The application deadline for applying to Danish Universities and University Colleges is approaching fast. Students need to have applied – and, importantly, their documents received by their targeted Danish institution – by March 15th.

Increasing numbers of Irish [in particular] and UK students are applying to join undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, taught through English, In Denmark. Other than the spirit of adventure, they are attracted by the style and quality of teaching in Denmark, the high level of resources at these institutions, the extra edge on their CV through having studied abroad, the very low entry requirements and the fact that there are no tuition fees.

Note that all EU students who get a part-time job [10 – 12 hours a week] can claim a grant of EUR750 a month. Irish students, who qualify for a Maintenance Grant in Ireland, can take it with them, to Denmark.

The University Colleges are less academic in nature than the Universities [and there are some excellent Research Universities in Denmark] and offer a range of practical employment-focused programmes, in a wide variety of areas.  Amongst these institutions, students seem particularly attracted by VIA University College, University College Northern Denmark and Copenhagen School of Design & Technology.

Above: VIA University College: increasingly popular with Irish students

Of course, remember, almost all Danish 17-25 year olds are fluent in English though, if you are worried, the Danish government will provide you with free Danish lessons [and free health care!].

EUNICAS recently received the mail below, from the parent of an Irish student studying in Aarhus University:

“ My son finds the educational system in Denmark fantastic. Classes start early in Denmark 8am which has been a bit of a shock to my son as I think he had image of a more relaxed student lifestyle! The university course he has taken is very much linked in with industry and, throughout the year,  students are expected to suit up and have meetings with some of the top companies in the country. In their second week in college, they had meetings with a load of top international companies in the country who were already offering the students paid internships, inviting them to do research papers on their companies.

The University has just set up a new research centre in collaboration with Stanford University in the USA, so the students will have opportunity do collaborative projects with students in USA there and attend courses and exchanges which he is excited about.

The college seem to invest a huge sense of confidence and expectation in the students, which is great. My son is interested in Finance and hedge fund management during the week he was telling me he was having meeting with the head of the business school to help him out in organising introduction meetings with finance companies. There is no way a first year business student in Ireland would get that level of attention and support but the students enthusiasm is really nurtured in the college. “

Wow!

The application deadline for the following undergraduate programmes, taught through English, in the Netherlands, is fast approaching:

Physiotherapy: Hanze UAS: 01.02.15
Liberal Arts & Sciences: U. Leiden - 01.02.15
Liberal Arts & Sciences: U. Amsterdam - 01.02.15
Liberal Arts & Sciences: U. Utrecht - 01.02.15
Sports Management: Amsterdam UAS – 01.02.15
Psychology: U. Leiden - 15.02.15
Liberal Arts & Sciences: U. Maastricht - 01.03.15
Physiotherapy: Saxion UAS - 01.03.15
Physiotherapy: Amsterdam UAS – 01.03.15
Politics, Philosophy & Law: U. Amsterdam - 15.03.15
Aerospace Engineering: T.U. Delft – 01.04.15
Psychology: Erasmus U – 01.04.15

Above: University of Amsterdam

Other important deadlines, including programmes at U. Groningen, are on 01 May, though some programmes in the Netherlands, especially in the Universities of Applied Sciences, will accept applications until late August.

Note:

- Application for Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland close next week, on 27th January
- Applications for programmes in Denmark open on 01 February [and close on 15th March]

University Open Days are coming up, in the coming weeks, in universities accross the Netherlands. 

Open Days are a critical tool in your information gathering armoury: this is true for universities that you might be considering at home, and it is even more important, if you are thinking of studying in Continental Europe. Not only do Open Days give you the opportunity to get the feel for the culture and environment of your potential new faculty, university and city, but they give you the opportunity to meet the real ‘experts’, those UK or Irish students who are already studying in that university. They are also a good opportunity for those of you with resistant parents to show them what a good university option you are considering.

After their Open Day this Friday [31 October], especially for UK and Irish Students, University of Groningen has another Open Day on 7th November. You can either stay in Groningen until the next day, and go the Open Day at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, or take the train to the Open Day [8th November] in either University of Maastricht or University of Leiden. On the same day is the Open Day for Amsterdam UAS.

The following weekend also gives you the opportunity to take in two or more university visits. It sees the Open Days at Saxion UAS, in Enschede [14th November], followed by Open Days, on the Saturday [15th November] in the Hague UAS or NHTV Breda or Fontys UAS, in Venlo, or Stenden UAS.

Later in the month, are the Open Days at U. Twente [19th November], University College Utrecht [22nd November], HZ UAS, in Vlissingen [also 22nd November]  and Avans UAS, in Breda [26th November] Many of these Open Days require pre-registration. We are delighted to assist you in registering. Contact us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we ensure that you are registered.

You can plan your journeys between cities, on the excellent Dutch railway system, here http://www.ns.nl/reisplanner-v2/index.shtml?language=en If you cant make a particular Open Day, or two that you find attractive are on the same day, EUNiCAS can assist you in organising an individual visit, on another day Contact us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to organise a visit.

Many programmes in Continental Europe Still Open: Alert List

The following programmes, all taught through English, are amongst those still accepting application for entry this year. Note also that for many programmes, where published deadlines have passed, EUNiCAS might be able to encourage a university to consider 'late' applications. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information and advice.

Note: U. Maastricht has advised EUNiCAS that some of its programmes are accepting applications, for entry this year, until 30 August

University of Twente's innovative Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences is still open for applications from EU students. [Application Deadline: 15 August] This exciting programme, offered at the university’s Academy of Technology and Liberal Arts & Sciences (ATLAS) combines Technology with Social Sciences . It offers an interdisciplinary programme for students, integrating social and technical perspectives into a 'new engineering' approach.

ATLAS offers a unique approach to learning: the programme is project-driven and centered around real-world themes (Human Movement, Nano-Robotics, Tracers for Personal Safety, Smart 3D Printing, Alternatives for Renewable Energy or the feasibility of a Mars Space Station. More details of the programme here.

English student Nick Gregory, currently studying on the programme, points to three key elements of the programme: “First of all, I liked the breadth. Other programmes more or less force you to commit yourself to a field you may not even be sure about yet. ATLAS offers a very broad perspective, while at the same time leaving room for specialising . The second attraction to me was the project-based educational method, in which you are constantly applying knowledge to real-world issues and situations. It’s completely different from just sitting though lectures and passing your exams. The third point is the fact that ATLAS is not just knowledge-centred: because of the way things are done here, you get to develop other skills, such as leadership skills”

Above: U. Twente Student Housing

Attractively, on-campus accommodation[ in one of the only campus universities in the Netherlands setting] is guaranteed for selected students.

Tuition Fees for Liberal Arts programmes in the Netherlands are higher than the statutory tuition fee of EUR1906; fees are EUR3182 at ATLAS. However the full fee can be claimed in the Dutch Tuition Fee Loan system.Contact EUNiCAS This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details  of further  student funding available in the Netherlands. You should also note that ATLAS has a Scholarship Scheme, available to EU students, and the 01 April deadline to apply to this fund has been extended. Details here

For information on, and support for, applying to this programme, you should contact EUNiCAS