Germany ranks number one for international students

Hamburg-based startup Study.EU just released its first ranking of the most attractive countries for international students in Europe. And in 2017, Germany is a proud winner, far ahead of the runner-ups – the UK, the Netherlands, and France.

The methodology

Study.EU took three factors into consideration when drafting the ranking. 50 points were allocated to the quality of education, the availability of courses taught in English, and the international flair. 30 points were used for the cost living and the fees to enroll at university. 20 points were used to gauge the “Life & Career” aspect – professional opportunities after graduation, local proficiency in English and general happiness in a given country.

Source: Study.EU

Germany took the gold, thanks to the quality of its educational system and higher education offers, but what made the difference are the costs. While mostly countries from Eastern and Southern Europe rank there, Germany made it to rank number eight. Thanks to a rather low cost of living compared to other countries in Western Europe and very affordable tuition fees – even for non-EU students – Germany gathered points where Scandinavian or Anglo-Saxon universities failed to.

The growing importance of English courses in Europe

Thanks to the disappearance of internal border in the EU and a homogeneous grading system, students tend more than ever to complete part of their studies abroad. However, except for English-speaking countries, most universities will require you to know a certain level of the local language. This situation is changing according to Gerrit Bruno Blöss, founder and CEO of Study.EU: “We have seen tremendous growth over the past decade, but still only 2% of all university students in continental Europe study in English. We expect this ratio to double over the next three to four years, fueled by a growing demand from students. This is a chance for smaller, often overlooked countries to gain a stronger international presence as alternative study destinations”

A roaring PR success

One inspiring feat of the study from a business perspective is the media attention it received. Many startups, and even established companies, fail to catch the attention of the press. Among other big names, Study.EU was featured in Le Monde and Le Figaro (France), Il Corriere (Italy), Hurriyet (Turkey), or Nyheter24 (Sweden). Blöss – unsurprisingly – would rather not divulge his recipe for success. However, we can guess the strings behind the reach Study.EU attained. A clear list of identifiable facts, an appealing ranking, trusted information from specialists and a strong statement driven by a smart story-telling.

About Study.EU

Study.EU is the gateway to universities in Europe. As one of the leading information providers for study choice in Europe, it offers students information about more than 7,000 study programmes all over Europe. The Hamburg-based company connects students from around the world with European universities, enabling them to pursue the academic path they aspire. Study.EU closely cooperates with institutions of higher education as well as governmental organisations throughout Europe.

Study.EU is currently going for a round of financing in the next few months and is looking for a Co-founding CTO / Head of Product to strengthen their ranks. More information here.