Postgraduate study: The benefits of the European option

According to the latest figures from Eurostat on student mobility, 13.3 per cent of Irish students study in another European country. Ireland was ranked the fifth most expensive country in Europe by a recent report released by the Central Statistics Office. With tuition and living expenses considerably cheaper in other European countries, Irish students might consider studying for a postgraduate degree further afield.

And while the UK used to be a top destination for studying abroad, fees in UK universities were introduced in 2012. Tuition for postgraduate study varies according to university and course, but the cost of doing a master’s in the UK is typically in the thousands.

In other European states the fees for postgraduate degree programmes vary considerably. But generally graduates from other EU countries can access the same subsidies, loans, grants and supports as local students.

There are no fees for EU students in public universities in Norway, Sweden, Finland or Denmark. Compared to postgraduate programme fees in Ireland, fees are quite low at public universities in countries like the Netherlands, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

The reasons for wanting to study abroad in the EU are not limited to cost. Other reasons may include the experience, access to courses not available in Ireland and different entry requirements.

Since thousands of postgraduate courses are taught through English across the EU, language is not a barrier.

The following websites are a useful starting point for information on postgraduate study in the EU.

postgradireland.com: This postgraduate study website provides information about institutions and areas of study, along with funding advice.

mastersportal.eu allows you to find and compare master’s degrees from European universities.

The Department of Education and Skills website posts a list of scholarships for Irish students to study abroad.

eunicas.ie: This is an independent support service for students offering information and advice to students hoping to access higher education programmes in the EU.

Student World Study Abroad Fair: A one-day event on March 21st in the RDS in Dublin. thestudentworld.com

Ec.europa.eu: The European Commission websites provides information about studying in Europe.