FAQ’s
Your advisor can help you contextualize the entire journey and provide valuable insights that’ll keep you from making common mistakes. With this in mind, it’s important you run as much research as possible before hopping on the call. Ideally you’ll have a number of programs already selected and would like further insights on which one is worth paying attention to. They can otherwise help you with filter selection and run searches with you during the call. Looking for a 1:1 with one of our student ambassadors in Europe? We’re currently shaping this offering, which is similar to the calls with your advisor. Stay tuned for an announcement on this!
Yes, while friends, social media, or online portals can be helpful, their information can be limited or biased. Our self-paced Mini-Courses and Masterclasses provide a deep dive into topics with action steps to complete along the way, guiding you through the often confusing European college landscape so you can avoid frustration and disappointment.
We offer two self-paced Masterclasses:
- On Your Mark – At the end of this six week course, you should have an understanding of why you want to study in Europe (beyond cost) as well as how to explore any remaining concerns. You’ll cement knowledge of areas of study that align with your interests, preferably those that combine more than one interest area. Get an understanding of the strengths you already have as well as those you need cultivate in order to succeed as an international student.
- Get Set – This 3-week Masterclass covers European university application terms, timelines, and processes that U.S. students and high school counselors may not be familiar with. It will help you determine what you need to apply, how to gather those items, how to be sure those items meet the university specifications, a timeline for each of the European schools you’ll apply to, and how to write a motivation letter.
We offer 5 self-paced Mini-Courses:
- Choosing a University – This 4-part course helps you determine your own criteria for choosing a program and school. We cover quantifiable criteria around budget, admissions requirements, and fields of study. We also discuss what to look for (and red flags) in schools, programs, locations, and student life.
- Admissions in Europe – This popular 4-part course helps you understand Europe’s entirely different admissions process. We go through the differing admissions requirements of different countries, address potential obstacles, headaches, and solutions, and walk through the motivation letter and CV.
- How to Choose a Major – This 3-part course is helpful even if you’re pretty clear about what you want to study. Through lessons and exercises, you’ll learn how your unique interests translate into the different study areas in Europe, and which programs you’re most aligned with.
- All About the Netherlands – This is a popular 7-lesson course due to the notable number and range of English-taught college degree options in the Netherlands. Covers basic and specific information about the Dutch universities, academic life, student life, housing, admissions, and financial considerations.
- Business Programs – 4 lessons cover the similarities and differences of business programs at research universities, universities of applied science, and business schools. Learn about accreditation, admissions, and specific programs with unique offerings.
These are self-paced video courses with full transcriptions available.
We recommend you start off with the Mini-Courses to get the lay of the land. Once you’ve committed to a program or a college, take the Masterclass(es) so you ensure you conquer the admissions process successfully.
Yes! You can unlock add-ons at any time after signing up.
Not necessarily. We would hope that students would get exposure to the various alternatives through high school, but we know that counselors are often over- worked and for various reasons do not seek this information out on their own. Most of our student members, and those who have gone on to study in Europe, claim that they were not supported by their high school counselors on the topic of college abroad, but they were also not surprised by this.
The database includes English-taught programs from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Agriculture, Architecture and Related Services, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business and Economics, Communications and Journalism, Computer Science, Information Science, and Technology, Education and Child Development, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Environmental Studies and Earth Sciences, Erasmus Mundus Program, Health Sciences, Humanities, Human Services, Liberal Arts, Math and Statistics, Social Science, Transportation, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Design, and Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure.
Each expands into more specific areas of study, of which there are 212 in total.
Yes! Not only are the programs taught entirely in English, but all out-of-class and homework materials are in English as well. Keep in mind too, that for the most part, the level of English proficiency is generally high in each of the countries represented in our database. Thankfully, you’ll be surrounded by international students that are all in the same boat as you.
With 3200+ Bachelor’s and 8000+ Master’s programs, we’re sure you’ll find the one ideal program for you or your family member, and beyond the database we have a treasure trove of guiding resources, including our personalized Best Fit List service and 1:1 Consultations with BTS Chief college advisor, Kristin Hamaker .
If you can’t find your ideal degree, please reach out to us for personalized search guidance as part of your Find Your Ideal Degree™ Guarantee. Bear in mind, there are no refunds on memberships or add-ons, but we will provide extra help to ensure you get what you’re looking for.
We don’t include the UK in our database and materials. Our database and resources strictly reflect accredited, English-taught schools across continental Europe and in Ireland. Our passion at Beyond the States is to provide American families with solutions to the problems we face in the US, be it the cost, expectations for admissions, undergraduate experience, or employment issues after graduation.
UK schools don’t necessarily qualify for our mission since they often have similarly high-tuition costs to the US, similarly flawed admissions processes, and fewer post-college opportunities due to Brexit. Read more in this blog post we did on the subject.
Your access and benefits are valid for as long as you are a member. If you cancel renewal, your access and benefits, including access to the Facebook group, are valid up until the expiration date of your membership, which is usually 1 or 12 months after you signed up, depending on your payment plan.
With 3200+ Bachelor’s and 8000+ Master’s programs, we’re sure you’ll find the one ideal program for you or your family members, and we’re happy to guide your most pressing questions with our Monthly Q&A’s. If you can’t find your ideal degree, please reach out to us for personalized search guidance as part of your Find Your Ideal Degree™ Guarantee. Bear in mind, there are no refunds on memberships or add-ons, but we will provide extra help to ensure you get what you’re looking for.
Yes, a membership to Beyond the States gives you unlimited access to the database and renews monthly and yearly, depending on which membership plan you purchased.
Due to the nature of our product, we are unable to offer refunds under any circumstances.
The motivation letter is a document that is sometimes required during the admissions process. It asks you to describe your competence as well as your personal motivations for pursuing a particular area of study at a specific university.
We’ll be using our expertise to offer changes and suggestions, but we won’t be rewriting it entirely.
Tap the ‘Unlock add-ons’ from your member Dashboard on our site, and click on your plan to select the corresponding feature. Once paid, you’ll be invited to submit your motivation letter for review.
A motivation letter that slaps will swoon admissions faculty, so you need to ensure it leaves a lasting impression. But with so little resources available online, how will you know what they’re looking for? What type of wording resonates well with European colleges? And how will you make sure your motivation letter is memorable enough for quick approval by the degree of your choice? This is where we come in. Having gone through the process ourselves and speaking to admissions experts from dozens of schools, we know how to tailor your motivation letter for admissions success.
Yes, each Motivation Letter Review includes one round of revisions via email. Additional revision rounds require you to add an additional motivation letter review to your account.
Some European colleges and universities do require APs, and this is because of the difference in high-school diplomas, but most programs across Europe do not have this requirement. Thankfully, you can filter for programs in our database that don’t require APs for admissions.
Yes. In our database you’ll find some MBA programs in Europe that don’t require work experience or aligned undergraduate major in order to be accepted.
Check out our ranked list of Top 10 MBA Schools in Europe while you’re here.
Yes, in fact it may offer you better career prospects. There is strong evidence that the name of the university matters very little in the hiring process, and this becomes even more true when there is relevant experience (including internships) on the applicant’s resume. Certainly the soft skills gained by studying outside of your home country is something that employers are looking for, and these could be highlighted in a cover letter.
Professions that require licensure are a different matter, and may require a few more steps when you return to the US. These include many careers related to health care, education, social work, psychology, law, and architecture. There are some fields of study, like education, that really do need study completed in the country in which you intend to work. If you want to be a teacher in the US, you need to learn about the curriculum and policies specific to the US. In fact, the majority of the English-taught education type programs in Europe focus on teaching at international schools as opposed to the education system in that country. A university in Finland, for instance, wouldn’t have an education program about the Finnish education system taught in English because teachers in Finland need to be fluent in Finnish.
Read more on whether or not degrees from Europe are recognized in the US.
If you’re looking for a viable alternative to college in the US, either because you’re pursuing an affordable degree, and/or an admissions process that is transparent and accessible allowing you to opt out of the US college admissions rat race and exhorbitant tuition costs, then a college degree in Europe may be just what you need.
Beyond cost-savings and straightforward admissions, you will surely also benefit from Europe’s access to travel, international experience and path to global citizenship, high-quality programs and employment perks of being an international student in Europe, and many other rewards that come with this unique experience.
The process for admissions at European colleges is relatively straightforward, and we offer resources for each step of the journey:
- Be aware of admissions requirements that different countries have and plan accordingly.
- Follow your interests as opposed to padding your resume.
- Meet the admissions requirements.
- Don’t get caught up in the admissions stress around you.
No, you do not need to know French to study in France. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in France that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
No, you do not need to know German to study in Germany. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in Germany that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
No, you do not need to know Greek to study in Greece. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in Greece that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
No, you do not need to know Portuguese to study in Portugal. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in Portugal that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
No, you do not need to know Spanish to study in Spain. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in Spain that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
No, you do not need to know Italian to study in Italy. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in Italy that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
No, you do not need to know Dutch to study in The Netherlands. There are hundreds of college degree programs available in the Netherlands that are taught entirely in English. As a US student, you can get into a European college and get your degree without any foreign language requirements.
Absolutely. There are thousands of English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs available in Europe without any foreign language requirements and straightforward admissions processes that accept American students.
Yes, in fact it may offer you better career prospects. There is strong evidence that the name of the university matters very little in the hiring process, and this becomes even more true with there is relevant experience (including internships) on the applicant’s resume. Certainly the soft skills gained by studying outside of your home country is something that employers are looking for, and these could be highlighted in a cover letter.
Professions that require licensure are a different matter., and may require a few extra steps when you return to the US. These include many careers related to health care, education, social work, psychology, law, and architecture. There are some fields of study, like education, that really do need study completed in the country in which you intend to work. If you want to be a teacher in the US, you need to learn about the curriculum and policies specific to the US. In fact, the majority of the English-taught education type programs in Europe focus on teaching at international schools as opposed to the education system in that country. A university in Finland, for instance, wouldn’t have an education program about the Finnish education system taught in English because teachers in Finland need to be fluent in Finnish.
Read more about whether or not a degree from Europe will work in the US.
Absolutely! There are over 8,000 of accredited, 100% English-taught master’s degrees to choose from across Europe; no foreign language required. More and more students from the US, and other countries, are heading to Europe for higher ed opportunities, and for good reason – there are so many affordable, high-quality English-taught programs that offer something…more.
But with so many options it can be difficult to know where to start. The admissions criteria and processes may be confusing, or you may have questions about the educational quality and degree recognition, or the logistics involved. We’ve made navigating these options easy and fun! We visit schools regularly to learn about programs and bring first-hand information to our community of members. Unlike other portals, we don’t accept any compensation from the schools we include in our database and materials, which allows us to be objective, comprehensive, and honest about what we provide.
For more, read The Ultimate Guide to Master’s Degrees in Europe.
Yes, there are over 8,000 of accredited, 100% English-taught master’s degrees to choose from across Europe; no foreign language required. More and more students from the US, and other countries, are heading to Europe for higher ed opportunities, and for good reason – there are so many affordable, high-quality English-taught programs that offer something…more.
Yes, there are over 3200 of accredited, 100% English-taught undergraduate degrees to choose from across Europe; no foreign language required. More and more students from the US, and other countries, are heading to Europe for higher ed opportunities, and for good reason – there are so many affordable, high-quality English-taught programs that offer something…more.
Yes, there are over 870 colleges and universities in Europe that teach 100% in English and have programs available for international students. More and more students from the US, and other countries, are heading to Europe for higher ed opportunities, and for good reason – there are so many affordable, high-quality English-taught programs that offer something…more.
There are so many great options, honestly, in our database of over 800 universities in Europe that offer accredited, 100% English-taught programs for international students.
We have created our own proprietary rankings list that reflects many years of on-the-ground research, vetting, and experience by ourselves and our members, and speaks directly to what really matters to US students pursuing English-taught college degrees in continental Europe and Ireland.
Check out our top colleges and programs, but get a taste with these:
While many schools in Europe work with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), many do not. However, sometimes they offer other funding opportunities. At most schools in the Netherlands, for instance, incoming international students can apply for the merit-based Holland Scholarship, which is a one-time payment of 5,000 euros. And in France, all students— including international students—can receive a housing subsidy, called CAF, of around 100 euros per month. Finland just recently began charging international students tuition fees; however, along with the fees came a mandate that every school offer scholarship opportunities for international students. These scholarships are generally a merit-based tuition waiver for anywhere from 25-100% of tuition. Note: our database of schools offers a filter for schools that have a FAFSA #, and our listings often include other financial support opportunities for that school.
So what happens if you have money saved in a 529 account and the European school you want to go to doesn’t have a FAFSA number? Here’s a podcast episode we did on this very topic. Super insightful!
Europe considers education to be a right, not a privilege. That’s why they subsidize college and promote a stronger work-force, which will then pay taxes as a productive citizen. Typically, a European country will recover college expenses after 9 years, even when you factor in that many students are international.
In continental Europe, the average cost of all the English-taught bachelor’s programs is just $7,390 per year. Since 1985, US college costs have surged by about 1000 percent, and tuition and fees continue to rise. Even when you factor in the cost of travel, going to college in Europe if often cheaper than one year of tuition at a state college in the US.
Some European colleges do offer free tuition, even for international students.
We sometimes get emails from students who say that they want to find information about universities with free tuition, but that they can’t afford to pay for our services. The concern I have is that these students have a misconception about what it will actually cost to study and live in Europe.
The Beyond the States database contains over 100 English-taught bachelor’s degree programs and 857 English-taught master’s degree programs that charge $0 tuition for international students. These programs are mainly in Norway, Iceland, and Germany. But “free tuition” does not actually mean cost free.
The first thing students need to consider is proof of means, which is more properly described as “proof of means of subsistence”. Essentially, this is the minimum amount of income a student will need to live as a student. This is an amount set by the individual country’s government as part of the immigration process. Students who aren’t EU citizens need to provide proof that they have the full amount for the year during the immigration process.
Norway is one of the countries that offers international students free tuition at their public universities. But although Norway is a beautiful, safe, and inclusive place to live and study, it has a very high cost of living. According to Expatistan, Oslo, Norway’s capital, is slightly more expensive than Los Angeles (after New York and San Francisco, LA is the 3rd most expensive city in the US).
An international student in Norway will pay no tuition, but they will pay more than 10,000 euros a year on housing, food, transportation, and leisure expenses (and that is on a VERY tight budget). In fact, proof of means in Norway is 10,800 euros which often allows for a very modest lifestyle. Estonia, on the other hand, has many similarities to the Nordic countries like Norway, but students pay an average of only 3,168 euros per year in tuition. Further, in Estonia, living costs are so much lower that EVEN WITH TUITION, they end up paying almost 2000 euros less per year. Of course, because cost of living is so much lower, the amount of money you need for proof of means is also easier to swallow at 4500 euros per year.
Check out our blog post on whether or not free tuition at European colleges is the most affordable option.
Yes, some college in Europe don’t have any application fees. This varies program by program. Get access to this information through our database listings of schools and programs.
The extreme cost of these study abroad programs often stems from the fact that students generally must still pay full tuition to their home school, even while they’re studying abroad. Additionally, US tuition is too high and continuing to increase, and in tandem the costs of these study abroad programs will continue to increase.
Yes! You can order your first list, or even additional lists, after signing up for a monthly or yearly membership. If you sign up for a lifetime membership, you get one Best Fit List included for one student. Exciting!
Your access and benefits are valid for as long as you are a member. If you cancel renewal, your access and benefits, including access to the Facebook group, are valid up until the expiration date of your membership, which is usually 1 or 12 months after you signed up, depending on your payment plan.
Absolutely, as long as you’re within the same family group. Bring your mom, dad, daughter, son, or anyone else involved in your decision-making. You can add more people to the call by clicking ‘Add guests’ in the booking link. They don’t have to be on the same computer or phone to join.
Availability will vary based on Kristin’s schedule. You can see her availability using the booking link.
We’re working on onboarding previous Beyond the States customers that attended college in Europe. They’ll be available for one-on-one calls similar to the calls with Kristin, except this time you’ll be hearing from a student that has/is getting a degree in Europe. Sit tight for an announcement!
This is a member-only resource that lets you ask any question and get it publicly answered at the end of the month in a Q&A blog post.
Questions submitted before the 15th of every month will be answered publicly at the end of the month in a Q&A blog post. All members will be notified via email.
Please note, not all questions may be answered. We are not able to make specific country, city, school, or program recommendations here, nor provide financial or career advice.
For more personalized recommendations, we recommend the Best Fit List or a One-on-One consultation. Both are available in your member Dashboard on our website.
Please submit one question at a time. For additional questions, click on Submit Another or refresh the page.
This popular service, for Bachelor’ and Master’s prospects, is the cream of the crop. We use our expertise in creating a customized list of 3-5 programs just for you – based on the details of a comprehensive intake form you submit that digs deep into your needs, preferences, area(s) of study, budget, educational background, and on. Every Best Fit List includes:
- Details and links to each program
- Tuition, admissions, concentration options
- Course and degree requirements
- Internship & study abroad opportunities
- Geographic & campus information
- Housing info & considerations
- Application advice & potential issues
- Post-graduate employment information.
- and more!
Our BFL offering essentially allows us to pull the weight if you’re uninterested or unable to do the research, are in a time-crunch, or just need extra reinforcement when considering and choosing programs in Europe.
Lifetime members get one free Best Fit List service for one student.
Each Best Fit List is billed on a per student basis. You can order additional lists for additional students upon signing up or after signing up.
Since we run thorough research for each student, including personality profiles and budgeting considerations, each list takes 21 days (3 weeks) or less to deliver. You will receive instant access to a comprehensive intake form, and you’ll get an email if we have additional questions. After that, you’ll get an email with final delivery of your list.
Your access and benefits are valid for as long as you are a member. If you cancel renewal, your access and benefits, including access to the Facebook group, are valid up until the expiration date of your membership, which is usually 1 or 12 months after you signed up, depending on your payment plan.
After you sign up for a membership, you’ll receive an email with a link to the Facebook group. Simply request to join the group and you’ll be prompted to enter the email you used to sign up. Alternatively, you can also sign up for the group in the My Account section on our website – from there, click Community. Your request will be promptly approved and you’ll now be a part of the Facebook community. Help is plentiful, with parents and students from all over the country providing instant feedback on your most pressing questions.
For added support and reassurance, you can book a 45-minute 1:1 consultation call with Beyond the States Chief College Advisor, Kristin Hamaker. You can discuss any pressing questions, and glean from her expert guidance. Calls are held via Google Meet.
Looking for a 1:1 with one of our student ambassadors in Europe? We’re currently shaping this offering, which is similar to the calls with Kristin. Stay tuned for an announcement on this!
For those who aren’t members (yet!), go here to book your consultation. For members, click My Account in the top menu of our site’s page, and book your discounted add-on consultation from there.
Calls will be held via Google Meet. To join the call, you’ll need a computer with a working internet browser with microphone and video permissions. You can also join the call from the phone if you have Google Meet installed. If all else fails, you’ll have numbers available on the calendar invite that you can call. You can reschedule the call directly from the calendar invite we send you, so long as it’s not within the same day. Otherwise, this will be considered a non-refundable no-show.
No, you can join the call from a phone using the Google Meet app or call in using the number from the calendar invite.
You can reschedule as long as you’re not changing the date on the day of the booking. Otherwise, this will be considered a no-show.