Insular Brits not thinking beyond the borders

leitmotif

The British are such an insular folk that in weeks of discussion in the media about tuition fees rises there's not once been mention of studying on the continent as an alternative. I studied a Masters abroad as the number of university courses taught in English abroad has increased significantly in the past ten years precisely to compete with the UK market. I paid 70% less, got a better standard of education for my money and a free travel pass for all public transport. In the Netherlands some 40%+ of courses are available in English. In Germany, English-language courses are picking up and the cost is pretty much free (you pay a few hundred, but you get a free travel pass). The US is an obvious choice, with some excellent universities and the exchange rate meaning you'll get a lot better value for money. It is much more expensive than our European neighbours, but if fees go up in the UK it will be more competitive.

There is simply no reason to pay through the nose for a good university education. I studied in the Netherlands and as an EU citizen I was eligible for the same grants as the Dutch students. My saving of 70% was based on the £>€ exchange rate at the time, but if fees go up to 7-9K per annum and the current exchange rate continues, students will still save 80%+ by going abroad. So imagine the exodus of talent if the British for once actually thought beyond our island's borders...

glider3560

I looked into going to Dublin. The fees were much lower, but I'm not sure what kind of grants/loans you would get.

The_One_Who

American universities are very, very good, but unless you are exceptional you won't be getting any financial assistance. So that limits who can feasibly go there quite a lot. The EU might be a good option if you are good at languages and you do get some financial support. A course being conducted in English is all well and good, but what about the rest of the time? Not everyone can grasp languages.

Lokolo

I can't. I struggle with English a lot of the time!

adecor

Think you have to sprachen the lingo in most German unis. This will give you more details of what's available http://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=78308&st=0

bewildered123

^ yep you need the language for Germany still (or pay the fees at private universities) - there's often odd classes taught in English but undergrad is still pretty much German language. It's different at postgrad. The other problem for UK students is that Germany and Switzerland at least don't accept A-levels as entry qualifications, unless the subjects include at least one language and one out of Maths, Biology, Physics & Chemistry. Given how low A-level foreign language exam entries are, I'd doubt many UK students would be qualified. Plus for Germany at least, it would be a huge shock to them - I studied there and you can forget any sort of pastoral support or contact with the teaching staff, getting a degree is as much about successfully battling a very student-unfriendly system as it is about academic achievement. The drop-out rates are enormous.

leitmotif

If you study anywhere in the EU and you are yourself an EU citizen, you will be entitled to the same fee level and same grants, etc. as the natives.

The Netherlands was an excellent alternative to studying in the UK. I paid €1500 for a year, my course was in English (40% of Masters courses are available in English), the standard of living in the Netherlands is better, everything is slightly cheaper than in the UK, I got full grant and free travel pass (valid on trains, trams, buses, etc.) for the whole year. I do speak fluent Dutch (lived there as a kid, and now run my own translation company), so that helped, but at least half the students were from abroad and the lingua franca was English. The course would have cost me £3300 in the UK, so at the exchange rate at the time I saved two thirds.

What I will say on studying in the USA is that the dollar is very weak at the moment, so if fees double or triple in the UK then studying there will suddenly become much more attractive.

There are other options too of course - Canada, Singapore, New Zealand - but at least the EU countries are close to home and you have the same entitlements as natives.

Oldernotwiser

leitmotif wrote: »

If you study anywhere in the EU and you are yourself an EU citizen, you will be entitled to the same fee level and same grants, etc. as the natives.

That certainly isn't true of EU students studying in the UK. Fees are the same but you can't get maintenance funding.

melancholly

well they've certainly run stories on the bbc website about it, so maybe not that people are 'insular', just don't look at all the many and varied sources of advice?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11012095

adecor

Think you'd be pretty safe to study anywhere if you've taken Int'l Baccalaureate http://www.ibo.org/ instead of A levels, but don't think they are commonly available in UK

jrawle

Brits don't study abroad becasue of the language barrier. Even if you can find an English-language course, living in a country where you don't speak the language is tough.

On the plus side, perhaps the hike in fees might encourage a greater take-up of languages at school in order to go abroad for degree studies!