For many people, studying abroad is a dream that may come true at some point in their life. Many American and non American students wish to pursue their studies at the top tier US universities.
Nonetheless, some others never stop planning to travel to Europe to experience the richness of the continent. There are many testimonials of students who shared their experiences abroad and how that enhanced their life journey.
Countries Known Worldwide for Educational Opportunities
Around the world, when we think of prestigious universities, we are inclined to fantasize the ones located in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, among many other institutions.
Europe, apart from the UK, usually has a low profile when it comes to studying abroad, but never of lesser importance.
Below we present to you, 7 of the notable European countries, known for centuries for their quality education. Moreover, these countries are the birthplaces for the work of their graduates. These alumni changed the way we perceive our life and our universe.
1. Austria
According to many scientists, this country is the birthplace of modern psychology. Perhaps Sigmund Freud is the main reason behind this idea. Freud’s work has changed a lot of the western cultures and perceptions.
Therefore, the many advances in the European and the American continents, can be traced back to this Austrian neurologist. These advances are manifested in better understanding the psychological anomalies and treatment methods. Therefore, he is by all means the founder and the father of modern psychoanalysis.
Today, a lot of psychology students head to Austria to embark on their psychology journey. Alternatively, others go there to sharpen their knowledge in higher education through its reputable universities.
2. Italy
La Dolce Vita is also the land of study at some of the most notable universities on the planet. Studying in Italy gives you the best of the two worlds. First, you get to acquire knowledge from some of the most knowledgeable professors around the globe.Moreover, Italy is home to the oldest university in Europe, University of Bologna.
On the other hand, during your free time, a world of opportunities unveil to you. Therefore, you get to experience the beautiful nature, the tasty cuisine, the joyful locals and the eternal culture.
Italy has many shades and forms to experience. In this country, you feel the lovely element of surprise hiding in each corner of its streets. The same is true in relation to studying in this lovely place. As a matter of fact, Italy provides a plethora of study programs taught in English, Italian and German, among many other languages. As a result, Italy can be a polyglot paradise for some people, just saying!
3. Portugal
A lovely country with colorful ambiances. Portugal at some point in time used to rule about half of the world known to mankind. This legacy made the country very rich in culture, knowledge and education.
Lying on the edge of the European continent, many people see Portugal as a ship to board, where they can cross from their old life habits to their new lifestyle.
A vibrant country with a lot to explore, Portugal has many offers to satisfy students hungry for knowledge and experiences. Portuguese is the main communication language around the country, hence Brazilians find it very convenient to relocate, either for study or to live permanently. Nevertheless, English is widely spoken all over the country and some universities offer programs taught entirely in the English language. Portugal is definitely a place worth considering for both graduate and undergraduate students.
4. Czech Republic
Most visitors to this country claim walking inside a painted piece of artwork. We tend to agree, as this place is truly charming and is an open air museum.
Many people head to the Czech Republic to experience central Europe’s culture and get to learn about the history of the country. For students, it’s more of a lottery prize, where they get to be educated at some of the best colleges, while at the same time, have a lot of extended periods to truly understand this fairy tale country.
Each town in the Czech Republic is blessed with natural and cultural beauty and it takes years to experience most of them. Another advantage of this destination is the relatively cheaper cost of living when compared to western Europe.
As it is always advisable to learn the basics of the language spoken in a new country, the Czech language is not an easy task to do. Having said that, the beauty of the country will motivate you to overcome this tiny barrier on the grand scheme of things. Eventhough, a significant portion of the young population speaks perfect English, especially in the capital city of Prague, but more Czech is spoken when you visit the countryside.
5. Greece
The cradle of western civilization should be on your list for a fresh start in education. Many of the English scientific words stem from Greek origins and there is a good reason for that.
A few thousands years ago, Greece was the mother of science and many mathematicians, philosophers and scientists have sacrificed their lives in the quest for truth. This truth is what we call today science.
Imagine walking on the same roads that Socrates took to come up with his theories. Moreover, think about siting in the same corners where Plato used to analyze our universe and deduce his eternal philosophies.
For relaxation, we cannot think of a better sunny retreat than the Greek islands. Party goers will never go astray when visiting Mykonos. Meanwhile, the quiet souls can head to Santorini and its picturesque sunsets that will surely set their minds to study and focus.
No matter what stress or anxiety you might have, Greece gentle waves will wash away all your pain and reset your mind for wisdom and knowledge.
6. Germany
Do you love living an orderly life among organized people? Then Germany is the place to be. This country is world famous for its industries and quality products in many fields.
Many engineers head to Germany to study the best and ultra modern mechanization methods at the highest quality standards.
However, Germany is not only about industries and hard work. In fact, people have a lot of fun in this country and there is an ample of experiences that pop up according to regions and cultures.
Germany has always tried to attract the best talent from all corners of the globe in an attempt to formulate itself as a multicultural hub for innovation and diversity. Consequenlty, many universities offer excellent educational degrees at very affordable prices that are minimal in comparison to North American universities’ tuitions.
The catch is that German will be the main educational medium. Even though English is widely spoken, nontheless, German universities expect students to have a decent level of their main language. The benefit of acquiring the German language shall in return offer great opportunities for graduation and work.
7. France
No list of Europe is ever complete without France. Imagine waking up early to go to college on your bike, while enjoying the charming sunrise. Then, stopping at your favourite café to pick up your hot baguette or croissant and fresh coffee.
In the weekends you can treat yourself to the best Crêpes France has to offer. Oh, we dwelled a lot into food and we totally forgot about the enormous university scene in France!
As the country is world famous for its ancient educational institutions, students flock to France to gain degrees in many vital fields, such as medicine and engineering. France is very famous among its former colonies, as they tend to speak the language of the Francophonic alliance. However, if your main language is English, you need not to worry as France has long anticipated the need for this language and many programs are taught entirely in English.
As many testimonials have been given by students who studied abroad about how they returned as new individuals, many others didn’t wish to return back at all. They stayed attached to the unveiled lands of their dreams.
As they say, life is too short and the world is too wide, hence studying abroad might help fill part of this gap and will surely enhance our total life experience.
