Perhaps you dream of revising on the beach in Barcelona. Or clubbing between lectures in Berlin. One thing’s for certain – you’re not the only one thinking of doing your master’s in Europe.
UK students are increasingly interested in studying abroad, according to the British Council. And with tuition fees on the rise once more in the UK, maintenance grants recently converted into loans, and Brexit looming (even though young people voted overwhelmingly to remain), now may be exactly the time to pack your bags and go – while you still can.
The benefits of an international education are well documented. But is studying a masters in Europe all it’s cracked up to be? And how does it really differ from studying in the UK? We spoke to students who are doing it to find out.
It’s less expensive
Some countries, such as Finland and Greece, don’t have tuition fees for EU students, while in others, including Germany, many master’s programmes only require a small semester fee.
For Alex Griffith, 28, this has meant the chance to achieve his dream of studying for a master’s in English theology at Freie Universität Berlin – an option not available to him at home. “It was too expensive,” he says. “But here it’s possible. In the UK doing a master’s degree is reserved for people who have money. Here it’s more of a meritocracy.”
The cost of living can also be relatively low in European cities. “I work part time on top of studying, and that gives me enough to get by,” says Griffith. “Back home you have to work a lot more. But here the work-life balance is tipped more towards life.”
It’s hard work and takes a long time
You might not have to pay huge fees, but you do have to work hard. Many master’s degrees in Europe, though not all, are two years long.
And if you think this will give you more time to socialise, be warned. “The reason it takes so long is that you have so much more work to do,” says Griffith. “The papers are much longer.”
Jessica Abrahams, 27, studying a masters in international relations at the Barcelona Institute of International Studies, agrees. “It’s been more demanding in terms of the quantity of essays, debates and coursework we have. Alongside working, there’s a lot to juggle.”
In fact, many students take three or four years to complete their master’s degree in Germany.
“How long it takes is up to you, but very few people I know have finished in two years,” says Griffith. “I’m looking at three, and some people have been here for four, so if you’re very career-minded and worried about time, this might not be the option for you,” he says.
You can set your own pace
Students are expected to take charge of their own schedules, and may be surprised to find a lack of strict deadlines. “This was a shock to me at first,” says Annie Rutherford, 26, who studied a masters in comparative literature at the University of Göttingen.
“In the UK, if I handed in an essay an hour late, I got marks taken off, whereas in Germany I found it really laid back. Friends of mine felt that we were babied a bit more in the UK.”
Examination methods can also be more flexible. “We’ve sometimes been given a choice between being tested with a long essay or an exam,” says Abrahams. “Relationships with lecturers have also been more informal. At the end of the taught course, we went for drinks with our lecturers to say goodbye and it was really nice to get to know them in that way.”
You make global connections
One of the most rewarding things about studying abroad is meeting people from all over the world. “I’ve made loads of friends from all across Europe,” says Samuel Phillips, 24, who is studying for a master’s in German law at Munster University. “When I was studying in England, I only hung around with English people, whereas here there are a lot of international students.”
Watch out for the international student trap though, warns Rutherford. “You can go down the route of being an international student, or you can be really integrated with the locals. Both can be a bit of a bubble.”
Wagaye Johannes, project director at the Institute of International Education (IIE), studied a master’s in international relations at the University of Amsterdam. She says she now has contacts and friends across the continent.
“My classmates are all over Europe, so if something happens globally I’ve got those connections. Having international experience brings the world closer to you.
“And studying abroad at master’s level can be particularly beneficial, because it’s a long degree and you’re a bit older, so you’ve already started carving out professional contacts.”
The social life is different
“One of the things I liked about Germany was that it didn’t have the same binge drinking culture,” Rutherford admits. “German students start drinking earlier in the day than British students, but they stick with beer. When I was studying in the UK, many students started with vodka.”
Rutherford, Abrahams, Johannes and Griffith all found that fewer activities were organised through the student union. However, when you’re in an international city, it doesn’t matter because there’s plenty to do, they say.
“There’s lots of great places you can study in the UK, but Berlin’s one of the most exciting cities in Europe,” says Griffith. “It attracts lots of interesting young people and I can’t think of a city in the UK like it.” Abrahams says she loves the international feel, and the sunshine, in Barcelona.
Studying abroad helps you develop a global mindset, adds Johannes.
It can be challenging
Navigating a foreign city without knowing the language can be tricky at first. “I had to post a parcel and, being in a foreign country, I didn’t know whether to go to a post office or news agent,” says Abrahams. “In the beginning I only had basic Spanish, so small things like that took a bit of time to figure out, when they wouldn’t even cross your mind in the UK.”
However, living abroad forces you to learn quickly, and you soon pick up the vocabulary you need.
“I’ve been taking classes at a language school, and it’s great to have the opportunity to speak it every day, with flatmates, or in shops and restaurants,” says Abrahams. “You have motivation to learn, and it sticks in your mind more easily. When you get to the point where you can have conversations in Spanish, it’s so fulfilling and satisfying.”
The return home is hard
“My first few months back in Edinburgh were pretty miserable,” says Rutherford. “I returned in January, and the weather was horrible. I just thought to myself, ‘the buses don’t work here, the alcohol’s expensive and I don’t know anyone’.”
But since she’s settled back in, she has learned to appreciate the benefits of her time abroad all over again. “My new boss likes that I have international experience and I’ve been able to work on international projects I wouldn’t have been given the chance to do otherwise. My advice to other students is: just go for it.”
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