As well as choosing a course as part of these three main higher education ‘cycles’, you can take part in short-term study opportunities, such as Erasmus+ exchanges, summer schools and language courses.
Erasmus + opportunities
Through the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, you can complete part of your study programme abroad in one of the 33 European countries.
Opportunities are available for students at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels. You can also combine studying abroad with a traineeship.
Traineeships abroad with Erasmus+
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees
Erasmus+ funding for students with physical, mental or health-related conditions
Under Erasmus+, students do not have to pay tuition fees for their time abroad. You might also be eligible for a grant contributing to living costs and travel expenses.
To be eligible, you need to be studying at a higher education institution in a country that is participating in the Erasmus+ programme.
Ask your university’s international office to find out about opportunities to study in Europe through the programme.
Summer schools
The summer months are ideal to experience studying in Europe. Consider participating in a summer school during your summer break.
Many European universities offer summer courses on a wide array of subjects. Summer courses are often international, with people from all over the world.
They vary in length from a week to two months. Following a summer course is truly a great way to meet new people, discover a new country and deepen your knowledge of a certain topic.
Tuition fees for summer courses vary. Find more about summer courses in 33 European countries in the country profiles section.
Language courses
Europe offers many opportunities to increase your language skills. There are many language courses available across the continent. The length and level of the course are open for you to choose.
If you plan to apply to a European university to study, it is worth checking the proof of language skills accepted as part of the entry requirements before signing up to a language course.
European higher education institutions may also offer language courses during the summer months.
Find out more about short-term study opportunities in 33 European countries.
Fields of study in Europe
You will find a huge range of higher education study programmes on offer across Europe – Astrophysics, Biotechnology, Business, Chemical Engineering, Football management, Geography, Green energy management, History, Information Technology, International Relations, Languages, Law, Literature, Medicine, Sociology, Teaching, Tourism, Zoology, and much, much more.
Most higher education study programmes have a ‘modular’ structure. This means that you can build a personalised programme by choosing several different modules or units of study each year from a wide selection. For example, if you are studying Fashion, you might choose one module on Fashion Marketing, one module on Textile Design, and one module on Ethical Textile Production.
Start dates of degrees in Europe
Start dates vary across Europe, but the academic year typically begins in September or October and finishes in June. Some study programmes also offer January/February start dates too.