Frequently asked questions
The questions students and parents ask us most about studying in Europe — costs, English requirements, visas, work rights and what happens after graduation.
Costs and funding
For most students, yes. Public universities in Germany, Czechia and Slovakia charge no tuition for many programmes, and Poland, Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria charge a fraction of UK or US fees. You mainly budget for living costs. Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Nordics are more expensive, so we compare total cost — tuition plus living — before you decide.
Free tuition is real in several countries, but it is not free study. You still fund living costs, health insurance, semester contributions and the financial proof your visa requires. See our free and low-tuition page for exactly where it applies and what conditions attach.
It varies by country. Germany asks for a blocked account of roughly €11,900 for a year, Ireland about €10,000, France around €7,380, and Poland or Latvia €5,000–€6,500. We give you the current figure for your destination and help prepare the proof correctly.
Many students do. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are fully funded, and DAAD, Eiffel, the Swedish Institute, Stipendium Hungaricum and university merit waivers are all realistic depending on your profile. Applying to several, early, matters more than any single application.
Yes, and most students use one for part of their costs. We help with loan documentation, sanction letters and making sure the loan appears in your visa file in the format the embassy expects.
English and entry requirements
Not always. Many universities accept a medium of instruction letter, their own online English test, or alternatives such as Duolingo, PTE or TOEFL. Ireland, the Netherlands and the Nordics rarely waive it. Note that admission without IELTS and a visa without IELTS are different questions — some embassies still want evidence of English ability.
Not to start an English-taught programme. But a basic level of the local language noticeably improves part-time work, internships and daily life, so we usually suggest beginning an A1 course before you fly.
Typically a relevant bachelor’s or higher secondary qualification with a good academic record, plus English proof. Some countries add their own steps — the APS certificate for Germany, Campus France for France, Universitaly pre-enrolment for Italy, or nostrification in Czechia and Slovakia.
Often yes. Backlogs and gaps matter, but they are assessed alongside your overall profile, and different countries weigh them differently. We will tell you honestly where you are competitive rather than encouraging applications that will not succeed.
Visas, work and after graduation
Generally yes. Most European countries allow international students to work part-time, commonly around 20 hours a week during term. Germany uses a day-based limit, Denmark and Finland set their own hours, and rules differ by country — we explain them before you apply.
Most countries offer post-study stay-back to find skilled work: around 18 months in Germany, two years in Ireland, France and Finland, 12 months in the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, and nine months in Poland, Latvia and Romania. The UK Graduate Route gives two years. From there the EU Blue Card is the usual route to longer-term residence.
Most refusals come from paperwork rather than weak profiles — inconsistent documents, unexplained funds, weak reasoning for the course choice, or applying too late for processing. A properly built file avoids nearly all of these.
Rules vary considerably by country and by whether you are on a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programme. Some countries permit dependants for master’s students, others only for doctoral or employed graduates. We check the current position for your destination.
Working with us
Counselling and profile evaluation are free. If there is a service fee for application handling, it is explained to you in writing before it becomes payable. University application fees, test fees, translations and visa fees are paid by you directly to those bodies.
No, and be cautious of anyone who does. Admission is decided by universities and visas by embassies. What we guarantee is honest advice, a realistic shortlist and a properly prepared application and visa file.
Yes. We support students at any stage, including those who applied independently and need help with funding, the visa file or pre-departure planning.
Question not answered here?
Ask us directly — we will give you a straight answer, even if it is that Europe is not the right fit.