Europe
Study In EUROPE
High-quality education for students with great potential
With over 400 Nobel Laureates and about 45% of the patent applications worldwide, Europe is a natural leader in research and education. No matter what you choose to study – science, law, business and economics or humanities – you can pursue this in Europe. There are also opportunities for training that are directly connected to the industry that you intend to pursue a career in.
The Top-ranking universities provide a broad variety of courses and many are taught in English. Language classes at all levels are also available. The European diplomas are recognized around the world. More information about your academic options in Europe can be found on the country pages, or through a Database on Educational Exchange Programmes (DEEP). This is an initiative of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) that contains information on courses and scholarships from thousands of universities in Europe
Studying in the EU costs less than you think!
Education in Europe is considered a basic right. Efforts are taken to ensure that Europe’s more than 6,000 higher education institutions are open to anyone with the appropriate qualifications. Therefore tuition fees in Europe are comparatively affordable. There are many scholarships available that can help you cover the cost of studying in Europe.
European higher education institutions provide a strong support to help your education
European higher education institutions will support you throughout your studies overseas. These services can include airport transfers, university orientation programmes, accommodation, mentoring, and extracurricular activities – everything that you need to help you settle into your studies and surroundings.
The EU Member States also make every effort to simplify the delivery of visas for overseas students. Online procedures are widely available and you may also get information from your local embassies on visa application procedures.
Europe is culturally rich and diverse!
Europe is rich in history and culture. In Europe you will discover that we speak many languages, have diverse culture and traditions. In the EU alone we have 23 official languages. Its landscapes and nature are unmatched around the world. And thanks to the provisions of Schengen Treaty, you may travel throughout most of Europe with only one visa.
Austria:
Basic Information about Austria
Located in southern Central Europe, Austria is a naturally beautiful country with pastoral landscapes, stunning mountain vistas and timeless cities steeped in history and culture.
Austria is home to over 8 million people and shares its borders with both Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The official language of Austria is German.
Austria’s past as a European power and its cultural environment has spawned world class artists in various art forms but most notably music. Austria has been the birthplace of many famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss, and their works continue to inspire.
Austria’s capital city of Vienna, also described as Europe’s cultural capital, ranks as one of the most attractive cities in the world and was recently ranked as the top city in Mercer’s Quality of Living survey rankings. This metropolitan city has a charm, vibrancy and flair that is unique and found nowhere else.
The Higher Education System
There is a wide variety of higher educational institutions in Austria. Sixteen Austrian universities offer a broad range of study options for students. If you would like to study music, theatre, film, fine arts or applied arts, the six Austrian Universities of the Arts offer their students a creative education. Since 1993, Austria also has 246 Fachhochschul-Studiengänge (degree programmes) in addition to the universities. www.fachhochschulen.at There are also Private Universities. The post-secondary sector also includes Teacher Training Colleges and Institutes, Colleges and Institutes for Training Religious Teachers, etc.
University level first stage (Bachelor’s degree):
Bakkalaureus, Bakkalaureus (FH)
University level second stage (Master’s degree):
Magister, Magister (FH), Diplom-Ingenieur, Diplom-Ingenieur (FH)
University level third stage (PhD):
Doktoratstudien
You can find more information on the Austrian education system (e.g. Universities’ and Fachhochschulen’ websites, and Austria’s participation in European and International Exchange Programmes) on the websites of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research www.bmwf.gv.at (the information is only available in German).
Scholarships
The Austrian government, private institutions and Universities offer a number of scholarships for students. Just as in some other countries, a special agency – the Austrian Exchange Service [Österreichischer Austauschdienst (ÖAD)] – was established to manage all grants for foreign students. If you are interested in studying in Austria and if you are looking for financial support, we strongly recommend that you visit this organisation’s website www.oead.ac.at where you will find all the information on available scholarships (section Study & Research in Austria – Grants Database www.oead.at). The aim of this database is to make it easier for those interested in studying in Austria as well as those providing advice in information centres to find details of existing grant programmes and to guarantee that the information about these programmes is always up to date.
Belgium:
Basic Information about Belgium
Belgium is situated in Western Europe. It is bound by France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the North Sea. The country’s topography is that of a large fertile low-lying plain. The capital of the country is Brussels. The population of the country is 10.8 million. There are two main language communities in Belgium: the Dutch-speaking Flemings in the north, and the French-speaking Walloons in the south. Brussels is officially bilingual. A third language community of German-speakers is located in the eastern part of Belgium.
Often called the Essence of Europe, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its medieval art cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling hills of the Ardennes, countless castles, and the cities of Charleroi, Liege, Mons, Namur, and Tournai. The city of Brussels is one of the world’s great cosmopolitan capitals, home to both the European Union and NATO, as well as a wealth of international trade and finance companies.
The Higher Education System
In Belgium, the communities are responsible for making decisions on services for individuals, such as education. The Flemish Community is therefore responsible for education in the Dutch-speaking part of the country, whilst the Federation Wallonia-Brussels, is the governing authority for the French-speaking part of Belgium.
The colleges of higher education and universities have introduced the bachelor-master structure. Higher education organised according to the bachelor-master structure is still divided into two types of education: higher professional education and academic education. Higher professional education is restricted to bachelor courses and is only provided at university colleges. Academic education consists of bachelor courses and master courses. Academic education is provided at universities and at university colleges.
Tuition fees and living costs
Depending on the programme, the estimated tuition fees are 2000 SGD $, while the living cost (accommodation, food, transport, utilities) estimation is between 1200 to 2000 SGD $ per month.
For more information about tuition fees in the Federation Wallonia Brussels, please visit Wallonia-Brussels Campus website:www.studyinbelgium.be/en/tuition-fees Students can find useful information on living costs and day-to-day student life on the Wallonia-Brussels Campus website:http://www.studyinbelgium.be/en/student-life
Scholarships
Scholarships are also offered by two Belgian communities: the Federation Wallonia-Brussels and the Flemish Community.
Scholarships of the Flemish Community
The Flanders Agency for Mobility and Cooperation in Higher Education (Flamenco), is a non-profit organisation with a mission to contribute to the internationalisation of Flanders’ higher education. One of its projects is Study in Flanders.
For information on scholarships, we refer to the page of Funding opportunities on the website of Study in Flanders:www.studyinflanders.be/en/study-programmes/scholarships
Flemish Department of Education and Training, Scholarships-Grants Division: www.ond.vlaanderen.be/english
Summer Language Courses:taalunieversum.org/taalunie/summer_courses_in_dutch
Bulgaria:
Basic Information about Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria is situated in the north-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. In the north, the country borders Romania, in the south, it shares a border with the Turkish Republic and the Greek Republic, in the west, its neighbours are Serbia and Macedonia, and in the east, it looks on to the Black Sea. Bulgaria has a population of around 9 million. Its capital city is Sofia. Bulgarian is the official language.
The Higher Education System
The country’s higher education system acquired a new structure at the end of 1995, when the National Assembly passed the Higher Education Law. The following multiple-level structure of academic qualifications was introduced by this law:
· Three-year education at institutes and colleges, after its completion graduates receive a higher-education certificate and a professional qualification;
· Four-year education at university, after its completion graduates receive a Bachelor’s degree;
· Five- or six-year course at a university, after its completion graduates receive a Master’s degree; and
· Three-year post-university training leading to a Doctorate.
Under the Higher Education Law, universities, specialised institutes, and colleges are classified as higher educational institutions in Bulgaria. They offer educational programmes of various types, as well as degrees, thus offering students opportunities for higher education in different ways.
Scholarships
Foreign citizens are enrolled in higher educational institutions, providing they pay 100% of the tuition fees. Tuition fee payment is waived for students studying for a doctorate and for postgraduate students in various fields accepted for a course of studies by a resolution of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers or under relevant governmental agreements.
Cyprus:
Basic Information about Cyprus
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. It is at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa, and one of its roles is to build bridges between these continents. The island’s main economic activities are banking, tourism, craft exports and merchant shipping. Over the years, the economy has gradually developed into a modern one with dynamic services, industrial and agricultural sectors, and an advanced physical and social infrastructure. The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia (Lefkosia). The official languages of the Republic of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. English is widely spoken.
The Higher Education System
At present, all universities in Cyprus are state universities, namely, the University of Cyprus, the Open University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology. Higher education in Cyprus is also provided by a number of State Higher Education Institutions, and an even greater number of Private Institutions of Higher Education, none of which has university status.
Scholarships
The government of Cyprus grants two types of scholarship for foreign students.
· Scholarships for short specialized courses
Special short-term courses of 2 to 8 weeks are organised by institutes in the fields of private business management or management of the public sector in a free market economy, and a number of scholarships are offered to citizens from selected countries to attend these short courses.
For example, the following programmes are available at:
· the Mediterranean Institute of Management (MIM)
· the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration
· the Cyprus International Institute of Management
· Scholarships for long term/academic courses
A limited number of scholarships are also offered for the following programmes:
· Post Graduate Management Diploma Programme (11 months) at the Mediterranean Institute of Management (MIM)
· Master in Business Administration (1 year) at the
Cyprus International Institute of Management (CIIM)
· Several one-year programmes at the Higher Hotel Institute
Higher Hotel Institute, Cyprus
You may also apply for scholarships offered by specific higher educational institutions of Cyprus. The list of higher educational institutions of Cyprus is available on the website of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus.
Czech Republic:
Basic Information about the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is situated in Central Europe. The Czech Republic can be rightly called the crossroads of European civilizations. Due to its position in the heart of central Europe it boats a unique natural and cultural wealth. The country is surrounded by extensive mountain ranges which form most of its borderlines. Twelve important historical sights feature on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
The country is historically divided into three regions: Bohemia, Moravia and part of Silesia. The Czech Republic shares borders with Poland in the north, Austria in the south, Germany in the west, and Slovakia in the east. The country has 10.3 million inhabitants and the official language is Czech. The capital of the country is Prague.
The Czech Republic is an advanced Central European country with increasing standards of living. Its rich history has left a significant historical legacy, spectacular architecture and beautiful cultural works. Personalities of past and present times remain a source of pride for the Czech Republic. Many Czechs have received worldwide recognition in different branches of the sciences, arts and sports.
The Higher Education System
At present, there are 62 institutions in the Czech higher education system. There are 24 public institutions, 4 state higher educational institutions (three military schools and one Police Academy) and 34 private higher educational institutions. The Charles University, the Palacký University, Olomuc and the Masaryk University in Brno are traditional multi-disciplinary universities with a combination of humanities, natural sciences, theology and medicine. About 38% of students now study in Prague and 21% in Brno, while other students go to regional centres such as Ceske Budejovice, Cheb, Ostrava, Pardubice, Plzen and others. In the Czech Republic, the higher education system is organised into three levels: bachelor, master and doctorate.
Scholarships
The Czech Republic awards scholarships for study programmes at the Language and Foundation Studies Centre of Charles University and for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s programmes at public higher educational institutions. Regarding Doctor’s study programmes, preferences are given to the graduates of Czech higher educational institutions. A foreign national who applies for a Czech Republic government scholarship to study at a public institution of higher education and has no knowledge of the Czech language can receive a scholarship for a special one-year language and foundation studies course at the Institute of Language and Foundations Studies of Charles University. At the end of the language and foundation study course, the student is required to successfully pass the entrance examination, in which the scope and contents are designed by the respective faculty or higher educational institution. The faculty or higher educational institution itself publishes basic information about admission procedures in advance.
Denmark:
Basic Information about Denmark
Denmark is based in Northern Europe and is the smaller of the Scandinavian countries. The Kingdom of Denmark also has two autonomous provinces; the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The population amounts to 5.6 million people. The official language is Danish, but most people also understand and speak English.
In Denmark you will find that distances are short – and this makes it possible to combine all the atmosphere of buzzing city life with the relaxation of the beautiful Danish countryside. The capital, Copenhagen, is one of the greenest capitals in the world and has an old, historical centre and a large network of pedestrian streets, bicycle paths and parks.
Denmark constantly maintains a high ranking in liveability surveys. Quality of life is a characteristic feature of the Danish society combining social security, a clean environment and an attractive business climate with high standards in education and research – also in an international perspective.
In 2010 Denmark was yet again voted the happiest country in the world.
The Higher Education System
Higher education institutions in Denmark can be grouped in four main types:
· Universities offer Bachelor’s Master’s and PhD programmes in all academic areas at Danish universities.
· University level institutions of fine and performing arts, design and architecture offer research-based programs starting from Bachelor’s and continuing with Master’s and PhD programs.
· Danish University Colleges offer Professional Bachelor’s programmes in areas such as teacher training, engineering, business, nursing, health, nutrition and social work.
· Academies of Professional Higher Education offer 2-2, 5 year Academy Profession (AP) degree programmes and Professional Bachelor’s degree programmes.
Making the choice to study in Denmark is easy. There are plenty of opportunities for international students – be it as an exchange student or a full degree student. The Danish higher education institutions are internationally oriented and offer a large selection of programmes and individual courses in English.
Each institution is responsible for admission, and you can get further information about entrance qualifications, supplementary tests and the possibilities of transfer of credits from the admission offices at the institutions.
High quality in education
The quality of higher education is assured in many ways. It is regulated and financed by the state, and all public educational institutions are approved and evaluated on an ongoing basis. The institutions have a high degree of autonomy, but must at the same time follow the national regulations on teacher qualifications, award structures and external evaluation of their study programmes. This system is a way of setting national standards for higher education, thus ensuring high quality at all institutions.
All institutions use the European credit transfer system, ECTS, facilitating international credit transfer. Students receive certificates, diplomas or other types of documentation for all completed courses. All students finishing a full degree or a diploma programme receive a Diploma Supplement in English.
Scholarships
Denmark has a scholarship programme for students from non-EU/EEA countries. Scholarships and tuition fee waivers are available for high performing students enrolling in certain study programmes. And some universities and educational institutions have their own scholarships. Contact the institution when you apply for admission. In addition, it is possible to apply for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship to do a master’s degree partly at a Danish and partly at another European educational institution.
Exchange/guest students
Your possibilities as an exchange/guest student depend on your home institution and the chosen exchange agreement. If you are studying in countries outside the EU you should seek information about grants and scholarships at your educational institution in your own country.
Students from the EU as well as outside the EU can find links to several scholarship programmes at the EU-database Ploteus.
Estonia:
Basic Information about Estonia
Estonia is the smallest of the three Baltic Countries. Situated on the north eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, Estonia borders with Latvia in the south and with the Russian Federation in the east and has strong cultural and linguistic ties with Finland. The capital of the country is Tallinn and is only about 85 km south of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Sweden is Estonia’s nearest western neighbour across the Baltic Sea. The country has a population of about 1.4 million people.
The Higher Education System
In Estonia, the higher education system consists of two branches – an academic branch and a professional higher education. Thus, one can choose between the two types of institutions – universities and professional higher education institutions.
The academic branch of Estonian higher education follows the Bachelors-Masters – Doctoral model. For Bachelor’s degree, the length of study is usually three – four years (180 ECTS). The Master’s level qualification lasts normally 2 years (120 ECTS) and is a prerequisite for the commencement of doctoral studies. The length of doctoral studies is 3-4 years.
Professional higher education institutions offer non-academic first cycle higher education aimed at providing skills and knowledge required to work in a certain profession or continue studies at a master’s level. The length is 3-4 years (180-240 ECTS).
Further information and a list of higher education institutions are available at www.smartestonia.ee.
Scholarships
Since January 1, 2005 the Archimedes Foundation is responsible for technical coordination of scholarships/internships offered to Estonian students and researchers by our foreign partners and for scholarships offered by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research to foreign students and researchers.
Archimedes Foundation participates in the selection process of the candidates, distributes information about scholarship and placement opportunities to Estonian and foreign students, provides consultations for all interested parties and organizes communication between Estonian and foreign institutions.
Finland:
Basic Information about Finland
Finland is situated in northern Europe. It borders Russia in the east, the Gulf of Finland in the south, the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden in the west and Norway in the north. The capital is Helsinki. The population of the country is 5.3 million. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish with 94% of the population speaking Finnish and 6% Swedish.
Finland is a welfare state with the aim of securing for its inhabitants equal opportunities for a good life and for the most efficient use of its resources as possible. The geopolitical location between West and East has always been reflected in the country’s events and goings on. With this combination of western and eastern influences, Finnish culture has developed into something strong and highly individual.
The Higher Education System
The Finnish higher education system consists of two complementary sectors: universities and polytechnics (also known as universities of applied sciences). The function of the universities is to conduct scientific research and provide undergraduate and postgraduate education based on it.
The Finnish Universities Act has been reformed. The universities were separated from the State and they chose of becoming either corporations subject to public law or foundations subject to private law. Therefore the autonomy of the universities will enlarge further, and they will have more latitude in the management of their finances. New universities were created through mergers so that at the beginning of 2010 there were 16 universities operating under the Finnish Ministry of Education.
The system of polytechnics is still fairly new. Polytechnics (universities of applied science) are multi-field regional institutions focusing on contacts with working life and on regional development. There are 25 polytechnics operating under the Ministry of Education. Polytechnic education is provided in the following fields: Humanities and education, Culture, Social sciences, Business and administration, Natural resources and the environment, Technology, Communication and transport, Natural sciences, Social services, Health and sport, Tourism, Catering and domestic services.
Bachelor’s (3 years) and Master’s (2 years) degrees are both undergraduate degrees in Finland. Universities also confer postgraduate degrees: Licentiate (a pre-doctoral degree) (2 years) and Doctor’s (4 years) degrees. Polytechnic degrees are Bachelor-level (3.5-4 years) and Master-level (1-1.5 years) degrees with a professional emphasis.
Scholarships
The Centre for International Mobility CIMO, an organisation which operates under the Finnish Ministry of Education, offers services to encourage cross-cultural communication. CIMO administers scholarship and exchange programmes, and offers information, advisory services and publications. In addition, CIMO promotes teaching of the Finnish language and culture, and arranges summer courses in the Finnish language and culture for international students. There are various opportunities for students to study in Finland.
CIMO scholarships are mainly targeted for postgraduate students who have completed their Master-level studies. There are two types of scholarships: individual scholarships, which young researchers apply for themselves and host fellowships, which are applied by the Finnish higher education departments willing to host researchers and postgraduates. It should be noted that, in Finland, Master’s programmes are not considered postgraduate studies. CIMO’s undergraduate scholarships promote advanced studies of the Finnish language. Below is a list of scholarships offered by CIMO:
· Finnish Studies and Research/Scholarships for Advanced Studies of the Finnish Language at Finnish Universities
· Exchange Programmes (Erasmus Mundus, Asia-Link and Freemovers)
· CIMO Fellowships
· Finnish Studies and Research/Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies and Research at Finnish Universities
France:
Basic Information about France
Noted as much for its rich culture as for its illustrious scientific achievements, France is unsurprisingly one of the top education destinations for international students. In fact, in 2007, France welcomed 265,000 international students that constituted 14% of its student population.
The Higher Education System
French degrees are granted by a comprehensive network of higher education institutions and world-famous research centers. This network comprises 88 universities, some 500 “Grandes écoles” – uniquely French institutions that cover more than 240 engineering schools and 220 schools of business and management – 59 public schools of Arts, as well as many specialized schools for specific sectors such as fashion, social work, paramedical disciplines, tourism and sports.
The French degrees awarded are based on the European system of Bachelor, Master, and PhD, expressed in credits as defined by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
France’s 88 public universities cover the entire range of academic disciplines, from the sciences to technology to literature, languages, arts, social sciences, law, economics, management etc. Tuition fees (in fact only registration fees in most institutions) are among the lowest in the world and are kept affordable as public institutions enjoy the financial support of the State. However, the quality of the degree programs is not compromised by low tuition fees; throughout, high international standards are maintained at all levels. In addition, French and foreign students have equal access to student benefits and face similar admission requirements.
Many study programs are available in English (Masters and PhDs). Please visit www.campusfrance.org to get the complete and detailed list.
Research in France
An integral part of the French curriculum is the emphasis on hands-on research. More than 300 doctoral programs, in collaboration with about 1,200 research centers and laboratories nationwide, prepare students for careers in their chosen fields. France’s doctoral programs have traditionally been attended by an international student community. More than 35% of PhD students in France today are foreigners.
France is one of the forerunners of scientific and technological innovation. It owes this standing to its research capacity and its many achievements in such fields as aerospace, transportation, electronics, telecommunications, chemistry, biotechnology, health and mathematics, successes attested to by the number of French winners of the Fields Medals and Nobel Prizes.
Tuition fees and living costs
For the tuition fees, the universities and certain “Grandes écoles” will charge approximately SGD 600 per year. For other schools, the prices vary. The business schools are the most expensive. The cost of living will depend on which city you are staying and the type of accommodation. Generally, you will need approximately SGD 2000 per month to cover all the living costs if you are based in Paris, and approximately 1600 SGD if you live outside Paris. Please take into account that the French government reimburses about one third of the accommodation fees per month to students.
Scholarships
Most scholarships are granted in the framework of university or institutional co-operations. Students may then contact the office of International Relations of their respective universities to get more information about the scholarships available. The French Government scholarship schemes available for students in Singapore are the following ones:
Eiffel scholarship and Eiffel Doctorate Scholarship
These scholarships are intended for gifted foreign students who wish to pursue further studies in France in four core fields: engineering sciences for the Master’s course, and sciences in a broader sense for the PhD course (engineering sciences, exact sciences – mathematics, physics, chemistry- life sciences, nano- and bio-technologies, environment sciences, and information & communication sciences); economics and management; law and political sciences; and public administration.
The applications are submitted by French higher education centres. For PhD courses, the Eiffel scholarship is awarded for a maximum of ten months, with no additional language training period. For more information, see www.egide.asso.fr/eiffel. Applications are available in September and have to be submitted by early January.