Hello, everyone. I am currently searching for a college abroad, preferably in Europe/Northern Europe that has very cheap or even free tuition for international students.
I REALLY want to experience a new place and study foreign languages while I go to school. I am interested in any degree that involves Business Management, International Business, Economics, Finance, etc. and if the program has a slight focus on learning foreign languages/business language, or allows you to take foreign languages as an elective that is a definite plus for me. I would love to go to school in France, but most of the colleges/programs that I have found an interest in are located in Germany.
I don’t mind having to pay tuition if it’s around $500-$2,000 or so per semester, but any more than that and I will probably have to take out student loans which is what I want to avoid. Here is an example of a college that I am very interested in attending with little/no tuition fees: Reutlingen University http://www.esb-business-school.de/en/degree-programmes/bachelor/bsc-international-business/
I would LOVE to learn French, German, or any other European language and if I have to study it in my free-time or as an elective that is okay. I have traveled before and I found that I would much rather be immersed in the language and culture because simply studying it in the USA in classes just isn’t as effective or as much fun for me since I don’t have many opportunities to speak or learn it in daily life.
There are English-language university programs in Europe, but most will cost a whole lot more than $2K per semester. Here’s a popular program in the Netherlands, though above your budget http://www.uu.nl/en/education/studying-at-uu/international
The free, or nearly free, programs are almost always given in the local language, and often demand you meet local entrance requirements, which are quite high, compared to American college requirements. In Germany, for example, you’re expected to have had calculus in high school.
Thank you for your responses, everyone! I have actually been saving money because I wanted to go to an intensive language program. I wanted to study for at least a month, preferably more, before going to college there, but I saw that a lot of German and French programs charge per week and they’re sooo expensive. If anyone has any knowledge of cheap language programs that would be awesome.
My dad works overseas in the Air Force and he is more than happy to help me to pay for college/cost of living or anything. I’m a bit more flexible with the cost of living/tuition costs, I just wanted it to be around 2,000 a semester so I could pay for most of it myself and not need to take out a loan or something. Just to feel more independent lol.
I found a website that narrows down degrees by their cost, what type of degree, and language of instruction, so I will keep doing my research and see what I can find. Most of the admissions for the English-taught programs didn’t seem like they required much for admission besides taking English proficiency tests to make sure you are fluent in English, but I did take a lot of college classes in high school including History, English, Psychology, Economics and Government. No calculus though, sadly D: Did anyone have any thoughts on Reutlingen Uni?
Reutlingen, originally an institution comparable to a regional state university, has acquired an excellent national reputation for preprofessional studies in international business. Whether anyone has heard about it outside of Germany is something you will have to find out - unless you want to stay in Germany. you may have to add a postgrad degree in the US to be taken seriously. I’d be a bit sceptical, too, whether the instructors are able to speak and write English as well as they should, but of course you may have to deal with non-native English speaking teaching staff anywhere. I suppose the website is a good example - serviceable, but clearly not written by a native speaker.
Reutlingen is a VERY regional college town. Depending on where you live in the US now, you may find it rather stifling, and unless you do have a good grasp of German, very isolating, being entirely dependent on your little international bubble.
To find out whether you are even admissible, check out this - no, I haven’t found it in English, which is kinda symptomatic for what you’d have to deal with. http://www.htwg-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pub/ou_ask/Laender_Information/usa.pdf
I have looked into this situation and I think that the Netherlands is your best option: 1) relatively low cost 2) classes in English and 3) a diverse student body and low culture shock compared to, say, France or Italy. There are some good suggestions above on Dutch universities.
France has few full undergrad degree programs (if any) taught entirely in English. Germany has a few, Netherlands as mentioned, and Finland. German & Finnish colleges are free (Dutch ones aren’t for non-EU). Also check out Slovenia and Czech Republic as options.
I’d recommend this one in Germany - it’s a newer uni and almost entirely in English (no German language requirement), with a heavy international focus. It’s also nearly free They also have an Internal Biz program and an Economics one
Thanks, everyone! I checked out the programs you guys have linked me and they look great, but sadly the tuition is a bit high. I actually really want to learn a new language, so I was planning on going to Germany to take an intensive language course for 4 weeks before going to University. I want to be immersed in the language and taken out of my comfort zone. I think this is how I’d learn the language the best.
I have found a couple of programs that I would like to apply for when their application offices open up. Rhein Waal actually looks fantastic for me and I’ve bookmarked that one. I will continue researching more and I think I will expand my search to include the Netherlands, Finland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
Also, culture shock is not an issue for me! That is what I want! haha. I want to learn about a new culture and I definitely want to learn the language. As long as the tuition is not too much and the degree program and school is good, then that is all that matters, for the most part!
In France, you have ESSEC BBA International, but tuition is 13K a year I think (there are scholarships).
You also have Sciences Po Reims, which focuses on economics and international relations.
In both cases, tuition is roughly the same but housing is cheaper due to location and there are scholarships.
Intensive French classes are included in the package.
I think Université Paul Valéry “IEFE” in France has summer French courses; 3-week intensive session is $750, 5-week intensive session is $1,100; organized, optional field trips are $150 per trip; housing is $450 for three weeks, $750 for five weeks.
If you speak French well, there are smaller colleges called IUT’s which are free.
They also have an Internal Biz program and an Economics one