Worldwide, over 4 million students choose to study abroad each year. Europe plays an important role in the international mobility of students, especially since the Bologna system agreement. Many European countries have been offering English programmes in order to attract foreign students and overcome the disadvantages of English-speaking countries. Europe is usually described as one of the seven continents of the world. Economically, it's one of the most important, containing a larger number of developed countries than any other continent. Europe is a land of variety. It contains huge rivers, tall mountains, and an astonishing length of coastline. In Europe, you'll find hidden valleys covered with fertile soil, metals and gems to mine, oil in the North Sea, and hydropower potential. Europe comprises many countries, with many different natural resources. For example, Iceland and Norway have large populations of fish, as well as great hydropower and geothermal power potential. Countries of northern Europe often contain many minerals and metals, including gold, lead, silver, and zinc. Across Europe, there are oil and natural gas reserves, most notably in the North Sea, and natural gas in Germany and nearby countries.

Starting our journey in Scandinavia, Sweden is a diverse, friendly and fair nation, which has been considered one of the most advanced countries in the world for gender equality, wealth. Next in our list of the best places to study abroad in Europe is Italy, ranked 13^th in the System Strength Rankings. Italy is considered the birthplace of Western civilization and a cultural superpower. Austria ranks 29^th in the System Strength Rankings and is another great option if you want to study in Europe, known for its innovation in music and the arts. Located in the center of Europe, Austria is also a great choice for students interested in visiting neighboring countries such as Germany or Switzerland. Coming as quite a contrast to the warm climes of Portugal, Nordic nation Finland places 19^th in the System Strength Rankings and has a comparatively young higher education system, which is nonetheless regarded as one of the best in the world. Belgium’s unique higher education system earns it 15^th place in the System Strength Rankings, with two main language communities – Flemish and French. Another option to consider if you want to study in Europe, The Republic of Lithuania is a European country on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania is the largest and most populous of the three Baltic States. Located in the heart of Europe, Lithuania is enjoying rapid economic growth and development, making it an ideal location for studies abroad. France accommodates nearly 7% of all international students and this share is getting bigger and bigger from year to year! French universities are well-known for their quality and competitiveness in many fields, such as business, design, social and political sciences. However, it is still very important to know or to learn French before studying there. Teaching style in universities in the Netherlands is pretty straightforward, based on problem-based learning and many study programmes have a large focus on research. Spain is mainly popular for Erasmus students, but many internationals study a full-degree here as well. Although Spanish universities don’t provide numerous English-taught programmes, students who apply to Spanish universities are particularly interested in improving their Spanish language skills.