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It’s no secret that in recent years, more and more highly qualified, hugely talented independent-school students are missing out on places at the UK’s most prestigious universities. The cause? A laudable policy by universities to increase diversity in all forms and attract applicants less typical of their historic intake. It’s just one of a number of reasons why more and more students are eschewing study in the UK in favour of broadening their horizons, immersing themselves in a new culture and tapping into the wealth of internationally renowned universities abroad.

Last term, we honed in on US universities, investigating the benefits of studying across the pond and demystifying the complicated application process. But more and more schools are telling us they’re seeing another trend: a rise in interest in European universities. We asked Martine Gagnon from (which helps around 800 students and 200 schools each year through international university applications) to give us the lowdown, and spoke to senior schools in the UK and across the world to get their take on the changing landscape of university applications.

‘Ten years ago, it would have seemed unusual for our pupils to consider Europe as a destination for higher education,’ says Ibstock Place School. ‘But since 2015, we have seen a significant uptick in interest in studying internationally – and, in particular, Europe. Some of our pupils are not looking for the “typical” university experience provided by UK institutions, and often what was initially a back-up application actually becomes the institution which became their top choice.’

Downe House has spotted a similar shift. ‘Whilst we have always had a number of students who have looked to apply overseas, their traditional focus has always been the United States,’ says Sarah Barnard, the school’s director of futures. ‘However, now we are seeing a real growth in numbers both considering and ultimately applying to European universities.’ It’s a similar story at Lancing College. ‘Since 2020, we have seen multiple students take up places in Europe, with Spain and the Netherlands popular choices for traditional degrees,’ the school tells us.

According to the , there are currently close to 5,000 higher-education institutions in Europe. And with the UK university market becoming more and more competitive – and US universities out of financial reach for the majority of students – these universities are becoming a compelling alternative. ‘With increasing competition at Russell Group universities, we are starting to see an uptick of interest in Holland, Italy and Spain,’ says Alys Langdale, Marlborough College’s head of international-university guidance. ‘There are some outstanding universities in mainland Europe, and we have students applying to the Netherlands, Italy and Spain most years,’ adds Ruth Davis, Tonbridge School’s head of universities and careers.



With English as the lingua franca of global business and trade, many students are drawn to Europe’s wealth of highly prestigious, private universities offering English-speaking courses in fields such as business, tech, economics, politics and international relations. ‘The speed at which universities in Europe are offering bachelor's degrees in English is spreading like wildfire,’ says Brian Marshall, Raha International School’s director of university counselling. ‘There’s high demand to study English because it’s the language of business, and while in the past, international students would only apply to the UK, North America and Australia, European universities now want a healthy piece of this market.’

One such example is in Milan, where some of its specialist business-related courses are considered among the top 10 programmes in Europe – and they’re conducted solely in English. These courses are extremely rigorous, so academic clout is vital – but as the admissions team doesn’t look at predicted grades, any school leaver is eligible for a place. Applying to Bocconi doesn’t take up a precious UCAS slot (so UK-based students often apply in parallel to their UCAS application), and with standardised tests part of the entry requirements, it’s popular among students who are also applying for competitive US universities.

holds a similar appeal for international students. Like Bocconi, the focus here is on business-focused courses, with students taking a deep dive into different modules. In some ways, it’s a halfway house between a British university, where students focus on one academic subject in great depth, and an American university, where there’s much more academic breadth. Another draw is the university’s split campus, giving students the opportunity to study in both the Spanish capital and the beautiful Roman city of Segovia. ‘We have had some great success with pupils being awarded scholarships to IE Madrid due to their academic achievements,’ says Lisa Kearney, Bryanston School’s international-universities adviser. The university gets a glowing endorsement from The Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur too. ‘They are certainly very strong on things like accommodation and pastoral care, but also have a real understanding of things like future employment and skills trends, and how to make the most of work placement and internships,’ says Joe Marshall, the school’s head of higher education and careers.

The Netherlands is another hugely desirable route for students at schools both in the UK and around the world. ‘We continue to see a constant increase in interest in applying to Dutch universities,’ says Joe Hall, the head of sixth form at Brighton College Dubai. ‘Pupils concerned about the cost of education in the UK are turning to the Netherlands in particular, and find the application process straightforward and the range of university courses attractive.’ Emily Nolan, Stonyhurst College’s head of careers, agrees: ‘The Netherlands has become increasingly popular as tuition fees are low for European students, and most courses are taught in English.’ At The International School of Kuala Lumpur, The Netherlands is the most popular European higher-education destination for its students.



‘I’m always blown away by the quality of the universities in the Netherlands,’ says Martine Gagnon. ‘They’re perfectly geared up for independent students, the courses are hugely diverse, and it’s easy to find an English-speaking course if you’re open-minded about where to study.’ And with fees of around €12,000 per year for EU passport holders, they’re no more expensive than their UK counterparts. But there’s a downside to the Netherlands’ popularity. The only drawback – which most become aware of from word-of-mouth – are the issues surrounding availability and cost of accommodation. The Dutch government has been trying to tackle the problem by pausing active recruitment for international students and imposing restrictions on the number admitted into its universities – but despite efforts to build new halls of residence, there’s still a chronic shortage of student accommodation. Luckily, the University Colleges in The Netherlands are residential, so students who are looking for a tight-knit campus community experience can explore the opportunities available at these excellent academic institutions that form part of the wider Research University campuses. Furthermore, as long as students apply early, remain incredibly organised and proactive throughout the process and look for accommodation in good time, there’s no reason why students won’t have an overwhelmingly positive experience. Interested in finding out more? The Dutch University Colleges are holding an - sign up .

Other European universities offer something completely different. Students at spend their first year studying in Lisbon, their second year in Paris and their third year in Berlin, while has campuses in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin and Warsaw, giving students the opportunity to live in a number of different cities. ‘I have had the privilege of meeting so many lovely people from around the world, and there are so many different nationalities, which is one of the things I love the most,’ says student Mia, who joined ESCP after leaving Ibstock Place last year. France’s , meanwhile, offers courses exclusively linked to luxury business, from fashion to wine. For students with ambitions to join the hospitality industry, Switzerland’s hotel-management and hospitality schools remain the world’s most prestigious places to study it – even if the eye-watering fees make them unobtainable to most. For those searching for a more affordable option, is a public Dutch university specialising in hospitality management with much more accessible fees.

‘The other noticeable trend amongst potential medics and dentists is an interest in applying to medical schools in central and eastern Europe,’ says Joe Hall. The shift is driven by the fact that UK medical schools are becoming harder and harder for pupils to access. ‘We have had our first applicants this year to apply to the European University of Cyprus for Dentistry, along with Semmelweis University in Hungary for medicine – and this is, undoubtedly, driven in large part by the highly competitive nature of these applications in the UK, even where students are academically excellent,’ adds Sarah Barnard.

Interest in Ireland is on the up too. ‘Thanks to the UK/Ireland Common Travel Areas, UK students can still apply to Irish universities as EU students, and from our current Year 12s, there are a number interested in studying in Dublin,’ says Ruth Davis.

It's clear that today’s students are keener than ever to expand their horizons and employability by picking a university abroad. Julian Karolyi, head of university admissions and careers at The King’s School, Canterbury, tells us: ‘King’s has a sophisticated, cosmopolitan student body, and our pupils are actively selecting top European institutions as first-choice destinations – in some cases, because they are already confident or bilingual in the relevant language, but in others where the teaching is in English, because they see the benefits of being able to move confidently and effectively in more than one country and language.’ ‘Students are drawn to the breadth of degree programmes, many of which are taught entirely in English, the vibrant cultural life, and the access to internships and job placements available in a dynamic learning environment,’ adds Debbi Antebi, Godolphin & Latymer’s international universities adviser. ‘Our boys are recognising this valuable opportunity to enjoy a different culture and way of life first-hand,’ agrees Dena Deedat, Wetherby Senior School’s head of sixth form.

And while it tends to be the English-speaking courses and institutions that most international students set their sights on, European universities can be a compelling choice for those with a flair for languages too. ‘At Ibstock Place, we have made a conscious effort to educate our pupils about the value of an international degree,’ says the school. ‘Through their experiences of studying multiple languages up to GCSE-level, our pupils are very familiar with Europe, and are not afraid to be immersed in an environment where people speak a different language.’ That said, do check the language requirements before you apply – Germany is often disregarded as an option as its universities require fluency in German, and some medicine-related degrees in Europe require students to speak the local language in order to pass the hands-on, clinical component of the course. Organisations such as help guide students through the often-bureaucratic application processes at French-speaking universities.

Indeed, a growing number of schools now have dedicated European university advisers and counsellors like Martine on hand to prepare students for their applications and help them unpick the various nuances and juggle a number of different application processes and timelines. At Stonyhurst, it is commonplace for pupils to apply to four or five courses in several different countries. ‘We have had great success with our European applications, but because the landscape is shifting, we have to stay abreast of trends in admissions, which does tend to change quickly,’ says Alison Lewis, a high-school counsellor at The International School of Kuala Lumpur.

‘The key thing for us, as school careers advisers, is to make sure that the students explore their options early, check deadlines and fully understand each process,’ says Ruth Davies. ‘Across Europe, there are 48 different higher-education systems, which presents some challenges. But because the majority are direct applications, the students drive the process themselves – with support from us where needed.’



If you’re going to commit to going through with the application process, there are of course a few more key things to bear in mind, such as the pressures of relocating to another country and moving away from your family and friends. ‘I think you need to be an internationally minded person to make a success of a move from this, and to understand from the off that expectations can be very different depending on the country and institution you are in,’ says Simon Coppell, head of sixth form at Chigwell School – which in the past three years has sent students to public and private institutions including the University of Amsterdam, Charles University in Prague, IE in Madrid and Sciences Po in Paris. ‘The application procedure is different, things like registration and fees work differently, and once you get there you may find out that progression from one year to the next is not as straightforward as it is for your former schoolmates in their British universities. Then you have to consider factors like accommodation or career support, which for many of our families are understandably very important.’ Decide how far you are prepared to be from home. ‘The key advice we give to students applying to European institutions is that they will need some level of independence,’ adds Joe Marshall. ‘Accommodation can be limited, and pastoral facilities tend to be less available than at some of our other key destinations like the UK, Australia, Canada and the US.’

Timelines are important too. A lot of students apply to European universities alongside their UCAS application, in turn opening up the number and range of options available to them. But deadlines don’t always align – and offers to European universities are handed out long before IB and A-level results are released in July and August. Martine’s advice is to give yourself a cut-off date to make your final decision, and think about your priorities: are you applying to a university in Europe because you’ve got a genuine interest in studying there, or because you’re just looking for a safety net? The key thing to remember is that the longer you cling on to an offer, you’re denying the place to another deserving student.

Whatever the outcome, considering a European university is guaranteed to be a rewarding experience. ‘One of the fun things about higher-education advice is finding out about all the fascinating courses available that our pupils are interested in, and exploring, albeit through them, things that were never available when we were their age. Our pupils seem to go out into the world with well-placed confidence and engagement, and it is a real pleasure to help them,’ says Julian Kaloryi. Ruth agrees: ‘Students are keen to spread their wings, and it is inspiring to see them thinking outside the box.’