Study in Europe Guide

Dear readers, We understand you are planning on your higher education, and right now you may have thousands of questions to ask. We would like to invite you to read through this carefully-prepared document. This document serves as your study guide, and we expect it to bring clear answers to most of your questions. This study guide is based on the real life feedback from many people who were studying in Europe, and some of the crucial surveys were taken together with famous student organizations and the European Commission. You will see each of their names in the main content. The least thing wed like to do is to fill you up with too much information. Instead, wed like to prepare you with the spirit to enjoy your next exciting journey, and the necessary information, but nothing more. For such a purpose, we split this guide in several sections, and only present you with a few sentences or paragraphs in each section for an overview. You decide what topics fit your need, and click on the links in those sections for the unlimited full stories. Hope you can find enough support in this study guide! Best wishes, StudyPortals

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Contents
Study Orientation ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 How to choose the best university for your studies .................................................................................................... 3 Master's: Now or Later? ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Should I choose a Master's programme abroad? - pros and cons ............................................................................. 3 Study abroad in Europe Satisfaction guaranteed! ..................................................................................................... 3 10 Important Criteria When Choosing Your Masters ................................................................................................ 3 5 important criteria to choose a distance learning programme ................................................................................ 4 Benefits of a double degree/joint degree programme ............................................................................................... 4 Big or small city? What to choose when studying in Europe? .................................................................................... 4 Higher Education Systems an insight .......................................................................................................................... 4 What is ECTS? ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Germanys Elite Universities ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Types of classes at German universities ..................................................................................................................... 5 University Colleges: What are they? .......................................................................................................................... 5 University types in the Netherlands ........................................................................................................................... 5 What are the advantages of studying a Foundation Programme? ............................................................................ 5 Application and Enrollment ............................................................................................................................................ 5 All you need to know about language certificates ..................................................................................................... 5 How to prepare for the TOEFL English certificate ...................................................................................................... 6 Important things to know about the IELTS English certificate ................................................................................... 6 What qualifications do I need to be accepted to a Foundation Programme? ............................................................ 6 Transcript of Records What is it? ............................................................................................................................ 6 Write a successful motivation letter for your Masters ............................................................................................... 6 Open admission why admissions for distance learning is different ......................................................................... 7 Cost and Funding............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Cost of studying in Europe .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Tuition fees at European Universities ......................................................................................................................... 7 Hospitality and engaging social life. ...................................................................................................................... 7 Differences between EU and Non-EU students ...................................................................................................... 7 Average tuition fees in Europe ............................................................................................................................... 8 Tuition fees: An overview per country .................................................................................................................... 8 Europe is going for more. ..................................................................................................................................... 10 1

How to get your scholarship..................................................................................................................................... 10 Student Life .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Surviving Fresher's Week .......................................................................................................................................... 11 How to meet new people during Erasmus................................................................................................................ 11 Seven good reasons to join a student organisation during your studies .................................................................. 11 Key Challenges in pursuing an online degree the eight Cs .................................................................................... 11 Learning Languages: Language Exchange Meetings ............................................................................................... 11 The positive side of procrastination ......................................................................................................................... 12

Study Orientation
In this section, wed like to cover several general topics when it comes to higher education. As you can see, the topics in this section vary from traditional ones (e.g. which university suits me the best?) to emerging ones (e.g. distance learning). We believe this section would be very helpful to people who just started planning, especially for students outside of Europe.

How to choose the best university for your studies

Choosing your studies or the university to do your Bachelor, Master or PhD degree is not as easy as you think and it takes longer than you expected in the first place. If you already have an idea or actually know what you want to do in the future and want to build a career on it later, the decision is not that difficult. But there are other factors you should consider. http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/how-to-choose-the-best-university-for-your-studies/

Master's: Now or Later?

If you are sharp about having an academic career, then the answer is easy. However, if you are undecided or prefer working rather than going academia, then timing of your Masters studies becomes a serious question. In my eye, the main criteria are the career and academic goals, and strength of your motivation for a Master degree. Here I will try to list the advantages of both: http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/275/masters-now-or-later.html

Should I choose a Master's programme abroad? - pros and cons

As a wise man said once, Learning never exhausts the mind. So it would be wrong to say that after graduating with a Bachelors Degree, for which he/she has worked so hard, the poor student needs a well -earned pause. First and foremost, the life learning process should continue, so that students have the chance to improve the knowledge they have accumulated so far. For this reason, the variety of the MA programmes proposed all around Europe intends to attract as many students as possible, in orde r to prepare them for the demanding and scary world of employment. http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/masters-programmes-abroad-pros-cons/

Study abroad in Europe Satisfaction guaranteed!

There are thousands of new cell phone models every year. And choosing the right cell phone for you to buy can be a difficult decision. Compared to the tough decision of choosing the right place to study abroad it is a walk in the park, though. However, there are more similarities between those two decision processes than you might expect! Before going into detail let me start by saying this: People who decide to study in Europe are on average way more satisfied than the average iPhone user! http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/study-abroad-in-europe-satisfaction-guaranteed/

10 Important Criteria When Choosing Your Masters

When choosing a Masters programme, it is essential to consider several factors in order to make the best decision possible for the sake of securing an education that will allow the student to reach his or her potential. University life 3

is not only an educational experience anymore but a means of preparing for the future and the challenges of the job market. Therefore, the most evident or the easiest choices are not practical anymore. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/336/10-important-criteria-when-choosing-your-masters.html

5 important criteria to choose a distance learning programme

The range of distance learning programmes can be overwhelming. As distance learning is continuously gaining popularity this number is increasing steadily. This article gives an overview about important criteria for choosing a distance learning programme. http://www.distancelearningportal.eu/articles/366/5-important-criteria-to-choose-a-distance-learningprogramme.html

Benefits of a double degree/joint degree programme

How can you double your knowledge, experience and your true potential in a regular Masters time period? The answer to this question is very simple: Double degree programmes! http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/328/benefits-of-a-double-degreejoint-degree-programme.html

Big or small city? What to choose when studying in Europe?

Making the decision on where to study abroad is probably one of the more difficult decisions in life. You have to figure out how to finance your studies and to decide which university and which programme is the best for you. But besides all that, it is also important to choose the right city to live in! http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/322/big-or-small-city-what-to-choose-when-studying-in-europe.html

Higher Education Systems an insight

You may have heard from somewhere, Europe has unified their University systems! 48 nations in Europe have unified their systems in a three tier system of Higher Education: Bachelor's; Master's and PhD, around the year 2010. Maybe you are already familiar with such a system, otherwise wed like to invite you to take a look at what it means. We pick up universities in Germany and the Netherlands as examples.

What is ECTS?
When looking at different programme and course descriptions you might have already stumbled upon it: ECTS. But what is it and what does it exactly mean? This article gives an overview! ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System and is a standard across the European Union. Its aim is, to makes programmes and the performance of students of higher education more transparent and comparable European-wide and to replace or complement the different local (national) standards within Europe. The ECTS consists out of two main elements: ECTS-credits and ECTS grading scale: http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/what-is-ects/

Germanys Elite Universities

Germany has one of the best higher education systems in Europe and degrees from German universities are worldwide recognised. Germany is also among the leading nations when it comes to research and innovation. http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/germanys-elite-universities/

Types of classes at German universities

The process of searching for bachelor and master programmes in universities abroad sometimes takes time. There are often so many study programmes that you feel confused from all the enormous amount of information of every university you consider applying to and are unsure whether you should choose the one with the better programme of studies or the one which is more well-known, hence a safer choice in most cases. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/331/types-of-classes-at-german-universities.html

University Colleges: What are they?

With more and more students studying abroad for a full degree, nowadays close to 4 million worldwide, there is some confusion about the difference between the terms university and college. It becomes even more difficult with the term university college, which is being used in quite a few countries across the globe, ranging from Australia, Canada and Denmark, to the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the USA, and many other countries. Very often it does not refer to the same type of institution. http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/articles/308/university-colleges-what-are-they.html

University types in the Netherlands

There are two main types of regular higher education institutions in The Netherlands which are widely known as research universities and universities of applied sciences (Hogeschool, in Dutch). Meanwhile a smaller branch of education is provided by institutes for international education, which offer programmes designed especially for foreign students. http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/articles/309/university-types-in-the-netherlands.html

What are the advantages of studying a Foundation Programme?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. It increases your chances of admission. It provides the needed language proficiency. It provides direct access to the University of your choice. It delivers relevant qualification for your future Bachelors programme. It reduces the relocation shock and the time spent on accommodation.

http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/articles/370/what-are-the-advantages-of-studying-a-foundation-programme.html

Application and Enrollment

After you figure out what programmes and universities suit you the best, you need to show the admissions office you are one of the best candidates. Topics in this section will walk you through the relevant technical issues.

All you need to know about language certificates

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Already if you are choosing an international oriented programme in your home country, but at latest when you are applying for a study programme abroad you will most likely need a language certificate, proving that you have sufficient knowledge of the language you need for your studies. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/345/all-you-need-to-know-about-language-certificates.html

How to prepare for the TOEFL English certificate

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardised test in order to assess your level of English skills. TOEFL is one of the most popular English language certificates and is often required in order to get admitted to English-taught programmes. I this article I will explain you my personal experiences with the TOEFL test and give you some hints and advices on how to get an optimal result. You will learn about the test structure, the test preparations and my experience at the test-day. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/346/how-to-prepare-for-the-toefl-english-certificate.html

Important things to know about the IELTS English certificate

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and is one of the most popular official exams required to study, live or find a job in a place where English is necessary. Let's say that is a sort of measure of your skills and capabilities to use the language. Therefore, the more prepared you are, the easier will be. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/347/important-things-to-know-about-the-ielts-english-certificate.html

What qualifications do I need to be accepted to a Foundation Programme?

The requirements of most foundation programmes are the following: 1. 2. 3. Successful completion of 12 years of basic education anywhere in the world. Basic Language proficiency (for English an IELTS score of 5.5 for example). Certain subjects in your high school syllabus relevant for the foundation programme (for example mathematics course in high school for a foundation programme in Business Engineering).

http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/articles/372/what-qualifications-do-i-need-to-be-accepted-to-a-foundationprogramme.html

Transcript of Records What is it?

The Transcript of Records (ToR) consists basically of a list of the course units taken, the exams you have passed and the credits gained in your host university. http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/transcript-of-records-what-is-it/

Write a successful motivation letter for your Masters

It is very common nowadays that European universities that offer different international Masters degree programs, ask applicants to send a number of important documents like: C.V, transcript of records, Bachelor s degree diploma, language certificate etc. but one of the key documents required that might make the difference and assure you a place in your desired Masters program is the motivation letter. http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/write-a-successful-motivation-letter-for-your-masters/

Open admission why admissions for distance learning is different

It is well known that for a classical academic programme an applicant needs to fulfill certain requirements. These requirements are similar in certain aspects like for example having passed the national high school graduation exams. They may also differ in other aspects, for example, certain study programmes may require a GMAT test economic studies, or a portfolio of drawings Architecture or Design studies. http://www.distancelearningportal.eu/articles/274/open-admission-why-admissions-for-distance-learning-isdifferent.html

Cost and Funding

Now we come to some topics that may concern many of you. Yes, we are going to talk about money.

Cost of studying in Europe

If you are going to study in one of the twenty seven countries of the European Union or you are just interested about the expenses of living and studying in such a country, then this article might give you a general idea about some of the costs your studies might imply. http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/costs-of-studying-in-europe/

Tuition fees at European Universities

Looking for a top class university with accessible study fees? Then, Europe is the place for you. The European university system is mostly based on public funding, that is why European universities can provide excellent quality for very low or even no tuition fees at all! http://www.mastersportal.eu/students/articles/tuition-fees-for-students-in-europe/

Hospitality and engaging social life.

In total Europe offers almost 30,000 international study programmes that you can apply for. International students in Europe enjoy great living standards, cities full of culture and an intense social life. In most of the cities, universities and student organizations involve international students in diverse social activities making them feel like home. Check out why Europe is so popular among international students.

Differences between EU and Non-EU students

In general EU students should have the same rights when they move to another EU country. Therefore EU citizens are automatically entitled to study in other EU member states: they should not be paying higher tuition fees and they should be able to receive a residence permit (in order to obtain financial sustain as any other national student). The same works generally for EEA and Swiss students too, although some conditions regarding public student loans and residence permit might differ for them. For non-EU students this works differently. European High Education welcomes non-EU students in Europe: although they are required to pay for tuition fees (on behalf of Norway and Finland), almost everywhere they can apply for scholarships or funding. Did you know that in Europe there are in total 16 billion euros worth of Scholarship available every year? Have a look at ScholarshipPortal.eu to find the one that matches your requirements best.

Country fee focus. Would you prefer the charming districts of Paris or do you care more about a sound academic environment in Oxford? Whether you are looking for a Bachelor's, a Master's, or a PhD on StudyPortals you can choose your destination country and search for a maximum tuition fee. Hereafter we provide information on study fees for international university students in different European countries.

Average tuition fees in Europe

Tuition fees in Europe are generally very low compared to other continents, while many European universities belong to the world top. So it is possible to get top quality education against very reasonable costs. Studying abroad in Europe is therefore very popular nowadays, we also see this in our visitor statistics for example: every month our study choice websites attract more than 1.7 million (!) visits from all over the world. Of course this differs per country though, and it also depends on if you come from Europe (the European Economic Area) or not. The average tuition fee for an international Masters programme in Europe is around 5.100 for students from within the EEA, and 10.170 for students from outside t he EEA. For international Bachelor programmes this is 4.500 for EEA students and 8.600 for non -EEA students. But many students dont realize that you can study for less than a thousand euro per year, or even for free, in many European countries. There are thousands of Master programmes in Europe with a tuition fee less than one thousand euro.

Tuition fees: An overview per country Austria

In Austrian universities there are no tuition fees for students from EU-EEA member countries, Switzerland and least developed countries. All the others pay a study fee of EUR 336.36 per semester. All the students are compelled to pay a semester fee of EUR 16.89 to be member of the Austrian Student Union. For more information you can visit the website of the OEAD (Austrianagency for international mobility and cooperation in education, science and research).

Denmark
University education in Denmark is free for students from the EU-EEA and Switzerland. For all others students tuition fees range from EUR 6,000 to EUR 16,000 Euro per year. Scholarship programmes are available both for European and non-European students. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in Denmark

Finland
No tuition fees are charged for Bachelors and Doctoral programmes, regardless of your nationality. The same applies to many Masters programmes for Finnish, EU -EEA and Swiss students. Erasmus Mundus programmes for non-EU students always have a tuition fee, but those students can also apply for an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. For other Masters degree programmes tuition fees payment may apply starting from 2010, 2011or 2012 and depending on the programme chosen. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in Finland

France
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France is one of the most popular countries and has also very affordable tuition fees: they range between EUR 150 and EUR 550 per semester for Bachelors and even lower for Masters programmes and PhDs. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in France

Germany
Germany is another country investing substantial public funds in education. In general tuition fees change depending on the Federal State, but they can vary from a minimum of EUR 50 to a maximum of EUR 500 per semester. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in Germany

Italy
In the boot of Europe study fees depend on the university chosen and on the income of the student family; the same applies for EU/EEA and Swiss student. In public universities an annual fee ranges between EUR 150 and EUR 3,500, depending (on your family income and) on the university chosen. Private universities can charge up to EUR 16,000 per year. In general in Italian universities there are no (or very low) admission costs.

The Netherlands
In The Netherlands study fees for EU students are EUR 1,771, while they can reach up to EUR 8,000 for non-EU students. EU-EEA/Switzerland students are entitled to receive a public loan. Citizens coming from other countries may apply for a study loan at certain conditions. You can find all information you need about that on the Dutch Ministry for Study, Culture and Science website. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in the Netherlands

Norway
Higher education in Norway is considered to be free of charge for everyone, although in state universities students have to pay for a small semester fee of NOK 300-600 (EUR 39.00-79.00 approx.). Students are granted a student card that gives them the right to have health care and transport for free, as well as reductions for cultural activities and events. In private universities there are tuition fees to be paid depending on the programme chosen. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in Norway

Spain
Each regional government sets its own tuition fees for Bachelors degrees. In public universities those cost between EUR 535 and EUR 1,280 per academic year. In private universities a Bachelors programme could cost between EUR 5,000 and EUR 12,000. Masters programmes and PhDs study fees are calculated per credit; each credit can cost between EUR 16.50 and EUR 34.00. Therefore a typical Masters program of 60 ECTS in t he academic year 20112012 could cost between EUR 990 and EUR 2,040. These fees apply to all international students. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in Spain

Sweden

The Swedish government has introduced study fees for non-EU and non-EEA/Switzerland citizens starting from the academic year 2011-2012. Those students have to pay an application fee of SEK 900 (EUR 101.00 approx.). Each university sets its own study fee that can range between SEK 80,000-140,000 (EUR 9,000-15,750 approx.) per academic year. These fees apply only to Bachelor and Masters programmes, while PhDs are tuition -free. At the same time the parliament of Sweden has allocated funds for two scholarship programmes for foreign students: one is directed only to scholars from 12 developing countries (Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia); while the second one has no geographical limitations. Here you can find all the information you need about university admission in Sweden. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in Sweden

Switzerland
For EU-EEA members study fees in Swiss universities range between CHF 1,000 (EUR 831 approx.) and CHF 4,000 (EUR 3,326 approx.). In most cases the same fees apply for foreign students as well; only in five universities foreign students are asked to pay extra taxes. Scholarships are available for EU and eastern European students.

UK
After offering low tuition fees for long time (no tuitions were paid until 1998), the UK government has recently decided to allow universities to raise study fees. It is important to note, that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are independent from this decision and pursue their own strategy on tuition fees. In Scotland for example, Scottish and non-UK EU citizens do not have to pay any tuition fee. In England there are home or oversees rate of fee. The first one refers generally to EU residents and EEA/Switzerland students (the latter are subject to some restrictions); in these cases tuition fees range from 3,500 (EUR 4,255 approx.) up to a max of 9,000 (EUR 10,941 approx.) per year. Oversees study fees can range between 3,500 (EUR 4,255 approx.) until 18,000 (EUR 21,882 approx.) per year. Nonetheless, the United Kingdom still remains one of the favourite destinations for many foreign students worldwide. Thanks to the quality of their teaching (in English) and the facilities offered, United Kingdoms universities are every year in the top 10 of the Times World University Ranking. For more information about what type of fee (home or oversees) you should be paying, you can have a look at the UK Council for International Student Affairs website. Read more about tuition fees and living costs in the UK

Europe is going for more.

Fight fire with fire, some say. That is why despite financial crisis the European Union is going to invest more money in education. Recently, the European Commission has presented its multi-annual financial framework (2014-2020) that proposes 70% funds increases for training and education: 17 billion euros that will be supporting transnational learning mobility; cooperation between institutions; modernisation of education and implementation of education policies in the Member States.

How to get your scholarship

Getting a scholarship is a very good option to finance your studies and enables you to fully concentrate on getting your degree instead of worrying about money issues. This article is giving you an overview on how to succeed with that.

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http://www.scholarshipportal.eu/articles/305/how-to-get-your-scholarship.html

Student Life
What can you expect in your student life when studying in Europe?

Surviving Fresher's Week

Freshers week is truly a time like no other in your life. Laden with hopes, fears, expectations, dreams and insecurities you embark on the next stage in your life. Thrown into the midst of many others in the same situation, it is a while before anyone feels ready to acknowledge these emotions. Instead this is a time for supreme confidence, a final opportunity to reinvent yourself, with nothing to hold you back. Hi Im George, but my mates call me G-dawg the ladies man. If you can fool everyone around you, you might just be able to convince yourself! http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/articles/321/surviving-freshers-week.html

How to meet new people during Erasmus

Erasmus is a new beginning for everyone. You move to a place , which is still unknown and in many cases you dont have a person to show you around at the beginning. It is your job to find your way around this new and exciting place. You know that you will spend a certain amount of months there and you cant sit and wait for people and things to come to you. It cant always be easy to go up to people and introduce oneself but other people face the same problems. But once you get there, it is all worth it. You win new friends, new colleges at the classes you attend, you explore your surroundings and adapt to this new environment, just like you did when you ve first started university in your country. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/329/how-to-meet-new-people-during-erasmus.html

Seven good reasons to join a student organisation during your studies

1. 2. 3. 4. Gain soft skills. Networking. Extracurricular activities. (Cheap) Traveling, and many more benefits:

http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/articles/199/seven-good-reasons-to-join-a-student-organisation-during-yourstudies.html

Key Challenges in pursuing an online degree the eight Cs

There are quite a few challenges in pursuing an online degree. But as long as you know them beforehand and can prepare for them, all of these challenges wont put any bigger obstacle for you. For me the key challenges in distance Learning are the eight Cs. http://www.distancelearningportal.eu/articles/296/key-challenges-in-pursuing-an-online-degree-the-eight-cs.html

Learning Languages: Language Exchange Meetings

I am very keen on learning foreign languages and pushing others to follow this path as I am more than sure that languages widen our horizons, broaden our mind and help us become more tolerant for the world around us. It 11

seems that in the future my children most probably will be living in the mixed languages surrounding and I am sure that I would like them to be ready for that, that is why they will be speaking more than just one language since the very beginning of their speaking moments. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/210/learning-languages-language-exchange-meetings.html

The positive side of procrastination

One word that will quickly appear in the language of any student, be they English, French, Portuguese or Swahili, is Procrastination, or some equivalent. Weve all been there we have an essay deadline inching closer and closer, and we keep saying to ourselves: Ill just do one more thing before I start writing. My personal approach is to write a to -do list, and put a list of little easy things at the top, such as: finish writing to -do list. For some people, their homes will never be as clean as when exams are approaching, and others will suddenly realise how fascinating and constructive Wikipedia can be. http://www.mastersportal.eu/articles/231/the-positive-side-of-procrastination.html

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