If you are thinking about getting higher education in Europe, Scandinavia is a great place to consider. It offers a lot of opportunities and benefits as well as comfortable living for students. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about Scandinavia as an educational destination. Learn more about why Scandinavia might be the best place to study.
What You Need to Know About Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a term used to describe three countries – Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The name comes from the Scands – the mountain range that goes through Norway and Sweden. Sometimes people also add Finland and Iceland to this region as they are also from the Nordic group. But, strictly speaking, Scandinavia covers three countries.
They are also located on the Scandinavian peninsula and share mutually intelligible languages. These countries are also highly-developed and known for their quality of life. All of the opportunities you might have in your home country are also available here.
Related: 10 Scandinavian Life Habits That Everyone Should Have
There is a speedy and reliable internet connection, a lot of technological advancements, and excellent infrastructure. So students might stay connected to people around the world, study productively, and access high-quality academic help online. For instance, those who struggle with academic writing can apply for help from paper writing services the same way. Professional authors offer writing, editing, and proofreading assistance with all types of college assignments. They deliver excellent results quickly and with constant support.
Students that need their writing polished can also get valuable advice and guidance from experts, which is an amazing learning opportunity. And if you struggle with time and deadlines, such professionals can do the paper for you from scratch right in time. This way, students can keep up with their responsibilities, have a bit of free time and receive unique and well-crafted papers.
So studying in Scandinavia is comfortable, accessible, and offers a multitude of benefits that are going to be covered next.
Reasons to Choose Scandinavia for Education
Excellent Educational System
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are known internationally for the quality of education provided here. Some of the best institutions in the world are located here. They offer well-built and innovative programs as well as great opportunities in terms of research and further studies.
According to the Times Higher Education World University rating, some of the top institutions to choose here are:
- Karolinska Institutet, Sweden;
- Lund University, Sweden;
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Uppsala University, Sweden;
- Aarhus University, Denmark;
- University of Oslo, Norway;
- Stockholm University, Sweden;
- Technical University of Denmark;
- University of Gothenburg, Sweden;
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden;
- University of Bergen, Norway;
- Aalborg University, Denmark;
- Copenhagen Business School, Denmark;
- Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden;
- The University of Southern Denmark.
It is worth noting that some of the amazing schools are not even on the list because they have narrow specializations. So if you know what field you are interested in, it is important to look into all available options.
Related: Understanding the Scandinavian Language
No Language Barrier
English is widely spoken in all three countries. According to the global ranking of English knowledge, Norway is in the 4th place, Denmark is next on the 5th, and Sweden is on the 7th.
So almost anyone here speaks English very well. There are also many college programs available in English that welcome international students. Only in Sweden, there are over 100 English programs for Bachelor’s degrees and over 900 for Master’s.
Yet, it is also a great opportunity to learn Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian languages if it is something you are interested in.
Innovative Research Opportunities
Another huge benefit of Scandinavian higher education is that local institutions constantly score highly for innovation and cutting-edge research. According to INSEAD’s report of 2017, Sweden was the 2nd in the world, Denmark came 6th and Norway 19th.
Scandinavian countries also got high scores in Bloomberg’s innovative economies ranking. No wonder universities and colleges here invest in research and innovation as well.
Learn more about why Scandinavia might be the best place to study, read more b elow image…..
Beautiful Nature
Although Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are known for their cold climate, the nature here is beautiful. They are homes for some of the best places in Europe to travel to. And it is always right behind the corner, whether you live in the capital or not.
Students can travel around and see the Northern lights, participate in outdoor activities, or enjoy winter sports. So if you are excited about hiking, camping, ice skating, or fishing, it is a great place to be.
Related: Luxury Scandinavian Destinations
Affordable or Free Education
Also, Scandinavian higher education is quite affordable compared to other destinations. Some students can acquire degrees here for free as well. This is a huge benefit as the cost of living here is relatively high.
For example:
- Denmark offers free education for EU/EEA students as well as exchange students. Learners from other regions might pay around $6,400-17,000 annually;
- Norway’s public universities are free for students from all over the world. This covers all study levels. You might only pay a small fee for a semester (about $38-75). Private universities are not free, but the tuition is relatively low;
- Sweden offers free education for EU/EEA students. Also, Ph.D. programs are free here. As for learners from other regions, they might pay around $9,000-18,000 annually.
And there are some scholarships open for international learners. So even if you have to pay tuition, there are ways to cut the costs or get financial help.
Comfortable Living
Scandinavian countries are among the leading when it comes to safety and equality. There is also a thriving student life here as a lot of international learners come to get an education in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
The quality of life here is one of the highest in the world. There are amazing social support systems, environmental policies, and affordable healthcare. Of course, life here is not as dynamic as in metropolitan cities like London or New York. But Scandinavian countries have to offer comfort, rich culture and history, and safety.
Why Scandinavia Might Be the Best Place to Study In – Summary
Learners that are interested in pursuing degrees in Europe should consider Scandinavia. It has an outstanding educational system, great universities, and affordable tuition. But also, it comes with an opportunity to explore new cultures, languages, and marvelous nature.
Why Scandinavia Might Be the Best Place to Study, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Adriana Bell.