10 Best European Countries to Study in 2025

A hub of 44 nations, Europe offers many excellent locations to study abroad, each varying in its education system, cost of studying, and the list of top universities. This article includes a list of the best countries to study in Europe for international students. 

Europe has, over the years, become a global hub for quality education. Not only does it boast its countries with the best education systems in the world, but its several top universities and scenic beauty also attract millions of brilliant minds towards this continent every year. The benefits of studying in a European country are further topped up by the increasing availability of English-taught programs. This article consists of a list of the top countries to study in Europe in 2025. We will also cover what led these countries to achieve the top spot.

Every year, international students make a critical decision of choosing the right country for studying abroad. The decision of where to study, however, is a complex one, influenced by a multitude of factors ranging from academic reputation and affordability to career prospects and the overall student experience.

Read: Safest Cities in the World for Students in 2025-26

Top 10 Countries to Study in Europe in 2025

Below is the list of the top 10 European countries for international students chasing the dream of studying abroad. 

1. Netherlands
2. Germany 
3. UK
4. Switzerland
5. France
6. Denmark
7. Norway
8. Belgium
9. Ireland
10. Italy

Check: Study in Europe without IELTS 2025

Details on the Top 5 Best European Countries for International Students

In this section, we will understand what makes the top-ranked countries in Europe gain their spot in the rankings list above. 

1. Netherlands

The Netherlands offer an exceptional studying abroad experience by providing a combination of high-quality education, a strongly internationalised academic environment, and excellent career prospects for graduates, all within a welcoming and diverse society.

The country has the most extensive range of English-taught programs, which makes it accessible for international students from around the world. The universities in the Netherlands offer an interactive approach to delivering their course content to students. This approach is often student-focused, emphasises teamwork, promotes critical thinking, and the practical application of knowledge, preparing students for real-world challenges.

The Dutch society is renowned for its open-mindedness, tolerance, and multiculturalism, ensuring a comfortable and inclusive experience for international students from diverse backgrounds. With this, the country also provides the highest graduate employment rates (93.2%) in all of Europe. This keeps on increasing the demand for graduates from the Dutch universities. 

• Popular fields of education: Engineering, technology, business, economics, law, and environmental sciences
• Visa application: The Netherlands student visa application process is often streamlined by the host institution in the Netherlands. This makes the process simple and effective. 

• Student life: Student life in the Netherlands is dynamic and engaging, particularly in major student cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Groningen, which offer a rich blend of cultural activities and social events, alongside a strong cycling culture.

• Cost of education: The cost of education, however, is not as affordable as in countries like Germany. The average cost of getting a bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands ranges from €9000 to €20,000 and €12,000 to €30,000 for PG courses.

• Accommodation: Finding accommodation in the country, especially in major cities, is also very complicated. The rents for accommodation in Amsterdam may range from €1000 to €1500, €760 to €1250 in Rotterdam and  €800 to €1200 in Groningen. 

• Top Universities: 

• • Delft University of Technology

• • University of Amsterdam
  • Utrecht University
  • Eindhoven University of Technology
  • Leiden University

2. Germany

Germany stands as a leading study destination in Europe, renowned for its high-quality education system, particularly in the field of engineering. The country has become a favourite choice among Indian students owing to free education at its public universities, and a large number of UG and PG programs being taught in English make studying in Germany more accessible for international students. However, if admitted, students are still required to pay an administration fee, which ranges from €200 to €300 per semester.

The top universities in Germany, such as LMU Munich, Heidelberg University, and the Technical University of Munich, often appear in QS World University Rankings. The other popular fields of study in Germany are business studies, computer science and social studies. 

The cost of living in Germany for international students is more affordable than in other locations in Europe, and it ranges from €800 to €1200, with costs being on the higher side in cities like Heidelberg. The cherry on top is that Germany offers an 18-month job-seeker visa to international graduates to stay and look for work in Germany. However, one must apply for it before the validity of their German student visa ends. 

• Popular fields of education: Engineering, business, computer sciences, social sciences
• Visa application: Application for a student visa in Germany requires proof of sufficient funds and a letter of acceptance from your host university.. 

• Student life: Germany offers a rich student life. Its cities like Berlin and Munich offer dynamic cultural experiences and numerous activities for international students, which help them to integrate into the local culture.

• Cost of education: The cost of study for non-EU international students in Germany can range from €10,000 - €20,000 for a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a private university.

• Accommodation: The cost of accommodation in Germany varies from city to city and can range from €714 – €1,252 for a single bedroom, outside or near the city centre.  

• Top Universities: 

• • Technical University of Munich

• • Ludwig Maximilians University Munich

• • Heidelberg University

• • Free University of Berlin

3. UK

The UK is renowned for its culture, conventional education system, world-class universities, global acceptance of degrees, high employability rates, and simplified processes of university and visa applications. The UK boasts several top-ranking universities that specialise in fields such as law, business, engineering, and the humanities. 

The biggest advantage of studying in the UK is its Graduate Route Visa which allows a stay of up to 2 years (in case of UG and PG courses) and 3 years (in case of PhD) to international students that helps them to stay in the country to look for work or start their own business even after the completion of their studies.

The top-tier universities in the UK, like the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London, consistently rank among the top 10 universities in the world. However, studying at any of these top universities can be a costly affair. 

• Popular fields of education: Popular fields of study include multidisciplinary programs, research-oriented courses, art, history, architecture, law, business, and engineering.
• Visa application: Application for a UK visa requires the CAS letter from the host university, proof of payment of fees (either in full or partial amount, whichever is asked by the university) and several other documents.

• Student life: International students from around the globe visit the UK every year for higher education. This gives them a unique multi-cultural environment that cannot be replaced by any other country. The historic architecture of universities and conventional teaching pedagogies make studying in the UK more attractive to students who are fond of art and history.

• Cost of education: The cost of studying for international students in the UK can range from £11,000 - £26,000 for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

• Accommodation: The cost of accommodation in the UK varies from city to city and can range from £690 - £955 for a single bedroom, outside or near the city centre. This amount can increase if you are going to live in London, which is the most expensive city to live in the UK.

• Top Universities: 

• • Imperial College London

• • University of Oxford

• • University of Cambridge

• • UCL

4. Switzerland

Switzerland is renowned across the globe for its STEM, business, and hospitality management courses. The country also provides an exceptionally high quality of life and safety standards to international students. A heaven on earth, Switzerland's academic landscape is characterised by its strong global standing, with its top universities like ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the University of Zurich often making it to the list of top universities in Europe and the world.

Most programs are taught in English, so it becomes easier for international students to get access to the program they like and not just the one which is readily available in the English language. Students thus have the freedom to choose their favourite programs. However, learning one of the local languages in Switzerland is highly recommended for better integration into Swiss society.

• Popular fields of education: Business, hospitality management, engineering, environmental sciences, and finance.
• Visa application: The Switzerland student visa application process for non-EU/EFTA students requires applying at the Swiss embassy or consulate with the necessary documentation and proof of sufficient financial resources.

• Student life: Student life in Switzerland offers access to stunning natural beauty, a diverse international community, and a high standard of living.

• Cost of education: The cost of studying at public universities in Switzerland may range from CHF 1,000 and 8,000 per year for international students.

• Accommodation: The cost of accommodation in Switzerland can range from CHF 800 to CHF 1500, which makes it one of the most costly components in the total cost of living in Switzerland.

• Top Universities: 

• • ETH Zurich

• • EPFL

• • University of Zurich

• • University of Basel

• • University of Geneva

5. France

Synonymous with art, philosophy, and culinary excellence, France offers a rich cultural experience for international students. Even though the public universities in France offer higher education at a fairly low price, several scholarship options are available that may help you with the remaining costs.

The top universities in France like École Polytechnique, Sorbonne University, and HEC Paris are often among the top universities in the world ranking list. The job-seeker visa in France or the APS allows graduates to stay for 1 year to find employment.

Strong career prospects exist in engineering, management, tourism, hospitality, and luxury goods. Even though several programs are taught in English in France, learning French is advantageous for job market integration.

• Popular fields of education: Business, fashion and design, arts, architecture and engineering.
• Visa application: The French student visa application process requires one to submit proof of finances, university admission, health insurance and accommodation in France. The visa processing time may range from 3-8 weeks.

• Student life: French cities like Paris, Lyon, and Toulouse offer rich cultural experiences. 

• Cost of education: The cost of tuition at a public university in France ranges from €170 to €3,700 per year for international students.

• Accommodation: The cost of accommodation in Switzerland can range from €605 - €768 for a 1-bedroom apartment.

• Top Universities: 

• • Université PSL

• • Institut Polytechnique de Paris
  • Sorbonne University
  • Université Paris-Saclay

Course-wise Best Countries to Study in Europe

If you tend to jump to Google to look for the best countries for higher education in a particular field, then here we have a compiled list for you. Here’s the list of countries renowned for the designated program:

• Engineering: Germany, UK, Netherlands, and Switzerland.

• Business and Management: The Netherlands, the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland.

• Computer Science and Information Technology: Germany, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Estonia.

• Law: UK, Netherlands, Germany and France.

• Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

• Environmental Science and Sustainability: Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway.

• Hospitality Management: Switzerland and France

• Fashion and Design: France and Spain
• Medicine and Healthcare: UK, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland.
• Finance: UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany.

Read: Steps to Check Student Visa Status in Europe

Key Aspects Determining the Best Countries to Study in Europe

While determining the best European countries to study for international students, considering only a single criterion may not be the right approach. Hence, in this article, we have considered the following criteria for enlisting the top countries to study in Europe. 

• Academic Excellence: This criterion encompasses the quality of education offered, the global ranking of universities, the reputation of specific programs, and the availability of research opportunities. It signifies a high level of achievement in scholarly pursuits, encompassing more than just achieving good grades. Academic excellence is a reflection of the deep understanding of subjects, critical thinking skills, and the ability to effectively apply theoretical knowledge to solve real-time industry problems.
• Affordability (one of the major concerns among students while choosing universities and countries to study abroad): Affordability of studying in a country or university includes key aspects like the tuition fees, cost of living (including the cost of food, accommodation, transportation, etc. 
• Career Prospects: This aspect evaluates the availability of post-study work opportunities, post-study work visa options, graduate employability rates, and the prevailing job market trends in sectors relevant to international students

• Student Experience: Though not much discussed among the international student community at the time of admissions, the student experience is considered a major factor that determines the quality of the overall educational journey of the student. This includes the cultural environment, social life on and off campus, the level of safety and security, the availability of support services specifically designed for international students, and overall student satisfaction scores.

• Safety and Quality of Life: Students going abroad need assurance of their safety in the foreign land. Hence, for this reason, the safety rankings of a country come into the picture. The safety rankings for countries, i.e. the Global Peace Index, are released every year by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), Australia. Other key aspects considered are the quality of the healthcare system, general living standards, and political stability.

• Ease of Visa Application or visa success rate: This considers the clarity and efficiency of the visa application process for international students, as well as the required documentation.

This was all about the top countries to study in Europe for international students in 2025. If you seek assistance in your study abroad journey, then feel free to request a call back from Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free. 

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