TOP-5 important things you need to know about education in Europe

In European countries there are prestigious and popular educational institutions, so many parents tend to send their children to study in Europe. SMAPSE experts will tell you about TOP-5 most important things you need to know to organize a trip in order to receive an international education.

Numerous reviews of graduates indicate that studying abroad is interesting and exciting - foreign education has changed lives, and the trip gave vivid impressions and emotions. In Europe, most teachers use their own unique teaching methods and principles, students are happy to attend their academic classes. Popular European countries among foreign students: Switzerland, France, Austria, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic, Finland and others.

The advantages of studying in Europe:

• high quality education
• daily communication with native speakers
• international environment
• developed culture, the availability of cultural sites and attractions
• high standard of living in European countries
• travels
• change of scenery, exit from the comfort zone
• new acquaintances
• permission to stay in the country after graduation to look for work.

Staying in an international environment helps expand the horizons of consciousness, and unification with a common goal allows you to break the barrier when communicating with representatives of different countries. Pupils communicate not only in the lesson, but also in their free time: they participate in team games, travel together, do creative work, do their homework, have fun - any joint activity brings together and develops communication skills.

Staying in a country with native speakers is a great opportunity to quickly increase your knowledge of a foreign language and start speaking as a native speaker. Those who want to immerse themselves in the language environment as a rule usually choose accommodation in the host family.

If your child goes abroad to receive a foreign education, he will receive not just an international diploma, but a whole bag of valuable knowledge that will help to achieve high results in life, make pleasant acquaintances, find additional classes on interests, see many new places, study with famous teachers. It is no secret to anyone that most often prestigious positions in international companies are awarded to graduates of foreign schools, colleges and universities.

TOP-5 important things you need to know about education in Europe

1. The choice of housing is one of the most important issues when organizing a trip abroad, because the overall impression of the trip depends on a comfortable stay. Accommodation options abroad:

• school residence on school campus
• rental apartment
• affiliate program apartments
• host family.

If a school or university does not provide housing, it is important to take care of finding an apartment or finding a host family in advance.

2. For admission to some programs, you will need to present a diploma or certificate with the results of exams - this will serve as confirmation that the student has the necessary academic and linguistic knowledge. The most common certificates for passing the language exam and certificates of secondary education. In some countries, foreign students cannot continue their studies at European universities immediately after graduating from school: first they need to complete the international pre-university program and get the necessary set of knowledge for admission.

3. The most suitable age to send a child to study in Europe is from 14 years old: then the student will be able to live without parents and independently live on the school campus (some educational institutions set strict age limits for living in a school residence)

4. Studying abroad will require high costs: it must be borne in mind that the cost of an academic program is not an indicator of how much money is required to study abroad. Usually, the cost of education includes only the curriculum and accommodation, but you must also take into account all the additional costs associated with studying abroad. Tuition prices differ in different countries: for example, the most expensive education in Switzerland, the more economical - France, Austria, Finland.

5. It is necessary to prepare in advance for studies in Europe, even if the child is going to a short-term program. The main factors affecting the duration of the organizational process: approval of an application for admission to school, obtaining a visa, housing searches - without these basic points your child will not be able to study abroad.

Education in Europe for foreign students: requirements and prices

If parents plan to send the child to study in Europe alone, it is necessary to check what requirements a country has for students who go on a trip without parents. Often it is necessary to have a guardian who constantly resides in the country where the student is traveling and who is able to bear responsibility for the student.

Requirements for admission to European schools:

• language exam results ( TOEFL / IELTS / CELI / CILS / DELF / DALF)
• passing a test on a specific subject, if necessary
• personal / online interview with a school / university representative
• provision of a sheet with grades for the past few years
• recommendations of the school principal and teachers.

Unfortunately, not all countries accept the secondary school certificate of your school for admission to the first year of a university abroad, but there are alternative options:

• take a preparatory course for the international program
• finish several courses at the university of your counry
• graduate from a foreign school and earn the necessary educational loans for admission.

List of popular pre-university courses:

• International foundation
• Transfer program
• University pathway program
• International Year One.

Types of schools for children in Europe:

• private day schools
• private boarding schools (study + full board accommodation)
• public schools.

Foreign students prefer private schools with full-board accommodation, less often private day schools, but public schools are available for families who permanently live in the country. Studying at a boarding school gives you the opportunity to be around the clock in an international environment, communicate with representatives of different countries and thereby increase the level of knowledge of a foreign language.

You can study in public schools for free, and the cost of studying in private schools will depend on the ranking of the institution, its location, type and duration of the program.

It is impossible to accurately answer about the final cost of studying in Europe - several factors influence this:

• prestige of an educational institution
• type of academic and linguistic program
• course duration
• school or university location
• type of housing
• student's personal needs.

Age and academic programs for foreign students:

Admission to the best schools in Europe on the example of Ecole des Roches

Ecole des Roches is a French private school leading in the top 20 in the country, offering instruction in English and French. Tuition from 18,000 € to 35,300 € per semester.

Additional expenses:

For foreign students, a pleasant bonus is the fact that the school accepts students without restrictions on age and level of knowledge of the French language. Here, for the foreign students, the school curriculum is fully available - from elementary to high school. The school also offers a preparatory program in French - French Baccalaureate (but for admission you will need knowledge of French at an intermediate level).

You can find out any information about education abroad from SMAPSE employees: how to choose the best school in Europe for a student, prepare documents correctly and apply for admission, receive a grant or scholarship, obtain a visa, find housing and other important information.