Hello! I’m currently trying to compile a list of universities that I may apply to for my undergraduate studies. I haven’t fully decided what degree I’ll pursue but I’ve narrowed it down to: International Relations/Commerce, Computer Science/Engineering, or Microbiology/Genetic Biology (For Med School).
Anyway with that aside, the main reason why I decided to create this thread was to get some opinions on the ¨best¨ or ¨recommended¨ international universities for a U.S. Student like myself. I´m looking attend international universities that are less expensive than private universities in the states (ie. BU, Tufts, UPenn, etc.), offer degrees that carry meaning around the world, have great student life, and are located in cities. I’ve already looked into University of Toronto and McGill in Canada and UCL, KCL, and Imperial in London but would like to expand my horizons to other countries in Europe. I´m willing to learn a new language in order to become accustomed to that specific country but would absolutely prefer classes to be taught in English. Thank you so much!
You should probably stick to the UK and Ireland if you want an English language education. Also consider Singapore, Australia, HK, etc. Many graduate schools throughout Europe, (business in particular), use English as the main language.
It would take awhile to become proficient enough to write papers at a college level in a new language. Are you willing to take a year off for that? Also, many EU universities assume you have a ‘grade 13’ education (first year college), you will go directly into your major, and often require lots of AP or SAT II tests as a proxy.
In Canada I’d also look at UBC and Queens (college town). Also Oxbridge in UK if you are a super-achiever.
There are merit scholarships in the US (none abroad) and need-aid which may make US colleges affordable. EU universities are after $$$, they heavily subsidize their citizens’ education and foreign students pay rack rate. State schools honors programs offer a private like experiences. EU schools are pretty Spartan.
Thank you so much for the quick response! I actually never knew anything about the ¨grade 13¨ level education in Europe, guess I´ll have to read up on that! However, I’m already planning on taking 2-4 SAT subject tests, definitely Math II, Biology, and from there maybe Spanish Language, U.S. History, or Literature. Throughout my high school career I’ve taken a plethora of Honors and AP classes. As a current senior I’m taking all Honors/AP classes and will be receiving AP credits in Calculus, U.S. History, Biology, Psychology, and possibly in English. Not sure if the rigor of my schedule is on par with their ¨grade 13¨ curriculum.
In terms of financial aid, most if not all of the colleges I’ve looked at are primarily need-based and based on my family’s financial situation, tuition+room/board with a work-study program, hovers around $43k to $45k. I’m definitely looking to beat that price, even if it means going abroad. I’m a very independent, driven individual that can absolutely survive being placed in a far off location. Also I love traveling!
Most unis in Great Britain require 3-5 AP at 4-5, or a combination of APs and SAT II in relevant subjects. You can apply directly from high school, if you have AP results or at least predicted AP exam grades for senior year. Look up specific requirements and tuition costs for each uni, as they vary.
You need to narrow it down a LOT more. In the vast majority of universities around the world you apply to and study ONE course, and you typically need to have done AP-level work in relevant courses to get in. For example, if you want to study microbiology (ie, biochemistry) at KCL you have to have APs in Chem and Bio, and they prefer that you also have Calc and Physics. Moreover, that is ALL you will take- no Gen Ed, etc., and no courses outside your subject. Be sure to read the course descriptions very very carefully.
If you want to study internationally in English in Europe you can use these sites to identify course options:
http://www.studyineurope.eu/in-english
http://www.bachelorsportal.eu/
The Canadian universities might be your best bet, but they won’t save you much. UT engineering tuition is CAD 43K (about $32K) .I would also check with US Medical schools to see if they will accept your foreign degree, and how many foreign trained students they admit vs US as a percentage. At UMich I recall some discussions about 3 yr Bachelors not being equivalent, they sometimes want a Masters degree. Maybe that isn’t true any more.
It sounds like you are quite a good student, I would also look at schools in the US with significant merit aid (Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska etc…) For example, Alabama with 3.5GPA and 32-36 ACT = Free tuition for 8 semesters. NM Finalist with 3.5GPA = Free tuition for 10 semesters, first year dorm fees, $3500 expenses/yr, $2000 research stipend.
That would bring your cost (assuming $10K room./bd) to 30-45K for your degree. You would save enough to pay for almost 3 years of medical school tuition.
Other schools in the UK that are most similar to the US trajectory would include U Edinburgh and Trinity in Dublin. Also check out St. Andrews.
I agree with the poster above who said that the Canadian schools might suit you. They tend to be much larger, but check out UBC, Toronto and McGill.
Trinity College Dublin is actually in the Republic of Ireland- right next door, but not the UK…
Scottish universities are broader than English ones, but they are still very very focused compared to the US. St Andrews is much closer to the US model the Edinburgh.
US med schools do accept Canadian undergrad.
International tuition at Canadian, UK and Ireland schools is not much cheaper than US schools and there is little or no financial aid, merit or need based, for internationals.
The other thing to think about is that if you are thinking about “Microbiology/Genetic Biology (For Med School)”, is that unlike the US, most European countries offer medicine as an undergraduate course of study (as they do Law). So if you are interested in medicine, you can study it immediately.
However, most European universities do not have the concept of the “liberal arts”. If you are studying (say) mathematics, you will probably not take a subject outside of the mathematics department in your three year degree. It is quite a different system, and the secondary schools are designed to prepare you for it, often specialising much earlier (at around 16 in the UK and in France).
For IR/Business, you can apply to Sciences Po Reims, which has a track in English. It’s a big city and it’s about 45Mn outside of Paris. Tuition should be about 15K, plus R&B.
@Mikalye is right- but be aware that 1) it is not a 3 year degree- it is 4 + several years of clinical rotations, which can be problematic to get and 2) getting training rotations in US and/or coming back to practice in the US is a huge challenge.
@collegemom3717 is of course correct. Many degrees are three years, but medicine is longer. The issue of getting qualified to practice in the US is an interesting problem, as you can find yourself unable to practice in either country.
Agree Canadian schools are best option…small travel expenses, accepted at American grad schools, etc. The usual suspects are toronto &,McGill, then Queens and British Columbia and Waterloo . But those are by no means the only options. Don’t forget to check out Dalhousie, U of Ottawa, u of Calgary, u of Alberta, Victoria, McMaster, and York.
You can go to 4-year college and then apply to medical school there too. My husband’s niece did it that way. Check out University of Manchester, Bristol as well as St. Andrews and Edingburg.
D1 spent spring semester this year at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She enjoyed her academics, she took 1 English class and 4 science classes. She liked all of her professors and learned a lot. My husband and I went to visit during her break and we met several US students who were attending(not on study abroad programs), because St. Andrews has a good academic reputation in the UK and US. The cost of attendance for US students is far cheaper than comparable US schools.
I spent a year at St. Andrews, and while it’s a cute town and a fine university, it is very small and isolated. The OP wants something near a big city, and st. Andrews is one of the few foreign colleges in a small town.
I am an American who has completed my Bachelor’s Degree at McGill University in Canada and am currently doing my Master’s at the Technical University of Munich. In terms of Bachelors programs in English in that carry prestige abroad I would suggest the following
-Canada: McGill, U Toronto, U British Columbia, U Waterloo, U Alberta, Queens
-UK: Trinity College Dublin, St. Andrews, U Edinburgh, Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, Leeds, Durham
-Australia: U New South Wales
-HK: U Hong Kong
-Scandinavia: Stockholm School of Economics, Copenhagen School of Business, Lund University
-Germany: Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, U Heidelberg, U Mannheim
All the schools I just listed will come to a total cost (tuition, living, travel etc) to at least half of what it costs to go to school in the us 
I would recommend any of the top London schools (Imperial, LSE, Kings and UCL), Edinburgh, Trinity, UCDublin, UC Cork, Stockholm School of Economics, or Maastrict in the Netherlands. Many of the Dutch Unis teach in English, and attract a diverse number of nationalities as a result.
Londondad
Tuition fee is 7,000 Euro per year if paid at once, or 7,200 Euro if paid in two installments, prior to the beginning of each semester.Applicants who have taken SAT Subject Tests (http://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests) in Biology, Physics and Chemistry, with the minimal score 600 in each subject, may also be exempted from the entrance exam.