Student life

While I don’t want this blog to be about political debate, the fact that Brexit is happening and President Trump wants to build walls may put some students off from taking international placements as part of their course. I’d say an international placement is more important now than it has ever been and not just because of Brexit and Trump.

The University of Paris-Saclay is widening its international student outreach by offering 160 scholarships to outstanding master’s students 

The aim of the scholarships is to promote access to the university’s master’s programmes.

The grants will be valued at up to €10,000 (£8,700) for each student and will be awarded to those who have demonstrated academic excellence.

Dishita T is an architecture student from India. She faced the cultural expectation to settle down and marry, which clashed with her desire to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and further her education. In the end, a prospective husband (a MIT graduate) encouraged her to apply to the university

The University Women in the Arts scheme aims to address why although so many more women study the arts, comparatively few end up working in the arts industry - particularly in artistic and leadership roles.  

During my final year of high school, I was awarded a scholarship to attend Bond University was a small university was one of the main reasons I chose to go there.

There is a perception that a small university brings with it numerous disadvantages but I can tell you that, in my experience, that is utterly untrue.

At the University of Neuchâtel, things work on a small scale. Professors and students know each other and often stop for a chat in the corridors or engage in friendly conversation while waiting in line at the cafeteria.

Having just obtained a bachelor degree in natural systems, I am currently pursuing a master’s programme in hydrogeology and geothermics at this small university.

Nowadays, students seem to select their study programme, as well as their university, more carefully than in the past.

Big name universities or programs are certainly more aspired for, hoping that the big name will support shaping a future career.

That trend is still continuing, but surprisingly, a parallel trend has emerged over the last years.

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is focused on natural and environmental sciences. This focus also creates a hub for researchers and students that share similar interests.

For me, it has been thrilling to meet students from different nationalities and programs who are also motivated by science and its potential to make agriculture and forestry more sustainable.

Home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and one of the most gorgeous città d’arte (cities of art) in Tuscany, Pisa is a small and not particularly populous city. So let’s face it: studying here is not as much fun as studying say, in San Francisco. However, the whims of history have made Pisa one of the most vital junctions of student life around Europe.

In particular, this is due to the presence of the Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS), Italy’s most prestigious and selective university. La Scuola, as its students lovingly call it, has made its tiny scale its crucial strength.

In terms of number of students, École Polytechnique (also known as l’X) has to admit its small size.

With about 2,000 students on campus, Southeast University in China). The small size means there is a limited quota of places, and the university is highly selective - which explains the difficulty in gaining admittance.