Studying in Europe

[breward]

DD is looking at studying on an English taught course in Europe. The Bsc in Actuarial Science at University of Amsterdam is top of her list.

Does anyone have experience of a child attending univ in Europe? The tuition fees are most appealing thing at the moment, but the course look great too.

Would the Republic of Ireland be an option? Fees are lower, and there is a long tradition of British, and indeed students from elsewhere invcluding North America, students studying there. As I understand it, the only thing to watch is accommodation costs, which can be high.

I am sure there are many other young people who are looking at alternatives to the traditional degree route who would be interested in this thread.

I'd hope that people who are looking at studying abroad would be primarily looking at more verifiable sources of information than MN to judge the quality of prospective courses and employment prospects.

The government's HE white paper will allow new cut price private HE establishments to open in the UK. I'm sure parents/students will be attracted to these because of the reduced costs, just as they are to European degrees such as that mentioned in the OP. But such options could have detrimental effects on social mobility; better informed students are more able to see through marketing and to make choices leading to good career options.

I would really not under-estimate how hard it is to move country at the age of 18, particularly to a country with different language/non-Anglo-Saxon culture i.e. the US and Canada are a bit easier than European countries. It's pretty hard to adjust to studying at university; living on your own for the first time; living in a new and unfamiliar country; dealing with everyday life in a new language simultaneously.

I live in Germany and have met and know of lots of students (I live in a big university town) who are part of the Erasmus programme, maybe that could be an option for your daughter?

OP, how will you finance your DD's living costs in the Netherlands? UK students can't have a student loan from the UK government for a course of study entirely overseas.

She would likely get a loan for the course fees in the Netherlands (depending on the result of the June vote and any subsequent negotiations). However, to get a loan for living costs she would have to be working 56 hours a month (a proper registered job, not cash in hand) and wouldn't get the loan until after she'd been working for 3 months. If working, she would have to pay towards Dutch health insurance, not rely on her EHIC (if that arrangement is still valid by the end of her course).

If she can't get a job with sufficient hours, she will need a sub every month of about £750 (minus any sum she can earn).

More info here www.studyinholland.co.uk/loans_and_grants.html

For undergraduates, the Erasmus scheme pays for study abroad for part of the student's course - typically 1 semester (about 6 months) or 2 semesters (about a year). You have to be following a degree course at a UK institution to study abroad at one of that university's partner institutions. More here ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/individuals_en#tab-1-1

I took a degree in Sweden which has no tuition fees although you will need to fund living expenses unless you are a resident or meet the requirements for Sweden's student grants/loans.

Going on an Erasmus year to an English speaking university is the far easier option. Or even doing a course with a year abroad in Australia of the USA would be great. Lots of Erasmus students find that getting accommodation is a nightmare. There is a web site called Third Year Abroad which will give you some insight into studying abroad for a year. There will probably be a Dutch section.

Also 17 year olds still need guidance. They can look at studying abroad through rose tinted glasses and other people big up the idea. It is not easy and you can see there are lots of reasons not to do it. Your DD needs to be appraised of all the pros and cons and you should not just go along with what she thinks she wants, especially if there are very valid concerns that she is ill informed or just going with a fashionable view which she thinks might save money.