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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

European and International uni application

9 replies

Flickyhair · 26/09/2025 22:05

My DS has ambitions to study overseas. We live in Scotland and are Scottish and also have EU passports. He is doing a great job of researching universities but we are close to application season and I think he needs some help. On the list currently are universities in Sweden, Japan, China, Germany, Norway and Spain.

Does anyone have any experience of applying internationally? Are there consultants that help navigate this?

OP posts:
Flickyhair · 27/09/2025 07:56

Just bumping for the morning crowd. I should add that school help is not an option, it just a normal state school and they have no experience. I didn't think the careers service at Skilld Development Scotland will be able to help either but I'm happy to be proved wrong!

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MagicLoop · 27/09/2025 08:01

No experience of this per se, only of going to a UK uni and doing 3rd year abroad, which was easy when I did it 33 years ago, but since Brexit, not so much - just posting to say be warned that the visa application is an unbelievable PITA!

MagicLoop · 27/09/2025 08:01

And expensive!

Flickyhair · 27/09/2025 08:03

We are Scottish but also have EU passports so that makes things easier.

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Whyherewego · 27/09/2025 08:06

I would recommend that he researches how easy it is to communicate locally. If you dont speak Japanese, life in Japan is going to be tough and it's not easy to pick up. Scandinavian countries on the other hand have lots of English speakers so he may find it easier to make friends. Also going to eg China is going to be costly on top of uni costs. So just think through practicalities.
I cant comment on application process though, just have lived abroad in quite a few countries

Flickyhair · 27/09/2025 09:23

Thanks - the friends thing is a good point. He's applying for courses taught in English, but yes, wider non course uni life will be important to think about.

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Lunde · 27/09/2025 19:09

If he's thinking of doing Uni in Sweden then he needs to look carefully at which degrees are offered in English only. There is a wide selection of individual courses (freestanding courses) that are taught in English that cover 6-12 months that are aimed at exchange students and many masters degrees are taught in English but at Bachelor degree level (Kandidatprogram) it can be more limited.

There are several government sites to guide you through the process
https://www.universityadmissions.se/intl/start
https://www.studera.nu/startpage/road-to-studies/admission/application/

Application process

You can apply for courses taught in Swedish on <span lang="Sv" data-lang="Svenska">Antagning.se</span>, and for courses taught in English on Universityadmissions.se. The entire process is managed electronically, making the process fast and easy.

https://www.studera.nu/startpage/road-to-studies/admission/application

cinnamontreat767 · 30/11/2025 10:31

I can recommend a person actually! Send me a message if you are interested.

We worked with a uni consultant for both of my kids. My DD was actually interested in Japan, Canada, US, and the UK. She ended up in the UK, but applied to three different countries. My DS looked at UK and US, and decided on the US with a scholarship. I could not even begin to navigate all those countries by myself... the advice is good BUT it is expensive.

ReadingTeaLeaves · 12/01/2026 00:11

How did your DC get on and what did they decide to apply for?

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