With a landmass of over 40+ countries, Europe is home to historic chateaus, glacier-filled mountains, a shared economic system and rich cultural diversity. According to the World Happiness Report, over 4 European countries occur in the top 10 happiest countries in the world every year. Some of the most international student friendly countries that are also topped in happiness reports are Norway, Finland, Iceland, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands. The following are a few interesting facts students choosing to study in Europe should know:

• The continent is the cradle of the oldest and significant languages in the world. 
• Most higher education institutions in the European Union offer diverse programs such as Medicine, Engineering, Business, Journalism and Research Degrees.
• Europe is home to over 20+ national languages, including English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Polish and Portuguese.
• There are 2500+ recognized higher education institutions in Europe.
• International students can enroll in a bilingual program to become fluent in other languages.
• Many European countries offer free education to international students with outstanding academic qualifications and research skills to contribute towards sustainable development. 
• Almost all universities in Germany offer free education to students irrespective of their nationalities.
• The Norwegian government sponsors free education to international students with taxpayers’ money.

Though each European country has its distinct higher education system, all fall under the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The EHEA system and the European Qualification Framework (EQF) help examine and monitor the syllabus across all European countries to follow uniformity and allow international students, academicians and researchers across Europe to collaborate seamlessly. 

The study programmes in Europe involve classes, with assessment through exams, coursework and essays. Many programs in European institutions comprise a specific period to work in industry or allied projects. Besides, international students can opt for modular or hybrid course structures, (i.e.) students can construct a customised programme by opting for different units or modules of study in an academic year (choose from a wide range of courses). For instance, if you are studying Mechanical Engineering, you might choose one unit on Thermodynamics, one module on Machine Design, and one unit on Kinematics of Machinery.