Students preparing to attend university have many factors to consider when making their final choice. One of these factors is a city versus campus university. Although both can provide students with a great education and student experience, they can be quite different. 

Below we have broken down these contrasting experiences to help you in your applications. 

What are campus and city universities? 

Campus and city universities may be defined slightly differently depending on the country.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Duolingo.

In any language, it’s rare to speak in a conversation without listening to the other person, or to write a passage of text without reading it. While many standardised English language tests break down questions into reading, writing, listening and speaking, the Duolingo English Test (DET) is structured so that test takers can show how they use these skills in combination. 

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Duolingo.

For years, universities have relied on a handful of long-standing tests to demonstrate students’ English language proficiency. While widely accepted, these tests can be expensive to sit and often require in-person attendance.

It is currently past 10pm in Dublin, and my anxiety has kept me from writing this piece until now. My anxiety and I have become somewhat friendly enemies over the years, especially since I moved from Austria to study at University College Dublin.

This decision was driven by my ambition and competitiveness. Studying abroad represented my desire to move beyond the expectation that I would stay in Austria my whole life and prove to myself that I could achieve more.

Finding accommodation that is safe, close to campus and affordable is a concern for all students. For international students, an added difficulty is that they often cannot see the accommodation in advance. And, unfortunately, there are those who try to take advantage of this and create accommodation scams. 

I have always wanted to explore the world, meet new people, travel, learn new languages and cultures. During my bachelor’s degree, I spent the summer as a scholar and thesis student in the US to improve my research skills. There I had a valuable experience interacting with many people of different backgrounds and cultures.

I received my undergraduate degree in molecular biology and genetics from TU Dresden in Germany.

What is a microcredential? Micro means mini or small and a credential is a qualification. These mini qualifications can help individuals learn new skills, progress in their careers or change careers entirely.

Also known as microdegrees or nanodegrees, they are often on-demand online courses that can be completed in your own time and provide certification upon completion. They are designed to be fast, accessible and specialised. 

I was born in  the Iranian capital of Tehran, and have enjoyed playing video games from an early age. This passion led me to pursue a career in computers and technology, culminating in a bachelor’s degree in software engineering and my first master’s degree in eCommerce, to understand the connection between technology and businesses. 
 

I knew that going back to school in my forties would be difficult. However, I did not realise how complex it would be until my second day in Dublin. As I walked outside, I noticed that I could not tell the difference between the street and the sidewalk (or pavement, as the Irish say).

When choosing where to study abroad, hearing from current students is one of the best ways to get a feel for what a university or country is like. Here, students from a range of universities in Europe share some of their top tips and the biggest challenges they faced when studying abroad.