<p>I'm a few years away from graduation, but I've started to think more about what I plan to do after my undergraduate education. I've been thinking that it'd be a great opportunity to attend a post-graduate institution in Europe. Does anybody know of any complications that would arise from such an intention?</p>
<p>Debt. Most European universities will charge you full tuition. If that's not a concern, I think it's be a great opportunity.</p>
<p>But since European universities are public, aren't they inherently cheaper than American private schools?</p>
<p>Not necessarily. First of all, the exchange rate right now between dollars and pounds or Euros is brutal for Americans. Secondly, it's pretty expensive to live in Europe. There are cheaper tuition rates for EU residents, but the international tuition is much higher. Also, you must have proof (at least in the UK, probably in several other countries) that you have enough money to pay tuition and support yourself for the entire year. Basically, you have to have a year's worth tuition and living money in a bank account before you are accepted. You can't equate the European system to the American system - I suggest you do a bit of research.</p>
<p>Postgrad in Europe is way cheaper than in the US, at 95% of European universities, even after accounting for the exchange rate and living costs. And yes, this is because so many of them are public. When I applied for graduate schools I applied in both the US and Europe, and did quite a bit of research on this. Only the most expensive European Universities (LSE, LBS, and a few others) can match with their overseas tuition the exorbitant fees charged to domestic students at private universities in the United States. </p>
<p>I say do your research. There are loads of great programs in Europe, even in non-English-speaking european countries. At the graduate level, a large number of degree programs at European universities are offered entirely in English.</p>
<p>Full overseas tuition at excellent European universities is a fraction of what you would pay at a private university in the US.</p>
<p>After some basic research, it looks like attending UK schools would cost around 20 000 pounds, or roughly 40 000 dollars. Doesn't sound too different from most elite American universities.</p>
<p>But are European universities, since they're public, more stringent with scholarships? Being a Canadian myself, I know that public schools don't have billion dollar endowments and don't give the kind of generous scholarships that Ivy League level schools do.</p>
<p>"Postgrad in Europe is way cheaper than in the US, at 95% of European universities, even after accounting for the exchange rate and living costs. And yes, this is because so many of them are public. When I applied for graduate schools I applied in both the US and Europe, and did quite a bit of research on this. Only the most expensive European Universities (LSE, LBS, and a few others) can match with their overseas tuition the exorbitant fees charged to domestic students at private universities in the United States."</p>
<p>Actually, most students in the US don't pay at all for their postgrad. It's increasingly common for PhDs to be fully funded, which includes tuition remission, stipend, and often some health insurance.</p>
<p>There are also many fellowships for post-grad study in Europe, like the Fulbright scholarships, right? It's only for one year, but most European universities award Masters degrees after a year, correct?</p>
<p>There aren't "many" fellowships. The Fulbright is VERY difficult to get, especially in western European countries, as they get hundreds of applications for each spot.</p>
<p>I am curious as to why no one is mentioning that in most academic fields (rather than vocational/professional ones, like an MBA, MPA, MEd, or MSW), graduate study in the US is most usually paid for by assistantships and fellowships, which carry full tuition remission as well as a stipend..</p>
<p>Well Professor X, that's probably because it was indeed mentioned by DespSeekPhD</p>
<p>Thanks oops-jo! My bad!</p>
<p>From what Ive seen in Europe\ you find a professor to match your Phd interest and join a project; which is relatively easy since the admissions process is not as cutthroat as the US (at the school I am at, as long as you have above a certain grade % your last year of undergrad, you are accepted). However it is ENTIRELY up to the student to find funding through related colleges/departments. Also, since most students leave undergrad with a combined bachelor/Masters degree(Msc), there will probably not be coursework for PhD students.</p>
<p>Just an additional thought: to the best of my knowledge, postsecondary education (both undergraduate and graduate) is generally regarded as better in the US than in Europe. It will depend upon the program and university, obviously, but perceived educational quality should be a factor in your decision.</p>
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Just an additional thought: to the best of my knowledge, postsecondary education (both undergraduate and graduate) is generally regarded as better in the US than in Europe. It will depend upon the program and university, obviously, but perceived educational quality should be a factor in your decision.
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<p>Personally, I think undergraduate education is actually better in Europe than in the US, particularly in math and natural sciences, which are studied at a much deeper level in European universities. On average, the US compares favorably to Europe though in professional education (medicine, law, business) and for advanced research degrees (PhD). There are however several world-class institutions in Europe for doctoral studies, e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, and LSE in the UK, or ETH in Switzerland.</p>
<p>To add on to that list Sciences Po and ENA of France too for those who are interested in political science/international relation.</p>
<p>But after your post-graduate study, don't you need to figure out the employment info in Europe? like getting a work-permit etc</p>
<p>When I mentioned differences in expenses at postgrad level I was talking about masters programs. A Ph.D would be funded anyway, regardless of whether you are in the US or continental Europe. At Oxbridge and a few UK unis, they actually expect some people to pay to do their Ph.D. That seems a bit absurd to me, but I suppose some people are really determined to get certain brand names on their CVs (or their parents just happen to have lots of spare cash lying around). For those hoping for a Ph.D, there are lots of possibilities for full funding, including the perks. What a lot of Americans don't realize is that much of the most ground-breaking research in Europe is carried out in research institutes which are normally joint ventures of several universities. This is part of the reason European universities do not rank so well in research output, since the research conducted in these institutes (which are funded by the participating universities) does not count toward the university's individual output, as far as I know. </p>
<p>Anyway, for an American going for a Ph.d who has never lived abroad independently for more than a year, the best idea is probably to stay in the US. For a person without substantial international experience the costs in terms of administrative and cross-cultural headaches, and would probably outweigh any additional educational benefits and economic savings.</p>
<p>I've gotten lots of funded offers for master's programs in the US.</p>
<p>Bruno, out of curiosity, do you have any information to back that up? I would be interested in reading an unbiased report on the matter, personally. Furthermore, what constitutes a "deeper level" of understanding, as you use the term? More theoretical or more practical, or more or less rigorous? I have reason to believe that, generally, the opposite is more true, regarding undergraduate education.</p>