AN OVERVIEW OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES- Part I

As an Indian undergraduate student, the destination for university education, whether postgraduate or Ph.D., is a worrisome, troublesome and confounding decision for many. This article is dedicated to exploring the current patterns and situations from a country-wise perspective with some points to remember while figuring out your best match.

We will walk through various locations while highlighting some points to keep note of when finding your ideal match.

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland has increased its attractiveness as a destination for higher education. It’s not just about security, but also policy stability in the education sector. Famous for its cheese and chocolate, and its bountiful nature being all-day eye candy, let’s go into a summarized pros and cons list.

Pros:

• The education quality and results are world-class, especially in the management and banking sectors.
• The cultural environment is diverse and concentrated. It’s a hub of languages and traditions, but it’s not a problem if you know English!
• The high living costs are a bother to many. In acknowledgment of that, the deserving are given hefty scholarships.
• HIGH JOB SALARIES
• Natural beauty, travel opportunities.

Note: One point that many need to realize is that most major nations have their own systems. The later you try to enter, the harder it is. So while searching for appropriate colleges, it’s essential to consider your prospects in that country.

Cons:

• Cost of living is among the highest in the world
• The cold environment poses an adaptation challenge
• Strict system
• Jobs are tough to find for international students

Note: Exceptions are always possible.

This article doesn’t want to root out any locations for you, but wants to help on where to look first and what to check for in a country before sending an application.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The Emerald Isle, famous for its pubs, shamrocks, whisky and coffee, has been rising in the education sector.

Pros:

• Lower cost of education
• Most popular for health science degrees, primarily because of US accreditation.
• Has an emerging startup scene, meaning more job opportunities.
• Known for being more learning-oriented than grade-focused.
• Accommodates various age groups
• Attendance is free
• Great job opportunities, with good salaries
• Travel opportunities and cultural captivators: like the infamous jazz weekends.

Cons:

• High living cost of Dublin (Majority of Irish universities are there)
• The unpredictable weather can be brutal to acclimatize to

NORWAY

Frozen pizza, folklore and euphoric skies are the perfect words to give you a vision of Norway.

Pros:

• Open door policy of staff to maximize learning
• Student passes provide a multitude of benefits (like cheap travel)
• Easy admission criteria
• Most universities require no tuition fees
• Natural lavishes, like the northern lights and midnight sun.

Cons:

• Extreme lack of placements for students.
• Language barrier
• Little part time job opportunities
• Most courses are long (2 years or more)

Note: The same degree in various institutions when offered for different periods doesn’t mean they are skipping on study material. They usually culminate the same amount of matter in a shorter time with more intensive schedules, but quicker graduation.

JAPAN

The tiny Asian country with gigantic influence is well known for their polite and caring population, and being the land of anime.

Pros:

• Safe environment
• Extreme seriousness towards education (close to 100% literacy rate)
• Alarming need for young workers

Cons:

• Hard to fit into and adapt to the cultural environment
• Living costs are high

Note: if you have an idea of which country you want to go to, learning the language early is considered one of the skills that will always be helpful no matter where you end up.

ITALY

Football, pizza, pasta, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and even some hand gestures are iconic to this boot-shaped nation.

Pros:

• World-class weather, nature and obviously food.
• Prime destination for art and design degrees
• Grandiose history, high education quality

Cons:

• Slow and casual concept of time in various facets.
• Language barriers
• Well-established bureaucracy

Note: The current instability of the World Economy is public knowledge and Italy is no exception. It would be best to keep an eye on the major economic trend of (at least) the countries on your list.

SPAIN

Bullfighting, La Liga, flamenco, Ibiza and the La Tomatina festival are a few of the things that instantly pop up when one is asked about Spain.

Pros:

• A welcoming culture, with its Mediterranean climate and the fiesta (party) attitude is omnipresent
• A taste of the famous siesta lifestyle
• Famous for its business schools
• Low cost of student living

Cons:

• Language barrier
• High unemployment rate

NETHERLANDS

Beer, cheese and flowers are just some of the things the Netherlands is famous for.

Pros:

• Work flexibility in the fields available after graduation
• The four days-a-week work rule is common in all sectors
• High salaries
• 5th on the happiness index as per 2022 results
• Mecca of cyclers
• Most programs in English

Cons:

• The laid-back and free culture is challenging to adapt to
• Dutch is a difficult-to-learn language
• Unpredictable weather (frequent rain)

Note: The most effective method of finding accurate information on a university is elementary. It is to contact the admissions office, professors, current students (often found on college sites) and alumni through mail, and platforms like LinkedIn. It is informative, message samples are readily available, and it gives you an edge over the other applicants.

Written by Nishant Choudhary for MTTN

Edited by Dhriti Bhardwaj for MTTN

Artwork by Mar Gallardo Figueroa

Featured artwork by Paco Yao