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GERMANY
GENERAL INFORMATION
German Universities are state-run, non-profit institutions which follow similar rules in relation to admissions, language requirements, tuition and degree requirements. There are more than 350 000 foreigners studying at German Universities.
Two semesters - Summer (April 1st till September 30th) and Winter (October 1st till March 31st)
Germany is a very popular host country for international students. Many German higher education institutions offer courses that are not only taught in English, but they also lead to internationally recognized degrees. You can find more information on
COSTS
Tuition fees at public German Universities are very moderate. For most of the public universities, international students pay tuition fees between EUR200 to EUR2000 per semester. Private universities’ tuition fees range from EUR 8,000 to EUR 20,000++ per year. Living Expenses are around EUR 1000 (S$1465) per month, depending on the region.
APPLICATION
Once you have decided on what kind of degree course you would like to pursue and what type of higher education institution is right for you, you need to find out which universities are offering your degree course of choice, e.g. by consulting databases such as https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/ or https://www.daad.de/en/ (international degree programmes only). The next step would be to download the application form from the university’s international relations office.
The International Relations Office staff will also help with questions regarding admission requirements, the recognition of overseas degrees etc. Get the relevant documents together (you can get authenticated copies of your originals at the German Embassy’s Consular section) and apply either directly to the University’s International Relations Office or through ASSIST (the application scheme for International Students), if the university of your choice is one of the ASSIST membership universities. To find out more about ASSIST, please refer to the following website: https://www.uni-assist.de/en
Once you have received a Letter of Admission from a German University, you can go ahead and apply for a student visa at the German Embassy.
DEADLINES
As a general rule of thumb, the application deadline for degree courses starting in the Winter (October) is July 15th, for those starting in the Summer semester (April), it is January 15th of the same year. However, closing dates for International degree courses are often set earlier to enable students from non - EU countries to apply for a student visa in good time. Please check with your University of choice and make sure you send in the completed application form and accompanying documents on time.
FRANCE
Campus France is strong advising office here in Singapore that provides free, in-person, personalised counselling appointments to any prospective student.
Campus France Singapore website https://www.singapour.campusfrance.org/
Campus France General website, where most of the resources are https://www.campusfrance.org/en
Degrees Taught in English catalog https://taughtie.campusfrance.org/tiesearch/#/catalog
French institutions in the latest QS Ranking 2025 by subject : https://www.campusfrance.org/en/qs-ranking-by-subject-2025-france-keeps-its-european-and-international-rank
The Embassy’s IG account where they sometimes post portraits of students https://www.instagram.com/p/C2YyWyoy6kn/ as well as the Campus France Singapore IG account https://www.instagram.com/campusfrancesingapore/
Do not hesitate to contact Campus France at study@ambafrance-sg.org or to call the officer in charge (+65 6880 7813). for free, in-person, personalized counselling appointments to any prospective student.
SWITZERLAND
GENERAL INFORMATION
Switzerland is home to much more than chocolate and cuckoo clocks. Spectacular Alpine mountain ranges are flanked by crystal-clear bodies of water such as Lake Geneva. You will also be in for a treat in regards to the culture to be found here. The history of Switzerland can be traced back to at least 450 BCE and these lands have been occupied ever since. Thanks to influences of nearby nations such as France, Italy and Germany, this country boasts a truly international flavor; the country’s four official languages are German, French, Italian, Romansh (with only some 60,000 speakers today).
UNIVERSITIES IN SWITZERLAND
You will regularly see many Swiss universities in the world’s top 100 ranked universities - most notably ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich and the University of Geneva.
ETH Zurich, with a clear focus on technology, is often considered the best university in Switzerland. Originally founded in 1855, it is renowned for its cutting-edge research and its wide selection of courses in different areas of science and technology. There are more than 19,000 students enrolled here, with nearly 40% international students.
The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) was incorporated in 1853 and, like ETH, specializes in technology. The majority of courses are offered in French, but there are many Masters and Doctorate programmes offered in English.
With some 25,000 students, the University of Zurich is the largest institution of higher education in the country. You can choose from a selection of courses including science, law, philosophy, theology, medicine. Many of their Master’s degree programmes are offered in English.
Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva is the third oldest university in Switzerland, and also the third largest, with around 16,000 students. 40% of the student body are international.
The cost of living and studying in Switzerland
Swiss universities are heavily subsidized by the government. That essentially means that tuition fees are slightly lower when compared to other nations. Still, let's keep in mind that the tuition fees associated with private universities will normally be higher than their public counterparts. However, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, with extremely high cost of living; especially when looking at major cities like Geneva or Zurich. So be sure to budget your finances properly.
Useful websites
www.study.eu/country/switzerland
NETHERLANDS
NETHERLANDS OR HOLLAND?
Many people think that “Holland” and “Netherlands” mean the same thing. Even within the country, you may hear locals saying “Holland” when referring to the whole country. Technically, however, that is not correct. The country as a whole is called the Netherlands. It consists of twelve provinces; two of these provinces make up the Holland region, split into North and South Holland (Noord- and Zuid-Holland, respectively).
The widespread colloquial use of “Holland” as a term for the country as a whole originated in the 17th century, when Holland was the most influential of the Dutch provinces. The Holland region still represents a sizable share of the population; the three largest cities in the Netherlands are located here - Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague (Den Haag). Therefore, “Holland” remains synonymous with “the Netherlands” for many people. And last, but not least: The official organization that promotes the country as a study destination is also called “Study in Holland”.
UNIVERSITIES IN NETHERLANDS
In Europe, the Netherlands was very early to adopt the Bachelor/Master system and offer degree programmes in English. This has led to one of the largest selections of courses on the continent. You can choose between plenty of Bachelor and Master degrees at around 70 institutions of higher education.
You can also expect a large community of international students: More than 112,000 students from around the world. Around 16% of all students come from abroad - one of the highest ratios anywhere in Europe.
As in other European countries, universities in Holland are commonly classified as either “research universities”, offering more research-oriented academic programmes, or “universities of applied sciences”, offering more practice-oriented study programmes.
TUITION FEES IN NETHERLANDS
The tuition fees in Holland are roughly on par with other countries in Europe.
If you are a student from the European Union, you should expect to pay around 2,000 euros per year for your studies.
The tuition fees for non-EU students vary from school to school and from programme to programme. Bachelor’s programmes typically cost between 6,000 and 15,000 euros per year; Master’s programmes in Holland usually cost between 8,000 and 20,000 euros per year.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES
One stereotype about Dutch people is that they have negotiation in their blood. The Netherlands with its seafaring history has long since been an important nation for international trade. It was here that the concept of a joint stock company was invented.
Some of the world’s largest companies are Dutch, and many global groups have their European headquarters in the Netherlands. Paired with the country’s international mindset, you find a workforce that is highly proficient in English and very welcoming towards foreign employees. Those are pristine conditions for international students. If you graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a Dutch university, you will stand a good chance at also finding a job and staying for a longer time.
TRANSPORT
The country’s most important airport by far is Amsterdam-Schiphol; as one of Europe’s busiest hubs, you can reach it easily from almost anywhere in the world.
The Netherlands is a relatively small, but densely populated country. With numerous connections it is fairly easy to explore other cities and the countryside. If the weather allows, you might even consider an extended bike tour. After all, like virtually everyone else who studies in Holland, you should acquire a bike soon after arrival.
If you want to go further, you can easily take short trips to neighbouring Germany or Belgium. And via train or plane, the rest of Europe is also within reach if you feel like exploring.
SOME UNIVERSITIES IN NETHERLANDS
Information from
University College Utrecht allows you to explore your academic interests before declaring a multidisciplinary major. E.g. You could combine classes in history, political science, economics, human geography, international and transnational law. We only offer one class in journalism, but several alumni have become journalists afterwards as UCU does offer them the general knowledge and writing experience needed. You can find more information about our curriculum here and various program combinations.
Useful Links
www.studyinholland.nl/
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