Europe is known for its solid reputation as the world’s academic hub. Many European countries are home to top-tier universities, offer excellent work, life, and travel opportunities, and have historical and beautiful tourist sites. Studying in Europe will allow students to master their English skills and learn other cultures and languages such as French, Italian, German, and Dutch.
European universities are also pioneers in ancient and modern innovations that shaped our world and global economy. On top of that, Europe is full of countless adventures and endless possibilities that ensure better life experiences and the future of individuals.
In the article below, we discuss some of the best English-taught universities in Europe.
Which Country in Europe is Best to Study English-taught Programs?
Of the 44 nations that make up Europe, the United Kingdom is without a doubt the most desirable destination for international students to pursue programs that are taught in English. English is the first and official language for everyone in the United Kingdom. A significant number of English-language courses are offered by almost all universities. Since the UK is home to universities like King’s College London, Cambridge, and Oxford, it attracts international students.
Along with the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and France are among the top nations for studying English-taught programs that you can choose from at random to obtain your undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Top English-taught Universities in Europe for International Students
We have selected the top 20 universities and colleges from among the many that offer English-taught courses so that you can pick the ideal institution for your upcoming studies. These colleges offer professionally organized English-taught degrees to students from all over the globe to ensure that you achieve optimal growth in acquiring your bright career.
1. University of Birmingham
In Birmingham, England, there is a public research institution called the University of Birmingham. The institution has spent more than a century pursuing and promoting knowledge via excellent teaching and internationally renowned research. The university is ranked as the seventh largest in the UK based on student enrolment, and it is extremely sought after by international students. In the QS World University Rankings 2024, it is one of Birmingham’s top public universities, coming in at number 84. Moreover, the university supports and empowers students to realize their ideas and bring about significant changes.
2. Tilburg University
Located in Tilburg in the southern Netherlands, Tilburg University is a public research institution with a focus on the social and behavioral sciences, economics, law, business sciences, theology, and humanities. There are roughly 19,900 students enrolled at Tilburg University. The university offers an extensive range of graduate and undergraduate courses taught in English. Moreover, both in research and instruction, the school has developed a reputation. If you’re willing to relocate to Sweden, you can enroll in any course to further your profession.
3. Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Founded in 1741, the Polytechnic Institute of Paris is a public technology university with its main campus in Palaiseau, France. Here, both graduate and undergraduate students can take courses that are taught in English. Moreover, it is creating professionals who will go on to win Nobel Prizes and become well-known names in politics, business, and research. For applicants from abroad, the university offers several valuable scholarships.
4. EU Business School
An international management school with campuses in Barcelona, Geneva, and Munich as well as a virtual campus, EU Business School was founded in 1973. The prestigious QS Stars Rating has given this business school a four-star rating for excellence. The institution offers foundation, bachelor’s, master’s, and MBA programs taught in English in fields that promote leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation and are in high demand by employers. Therefore, being a student of the EU Business School would guarantee you a successful career in business.
5. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
An institution with a strong urban focus, Vrije Universiteit Brussels is located in the heart of Europe. Nearly a quarter of the university’s more than 20,000 students come from outside the country. The students are participating in its projects to create a better future for everyone. VUB actively contributes to a healthier and more sustainable society through high-quality scientific research and individualized education. Therefore, you may be the one to contribute to the community and alter the course of history.
6. Trinity College Dublin
The oldest university in Ireland, which is still known for its emphasis on research, is none other than Trinity College Dublin. The university’s constant goal is to motivate the coming generation of leaders and global citizens to influence the development of history. Since its founding in 1592, Trinity has worked to support low-income overseas students and recognize academic excellence. For prospective and present overseas students who are interested in studying or conducting research at Ireland’s top university, the University of Dublin provides a variety of scholarship possibilities.
7. University of Tampere
One of Finland’s most diverse universities, Tampere University has provided top-notch instruction to students all over the world for many years. The university has an excellent track record for both its research and instruction. More than 21,000 students annually apply to study in Tampere, with applicants coming from more than 80 different countries. A bachelor’s or master’s degree at Tampere may help aspiring professionals broaden their expertise in their chosen industry.
8. Moscow International University
- Study Program
- Degrees taught in English: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
The first private institution in Russia, Moscow International University, was established in 1991. The college has six faculties, and given the significant influx of international students each year, the majority of the courses are taught in English. The institution guarantees a high standard of instruction throughout the whole program and provides undergraduate and graduate courses to students from all over the world.
9. Lund University
One of the oldest universities in northern Europe, Lund University was founded in 1666 and is a public research university in Sweden. The institution is situated in the Swedish region of Scania’s city of Lund. One of the most well-liked destinations to study in Sweden is Lund. The school provides one of the biggest selections of courses and programs on cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research. Aiming to better the globe and the state of humanity, Lund has currently about 45,000 students.
10. University of Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, Denmark, there is a public research institution called the University of Copenhagen. The University is the second-oldest institution in Scandinavia and has six separate faculties. It was founded in 1479 and since then the university has run 122 distinct research institutes and 36 distinct departments. For every 60 ECTS/academic year, depending on the program, you need to spend between EUR 10,000 and 17,000 if you are prepared to relocate to Denmark and enroll at KU.
11. University of Kent
In Kent, England, there is a semi-collegiate public research university called the University of Kent. Over 6,000 students attend the global institution, and the majority of them come from 158 different countries. Kent is constantly committed to helping you become a highly skilled specialist who will help determine the development of this global industry. The university also provides a friendly environment where students from various backgrounds can share their interests, personal narratives, and academic expertise.
12. University of Amsterdam
A public research institution called the University of Amsterdam is situated in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was founded in 1632 and is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlands currently in operation. It is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world by several different publications. UvA wants to draw the smartest students from around the world to its international classrooms. As a result, it developed several scholarship programs that give exceptional and driven students from outside the chance to pursue a degree at the UvA.
13. Technical University of Munich
Located in Munich, Germany, the Technical University of Munich is a public research institution. With 50,467 students, it is one of the biggest universities in Germany and focuses on applied and natural sciences, engineering, and technology. In comparison to other European nations, the tuition fee here is fairly reasonable. For bachelor’s degrees, you should typically budget between 2,000 and 3,000 euros per semester and between 4,000 and 6,000 euros for master’s programs.
14. Lomonosov Moscow State University
The first university in Russia, Lomonosov Moscow State University, was established in 1755. The university has six divisions, more than 300 departments, 43 faculties, and 15 research institutions. MSU has established itself as one of the most demanding universities to provide its students with a top-notch education over the years. Former Soviet and other government figures are among the university’s alumni.
15. Newcastle University
Newcastle University is a public research university located in Newcastle, England. It is one of Newcastle upon Tyne’s best institutions and is currently placed 110th in the QS World University Rankings 2024. The majority of the university’s courses are offered in English, and therefore a lot of students from other countries come to the UK to attend Newcastle.
16. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is among the best English-taught universities in Europe, consistently ranking in the top 3 in global academic league tables. It offers one of the most prestigious higher education and research. It is considered the world’s number-one performing school in medicine. Oxford is also known for its strength in different science fields, including life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities. It is also the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
It is considered the second-oldest institution in continuous operation. Evidence shows that teaching started at Oxford as early as the 11th century. The university is in very close ties with the University of Cambridge. The two universities share the same academic and institutional features and are often called Oxbridge. Moreover, these universities are deemed the best institutions in Europe that honed and educated many world-class talents, global leaders, and award-winning researchers and athletes.
Oxford is home to the world’s largest university museum and university press. It also hosts the largest academic library system in England. As one of the world’s oldest surviving English-speaking universities, Oxford shares a long history of bringing educational standards to the highest level. It holds a solid international character with strategic partnerships with universities in almost every country. Oxford offers the most expansive selection of degree programs entirely taught in English and courses in other foreign languages among other universities in Europe.
17. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge was built in 1209 due to the disputes between students from Oxford and its townsfolk. It is the second-oldest English-speaking and the fourth-oldest existing university globally. Cambridge is one of the world’s most renowned universities with outstanding overall performance and reputation in teaching, research, and international outlook. It always leads in global academic league rankings and its partner institution- the University of Oxford. The university is home to the world’s oldest debating society and publishing company, the Cambridge Union and Cambridge University Press.
The press prints different academic research, professional development, research journals, and academic and bible publications, garnering many prizes in almost all categories. Cambridge is also considered the wealthiest university in Europe, with assets and income from research grants and contracts amounting to billions of euros. As a world-class university with a long history of educating many notable individuals, Cambridge attracts many international students with the greatest potential to become global leaders. Additionally, the institution is one of the few universities worldwide where students can get one-of-a-kind learning and life experiences. On top of that, Cambridge is one of the largest English-speaking universities that offers a wide array of degree programs in almost every discipline area.
18. ETH Zürich
ETH Zürich commonly referred to in English as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich is known as one of the world’s most-renowned public research universities. Established in 1854 by the Swiss Federal Government in the large city of Zürich, the institute is the world’s top-performing university in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The 2022 QS World University Rankings places ETH Zürich 8th globally, making it Europe’s fourth-best academic and research institution. It has produced many notable alumni in science and technology, one of whom is the world’s father of modern physics and the discoverer of the theory of relativity- Albert Eisenstein. ETH Zürich upholds Swiss traditions in its approach to education. The institute continues to lead Europe’s scientific and technological research to provide modern solutions to the problems our world faces today.
Among the top English-taught universities in Europe, ETH Zürich offers a range of degree programs with strong scientific and technical backgrounds in English and German. Undergraduate students usually undergo their first-year studies in German, which are then taught in English progressively as they move forward. Most of the institute’s Master’s and Ph.D. programs are also taught in English.
19. University of Munich
The University of Munich, officially known in English as the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), is one of Europe’s top-ranking academic and research institutions. Established in 1472, it became Germany’s sixth-oldest operating university with an intense interdisciplinary approach to education, research, and innovation. For over 500 years of excellence in the academic and research industry, LMU has trained and inspired many brilliant minds worldwide. It offers a wide array of research-oriented degree programs that train every student’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Moreover, the university shows an outstanding performance in diverse areas of study, including humanities and social sciences, cultural studies, law, economics, medicine, and natural sciences.
LMU is also one of the largest institutions by enrollment among other universities in Germany, welcoming thousands of students from different countries worldwide. The university offers 182 academic programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and plenty of them are taught in English.
20. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) is Europe’s world-renowned Catholic research university. Established in 1425 in Leuven, Belgium, with campuses spread over the country, it is one of the oldest academic institutions in the region.
Although Catholic by heritage and culture, it offers a diverse learning environment with international students representing over 140 countries. KU Leuven is among the world’s top 100 universities, according to the 2022 QS World University Rankings, and is considered the only non-American university to top in the world’s 5 best innovative universities by Thomson Reuters Corporation. The institution has the highest number of creative research outputs, publications, and external citations among other European universities, making it one of the world’s top-leading R&D universities.
Although the institution’s main language of instruction is Dutch, it offers a wide range of degree programs taught in English, mostly at the postgraduate level, making KU Leuven one of the best English-taught universities in Europe.
We understand that your desire to pursue a degree abroad could keep you up at night. Moreover, as English is not the first or official language of many European nations, choosing Europe may leave you uncertain of which nation and university to pick. Your uncertainty regarding finding the best English-taught University in Europe will most likely be resolved now that you have read this article.
We hope this article on the best English-taught universities in Europe was informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
