The global higher education strata have been seeing massive developments over the past couple of decades with more and more students trying out their luck in foreign destinations. For many, the only two places that they consider when thinking about higher education are the US and Europe. With numerous reputed colleges and innovative teaching pedagogies, both the US and Europe standout from the rest. With lots of colleges and courses to choose from, let’s look at some of the pros and cons along with some of the things that aspiring students should consider before choosing between the US and Europe.
The US higher education system is one of the most diverse and established education systems in the world. With various top ranked universities and colleges, the US has also some of the most developed and sought-after learning destinations. The US has over 1,000,000 international students studying in various universities and colleges and this number has been increasing due to the quality of education offered by US colleges and universities. A recent study also suggests that 5.5 percent of their entire student population is made up of international students. Studying in the US will allow students to improve their cross-cultural learning owing to the fact that students from all around the globe are found in US higher education institutions.
With lots of colleges and courses to choose from, let’s look at some of the pros and cons along with some of the things that aspiring students should consider before choosing between the US and Europe.
While the US might seem like a clear winner with the quality of their education, the high tuition fees which can vary with the college and course of your priority and high cost of living remains one of the top reasons why students consider other options. Compared to other countries, both the course fees and living expenses are higher in the US but students can easily avail for an education loan and other scholarships to reduce their financial burden.
Apart from this, aspiring students will also need to have:
- An application form showing the completion of secondary/12 school completion
- TOEFL certification (As a proof for your English language proficiency)
- An evidence showcasing your financial support
While there are many more formalities before you can start your education in the US, theseabove-mentioned ones are three of the most important and basic requirements.
With that said, the US still has some of the most renowned and respected higher education institutes that attract a number of top tier companies to their campuses. The practical-oriented education offered by US colleges will also help the students to be perfectly poised in the modern job market.
Looking at Europe, one can easily see the vast number of options and opportunities that lie in the European higher education realm. With countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, Europe offers a wide variety of opportunities and options that the students can choose from. Like in the US, there are a number of reputed and highly regarded educational institutes in Europe. While in most top colleges the course fees can be high, if looked properly one could find a premier college that offers their programs at reasonable fees. There are also various scholarship opportunities and fee waivers that the students can avail so that the financial aspect of their higher education is more or less sorted out.
In countries such as the UK and Germany, students also can easily find part-time jobs and comparatively reasonable accommodation facilities which makes the entire experience much more wallet-friendly and productive. One of the biggest advantages that studying in Europe can have is the fact that the student can experience various cultures, communities and traditions which will give them a massive boost in their cross-cultural learning. One of the biggest drawbacks of studying in Europe is the fact that with more options to choose from finding the most apt college for you might get a little confusing if you haven’t done proper research. Also, with more students to compete with, getting placed in your preferred company might get a little bit tougher. While most of the countries speak English, students might also find studying in some of the European countries difficult because of the language barriers. Some of the basic requirements to pursue your higher education in Europe can also vary according to the country you choose.
While both the US and Europe can provide aspiring students with numerous opportunities and open doors for innumerable career possibilities, the choice of selecting a higher education destination should be given a lot of thought so that you choose the best option for you.
