7 Reasons You Should Consider European Schools for a Masters Degree

Ok, so I wanted to start with a bit of background. (If you aren’t interested – scroll down to the list of reasons.) During my undergraduate degree I was lucky enough to do a semester abroad in Rome. It was such an amazing experience that after heading home I wished I had done a year-long program instead. (If you want to learn more about studying abroad, check out this post).

Post-graduation I worked for one year in the US but was itching to get back to Europe. I had been considering all my options and settled on three different scenarios: trying to find a job abroad, possibly teaching English or graduate school.

I landed on a program to earn my Masters of Business Administration in Zagreb, Croatia. The reason why I picked this school was because it was only one year, accredited, had a marketing focused track, and it was a very international program. Obviously, there are some career paths with specific certifications you can only earn in the country you want to work. An example being, if you want to be a doctor in the US there are certain steps of your education that need to be completed in America. However, because I studied business at an accredited university my degree is recognized in the US.
And let me just say, my year in Zagreb was life-changing. For some insane reason most people do not even consider studying abroad which is such a shame. I could go on for days about all the reasons you should start looking at European schools, but I kept it to 7 top reasons.

1. COST

Let’s be real – tuition in the United States is ridiculously high. Few European schools could even come close to a “cheaper” American university and many are free! This was a HUGE selling point for me. I was able to easily pay for the full MBA program with my savings from one year’s salary, and I even went to a private school in Croatia. Making this small investment in myself and my future, allowed me to earn $25,000 more than I was making prior to having the “MBA” title. This was a crazy salary increase so I cannot express enough how cost effective a degree in Europe can be.

2. EXPERIENCE LIVING ABROAD

There is nothing quite like packing up your life in a suitcase or two and moving into an apartment you have never seen in real life. Studying abroad shoves you out of your comfort zone and pushes your limits. You are thrown into a new culture, possibly new language and you just have to roll with it. My first time on a plane alone was on my trip to Rome for study abroad. I remember feeling soooo nervous I would miss my connecting flight. I can laugh about it now because once you get over that initial airport fear you have the confidence to go anywhere in the world. But for real, living abroad tests you in more ways than you can count. Few things rarely stress me out when traveling and that has a lot to do with my experience living in a different country.

3. INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS

I chose a school that had a large percent of international students because I figured this would be a great way to meet friends. I was not wrong. After the first few days of orientation, I had met so many different people from all over. It was all new and exciting, and I can honestly say I have created some life long friendships. Nothing quite bonds you like a weekend trip to Bosnia, driving on the back roads in pitch black. And because we live in such a connected world, it is much easier than it used to be to stay in touch. I left Croatia in August 2019 and I have already visited several friends and have plans to see them again soon!

4. NO ENTRY EXAMS

This point is dependent on the school. However, I found that there are more European business schools that do not require entry exams. I have always been a good student, but I have never been great at standardized tests. Attending an accredited university, but not having to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) sounded too good to be true. But I found tons of universities in Europe that didn’t have the GMAT as a prerequisite so I didn’t have to spend time and money studying for it!

5. LANGUAGE SKILLS

If you are on a mission to learn a new language, being immersed in the native country is the quickest way to improve your skills. I went to an English speaking university in Zagreb, but I have friends who took their classes in the home country’s language to enhance their skills further. They swear by this being the most effective way to learn a language.

6. TRAVEL

Because I am so obsessed with traveling, the idea of spending an entire year in Europe was unreal. Being abroad for a year allows you to explore places a bit off the beaten path. I spent my semester abroad in Rome during my undergraduate going to places like Paris, London and Florence. While my year in Croatia I was fortunate enough to visit Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Kotor. I would have never thought to visit Bosnia or Serbia if I didn’t have the time. Because Europe is so small, it is relatively easy to find cheap flights or even spend a few hours driving to a new country. I was mind blown when I found out I could take a 2 hour bus ride from Zagreb to Ljubljana – not only another country, but another capital city. Not to mention it literally cost me 10 euros round trip! So yes – a year of exploring Europe was as amazing as it sounds.

7. LIFE IS SHORT

Maybe a cliché, but it is so true. People thought I was crazy to leave home for a year, but it was hands-down the fastest year of my life. I learned so much about myself and grew in ways I didn’t even know I could. Doing my masters abroad completely changed my life for the better, and I cannot tell people enough how worthwhile it could be for you!