Pros and cons of studying in Europe

Starting a college life has always been a thrilling experience and the excitement increases manifold if a student is going to study abroad. A study abroad experience has its own advantages, but majority of Indian students prefer to go to countries like Canada, US and Australia. However, it is good to explore education among European countries like Germany, France, Sweden, France, Netherland and Italy. Studying in Europe can prove to be an enriching experience, with ample opportunities to visit places, meet people and learn about new culture. Most importantly, European countries have very high standards of education and it is also very cheap. However, there could be few limiting factors for Indian students. In this article, I shall delve into the pros and cons of studying in Europe. Pros of studying in Europe Affordable Education European countries spend 20% of the GDP on education. Moreover, the population of European countries is very less, so they give equal opportunities to students of other countries. In most of the European countries, education is free of cost in government institutes. European universities have set very high standard and most of the universities rank under 100 in the world. Therefore, contrary to the common belief, the education standard in Europe is very high as well as highly affordable. Opportunity to get Permanent Residency European countries have made easier for foreign students to get permanent residency after completing the education. Europe offers unmatched exposure and avenues for a great career prospects. Besides, there are ample opportunities for students to do internships as part of their studies. Excellent Resource Material European universities offer excellent resource material to the students. Not only great labs and other infrastructure but Europe has some of the amazing libraries in the world. For example, library at TU Delft in Netherlands is one among the ten most beautiful libraries. Simpler Admission Process Admission process in simpler in Europe compared to other countries like US. They reserve 50% seats for foreign students and seat allotment takes 3-4 months before the end of December. The best part is that education is free in government institutes. Travel Studying in Europe opens the doors to entire continent. You get a Schengen visa that lets you visit 26 countries within Europe. Not only as a student you can explore different cultures bur Europe also offers mobility across university network and you can complete your degree studying in different countries. Cons of studying in Europe Language Barrier Although most of the European universities offer English as the medium of learning to foreign students, however many students find it difficulty in daily lives because of language barrier. From super markets and railway stations, signages are in local language only. Therefore, communication proves to be a challenge for students who do not learn the local language. High cost of living Although tuition fee is not high as US but cost of living is very high in Europe. Unless students get scholarship or do part-time job, education may prove to be very expansive because of high cost of living. Conclusion Europe is one of most beautiful continent for its history, culture, landscape and architecture. Not only you get exposure to most vibrant culture of the world but opportunity to travel to entire continent. Not only the education standard is very high but it is highly affordable. Some students may have difficulty in adjusting to new culture and language, while this may be an advantage for a few others. Although learning local language is not required but it is very strong asset to have.