Paris I, Paris II...
All Parisian universities have their own specialization (sometimes not clearly defined). After the 1968 riots, the faculties of the University of Paris were transformed into independent institutions: Paris I, Paris II, Paris III, etc., many of which remained faithful to their "traditional" disciplines. Thus, Paris IV is known as a center for French philology and linguistics, while Paris I (Panthéon Sorbonne) focuses on economics, law, and management.
There is no unified admissions mechanism for French universities; each university sets its own requirements. In any case, you will be required to provide results from the DELF/DALF test (more details can be obtained from the French Cultural Center) or take the TCF-U test (known as Evaluation linguistique) at the university itself.
To apply to French universities, you need to study for one or two years at any domestic public university (preferably in the field you wish to pursue in France). At the end of the academic year, obtain a transcript from your dean's office showing your grades and courses taken (with the number of hours), then have it notarized and translated.
There is also a chance to become a student at a French university for those who have work experience in the field they plan to study. To do so, you must undergo a "validation of professional skills" (validation d’acquis professionnels) procedure, based on the results of which you are admitted to the appropriate level of study.
All foreign applicants to French public universities write motivation letters explaining why they want to study at that university, in that field, where they plan to work (or continue their studies), and what they expect from the education.
The BI-DEUG system is very popular among students: the opportunity to study two related specialties in depth simultaneously, for example, IT News and English, or international law and Russian, etc. In the first two years, the student has the right to withdraw from such dual studies and focus on one subject.
Education in France is still free. Students only pay an annual registration fee of €400-1,000.
The most open universities in the UK
UK universities are traditionally divided into so-called "old" and "new." It is difficult to get into "old" ones (Cambridge, Oxford, etc.) even with very good grades. "New" ones are more accessible.
The path to any British university begins with Foundation preparatory courses. To enroll, you must have a certificate of complete secondary education and a good command of English (IELTS 5.0 or higher).
University of Kingston. The university's administration has developed special support programs for international students: they will arrange a meeting at the airport, provide information about transportation, medical care, etc. At a special meeting, they will introduce you to the university staff and students who can offer advice and share personal experiences.
There is also a special employment service that provides information services during studies and for three years after graduation. An important detail: students can use the library and computer labs not only on weekdays but also on weekends.
The University of Westminster is among the top twenty most popular universities in the world among international students. A domestic bachelor's degree allows you to enter directly into the second year of a bachelor's program.
The university offers more than 20 fields of study: architecture, art and design, biology, electronics and telecommunications, journalism, marketing, tourism, etc. For newcomers, there is a special orientation program: you will learn about the specifics of studying, and library and IT department staff will tell you about additional educational resources.
The University of Warwick is among the top ten universities in the UK and arguably ranks first in openness to international students. The university has developed an Orientation program, during which future students are introduced to the university, living and studying conditions over four days. Four faculties (arts, sciences, social studies, and medicine) offer various courses: finance, economics, social policy, art history, philosophy, etc.
For a diploma – to the homeland of Santa Claus
The Finnish higher education system has its own nuances: unlike other European countries, there are only two types of higher education institutions – universities and technological institutes. Diplomas from both are recognized worldwide.
Universities offer academic education primarily focused on research. Here you can obtain bachelor's and master's degrees, and then defend a dissertation to become a doctor of science. The duration of study is four years (bachelor's) or six years (master's).
Institutes, also called polytechnics (Polytechnic institute (Eng.); ammattikorkeakoulu, abbreviated as AMK (Fin.)) – are higher professional schools. They are usually located in industrially developed regions with large enterprises and factories and train specialists for them. Finnish companies are happy to hire them. The average duration of study at polytechnics is 3.5–4 years.
Each Finnish university has its own admission rules, required documents, and requirements for applicants. At large universities, such as the University of Helsinki (University of Helsinki, Helsingin yliopisto), exams are required for all faculties. However, little-known provincial institutions may only have a document competition.
By the way, you can apply to polytechnics immediately after finishing domestic school. However, for university studies, applicants are required to have studied for several years at a university in their home country.
Education in the Land of the Maple Leaf
The quality of education in Canadian universities matches that of American ones, while its cost is significantly lower. Moreover, instruction is in English and French. Canada has about 90 universities. There are no non-prestigious ones – each meets strict government requirements. It's no wonder that in the global higher education ranking, Canada ranks second – right after the United States.
Education in Canadian universities is three-tiered:
* Undergraduate, leading to a bachelor's degree – duration at least 3 years;
* Graduate programs (Master's) – duration 1–2 years;
* Postgraduate, leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree – duration 4 years.
In addition, universities offer many programs upon completion of which graduates receive diplomas and certificates. Our complete higher education is considered equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Therefore, after graduating from a domestic university, you simply need to inform the administration of the courses you have taken, and you will be admitted to an advanced year. The most popular programs in Canada are master's programs.
Theoretically, our high school students can enter Canadian universities right after finishing school, but in practice this is difficult. It is better to enroll in a college for a preparatory program and then transfer directly to the second or third year of a university. This path is popular among Canadians themselves, as college education is cheaper. Importantly, a college diploma allows a foreigner to work for one year.
Bilingual Canada offers instruction in English and French. English is more widespread; French predominates in Quebec. In the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba, you can study in both languages. In any case, knowledge of a foreign language must be confirmed by international certificates (TOEFL – 550 points, IELTS – 6 points). For applicants with French, the university may offer its own test or accept DELF/DALF.
Higher Education in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has 26 public and 32 private higher education institutions. Free education is only possible in Czech at public universities (students pay only so-called non-instructional expenses). All major universities offer English-language programs, with tuition ranging from €3,000 to €9,000. In private universities, education is always fee-paying.
The Czech academic year, as elsewhere, consists of two semesters: winter and summer. Students decide for themselves how many hours per week they will attend lectures. A relatively strict limit is set only for seminars: attendance must be at least 50% of classes. Each subject concludes with an exam, which can be retaken up to three times.
Lecture classes differ little from ours: the instructor explains the material and answers student questions. However, seminars may seem somewhat unusual: humanities students listen to one or two reports (projects) by classmates and then discuss them, while students of technical and natural sciences write lab reports each time.
Getting admitted to a free department at Czech public universities is not easy: only 60% of applicants successfully pass the exams. The highest competition is for humanities, economics, and arts faculties at universities in Prague. Competition for technical specialties is lower.
Despite the fact that the Czech Republic switched to European education standards faster than others, all universities in this country accept graduates of our secondary schools on equal terms with Czechs. The only difference is that foreigners must pass a difficult Czech language exam: it requires excellent knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, including scientific terms. In addition to the language exam, there are two or three entrance examinations depending on the chosen specialty.
Applying to a Swiss University
Swiss higher education has a very important advantage – multilingualism. One can enter universities in this country with knowledge of German, French, or even Italian.
There are not many universities in Switzerland: nine universities – in Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Zurich, St. Gallen, and Lugano; two institutions with university status – in Lucerne and Lugano; two polytechnic schools – in Lausanne and Zurich.
At the universities of Basel, Bern, Lucerne, St. Gallen, and both institutions in Zurich, lectures and seminars are in German. The language of institutions in Neuchâtel, Lausanne, and Geneva is French. At the University of Fribourg, some courses are in German, others in French. Finally, at the Università della Svizzera Italiana (Lugano), Italian predominates. Economics is best studied in St. Gallen, law in Fribourg, Lausanne, and Neuchâtel, history in Neuchâtel, philological specialties in Geneva, exact sciences at the technical universities of Zurich and Lausanne, and management at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) business school in Lausanne.
The Swiss academic year consists of two semesters. There are no traditional exam sessions. About a year after enrollment, the student must pass the first exam in the main subject ("first certificate"), and another year later, the second and main exam ("second certificate"). Then follow three years of advanced training, after which the Licentiate degree (equivalent to an international Master's degree) is awarded. The next step – doctoral studies – requires another three years. The average duration of study is 5–6 years. Upon graduation, one can obtain a license or a diploma – both of these documents correspond to the American Master's degree.
A common requirement for foreign applicants is holding a Swiss federal or cantonal secondary school diploma, or a foreign diploma equivalent to the Swiss one. To determine equivalence, you should contact the university or higher education institution of your choice directly.
An important point – there are unified entrance exams for foreigners. They are held twice a year in Fribourg. You need to pass five subjects: three compulsory (a foreign language, mathematics, and world history) and two elective (physics, chemistry, biology, geography, or a second foreign language). Before the exams, you can take preparatory courses in any of the subjects, as well as in French and German. Otherwise, Swiss universities set their own requirements for applicants.
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