Studying abroad can be one of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences of your life.
Students who possess a traveler’s spirit often deliberate for months on where exactly they should go, and can become overwhelmed by the variety of options. If you’re wondering about the best places to study abroad, here are six top destinations for students to help you make your decision.
Top 6 Best Places to Study Abroad
1. Montreal, Canada
Montreal is Canada’s “cultural capital” and home to the city’s leading institution, McGill University – currently ranked 21st in the world. You’ll have a host of new experiences if you find yourself in the second-largest French-speaking city in the world – second only to Paris itself. It’s large, and its international student community enjoys a packed annual calendar of festivals and other foodie and music events. Beyond French and English, you’ll come across languages ranging from Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese to Arabic, Chinese, Greek, and Russian.
2. Paris, France
Oui? Paris is ranked the 16th most livable city, according to a 2014 report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Beyond the city’s world-renowned reputation for its history and cultural vitality, Paris’s low tuition fees make the city affordable for students. If you’re new to learning French, then the greatest yet most rewarding challenge, of course, is conquering the language barrier. Paris is an almost 100% French-speaking country, with a small percentage of German dialects, Celtic languages, and other Gallo-Romance languages spoken throughout the city.
3. Munich, Germany
With a population of approximately 1.5 million, Germany’s third-largest city weighs in on our top five list for a couple different reasons. First and foremost, Germany’s lack of tuition fees makes studying abroad in the city the most affordable option you can choose. Beyond that, Munich is ranked 8th in the 2014 Quality of Life Survey by lifestyle magazine Monocle. One of the many cultural experiences you’ll encounter in Munich is the famous Oktoberfest beer festival.
4. Seoul, South Korea
Seoul is the most densely populated city of South Korea. With mostly Korean and English spoken throughout the city, the language diversity here isn’t as pronounced as in other countries on this list. However, even if the lack of language diversity bores you, you’ll surely find enough to do in this city that never sleeps, with its unprecedented mix of tradition and modernity – from cutting-edge technology to Buddhist temples and royal palaces.
5. Singapore, Southeast Asia
Officially named the Republic of Singapore, this island country close to the equator is known for its tropical rainforest climate (where temperatures range from 72–95°F year round), four nationally-recognized languages (Mandarin Chinese, English, Malay, and Tamil), a low crime rate, and a slow and steady rise in education. Singapore has two top universities, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, ranked 22nd and 39th in the world, respectively. Though Singapore is ranked as the world’s fourth most expensive city in Mercer’s 2014 Cost of Living survey, Lonely Planet ranked them the top travel destination for 2015.
6. Seville, Spain
Spain has so much to offer for study abroad students! Spaniards are friendly and laid back, the cost of living is affordable, and there are plenty of beautiful places to visit no matter what your hobbies. The rich culture can easily be enjoyed wherever you choose to travel on your days off, including the Feria de Sevilla, Parc Guell in Barcelona, or el Prado and Paseo del Artes in Madrid.
To be sure you’re attending the best program available, check out these Seville study abroad reviews. There are also plenty of internship opportunities in Seville. As an intern, you’ll get to experience the Spanish Siesta and long lunch breaks (who doesn’t like to enjoy a 3-hour break with friends and coworkers)? Adelante Abroad has many affordable summer and semester programs, as well as internships in Barcelona and Madrid.
Not only does studying abroad look great on your resume, but it also serves as one of the greatest opportunities to help improve your language skills. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons students participate in study abroad programs – no other experience helps you develop unparalleled fluency in a foreign language. So now you have all the reasons you need to go abroad! Enjoy your trip and let us know which location you chose in the comments section below!
Jill Cole