A degree of neglect
Post-Brexit, millions of young Europeans want an English-taught degree. Central and Eastern Europe’s universities have been slow to compete. In the often fierce but ultimately fatuous argument over just what university degrees are ‘worthy’ (usually restricted to science and maths subjects) and those which are not (anything else, particularly the humanities, especially anything that ends […] A…
Since the referendum on Brexit, young Europeans from Central and Eastern Europe have been seeking English-taught degrees. Universities in the region have been slow to catch up. In arguments over what constitutes a "worthy" degree, the subject of study is often overlooked. The desire to live independently – often in a foreign country – is just as important as the course chosen.
Once a beneficiary of such cosmopolitan attitudes, the UK saw tens of thousands of EU students enroll in its universities. They were attracted by English-taught courses, low tuition fees, and student finance. Brexit eliminated these benefits, turning the UK away from EU students who now face hefty international fees and no student finance. Consequently, applications from EU students to UK universities fell by 58% between 2021 and 2024.
The Netherlands has filled the gap with its low tuition fees (around 3,000 euros) and English-taught courses. However, this has led to a shortage of student accommodation. Most Dutch universities now require proof of guaranteed accommodation before enrollment. Other countries, such as Sweden and Norway, offer some English-taught programs but not enough to meet the demand.
In Central and Eastern Europe, students often study medicine or dentistry taught in English, with fees around 12,000 euros per year – significantly lower than in Western Europe. However, the region lacks a wide selection of English-taught courses for other subjects. This is not just an oversight, but a missed opportunity, especially for countries with a high population drain.
The Netherlands has introduced new rules for foreign language programs to address its accommodation issues, but expansion of English-taught courses across Central and Eastern Europe remains largely untapped.
Written by urgent.news from Emerging Europe's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
