Complete Your Application
- Finance Your Studies
- Apply for Your Student Visa
- Prepare for Your Departure