If you’re looking to go on to study at a university within Europe, you’re going to be in for a great experience. Europe boasts some of the world’s very finest institutes of higher education and relatively low tuition fees, alongside exceptional levels of accommodation for international students.

If you are travelling to a host country within the European Union or wider Schengen area (including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania) from outside of Western Europe

If you are looking to study for a month or single semester as part of an exchange program, acquiring a Schengen Visa should be your first port of call. Upon successful application, this will grant you temporary visiting access to all EU member and associated nations for a maximum period of 90 days (3 months) from the stamped date of entry within a predetermined 180 days. You will need to display this visa alongside your passport (or other relevant national identification) upon entry to your country of choice.

The mandatory documents required to obtain a Long-Term D-type Student Visa are:

• Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and with at least 12 months validity left
  after the scheduled return)
• 1 copy of your passport’s data page (A4 size copy)
• 3 passport pictures according to biometric specifications
• cover letter from applicant explaining the exact purpose and duration of stay
• letter of admission from university
• Proof of payment of study fees, if applicable
• Proof of language proficiency in English and/or the language of the host country
• Proof of other academic qualifications, if applicable
• Proof of financial means to cover the costs for the time of your studies by one of the following documents:

confirmation of scholarship/ stipend
o “Verpflichtungserklärung” (formal obligation letter) by sponsor living in Germany
travel health insurance covering the period from your departure to the date of
enrolment at the university (mentioned in your letter of admission) (approx. 3 months)

Please prepare two identical application sets with the above-mentioned documents and bring your original certificates along.

Countries also have their own student visa criteria that must be met if you want to study there:

Getting a visa to study in Germany requires proof you have the funds. You can apply for your visa at your host country’s embassy, consulate, or visa application center and may have to attend an interview.

Can I work while I study?

Working while in a country on a student visa is against the law without securing an employment visa from your host government. Therefore, you can combine studying with work. For example, in France, the law authorizes foreign students to work 964 hours, which corresponds to 60 percent of normal working hours. However, part-time work will not be sufficient to cover all your expenses and should be considered as a secondary source of income. Violating these rules could seriously jeopardize your studies and future employment prospects, as breaking local immigration laws may result in a travel ban.