Get Your Grad Degree Overseas

By Denise Cope
President, Affordable Degrees Abroad

So many DU students have studied abroad or have had some significant international experience, and now they want more.  The natural next step is to get your graduate school degree abroad.  Here are some typical questions DU students ask regarding how to get abroad again for study:

  1. How much does a grad program typically cost?

There is a range of prices abroad.  Tuition can be anywhere from free or nearly free (Germany, Norway and Erasmus+) to around $5,000 – $14,000/year (Hungary, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, etc.)   $15,000 – 23,000/year (UK, New Zealand, Ireland). There are even more expensive ones, but those typically tend to be in England and Australia.  Download my free graduate guide.

  1. Are there good programs in my academic field?

There are many world-recognized universities and programs around the world.  You can search  the top universities in your academic field by using QS Rankings or Times Higher Education Rankings.  Keep in mind that these rankings are usually driven by research output of the university.

  1. Are there programs in English?

Yes! There are many graduate programs in English, even in countries that don’t have English as the primary language.  For example, in Germany there are about 1,600 graduate programs in English.  There are others throughout Scandinavia, France, Eastern Europe, Italy, China, etc.

  1. Can I use FAFSA or 529 plans abroad?

You can use FAFSA loans and/or 529 Savings Plans in about 400 universities abroad. These tend to be programs that cost upward from $15,000/year in tuition.  Read more about FAFSA loans and 529 Plans abroad.

  1. Can I also work abroad?

Many countries have work visas for students post graduate study (i.e. New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany.)  If working abroad after your program is important to you, you might want to consider selecting a country that has the work visa built into the post-study experience.  Read more about post-study work visas.

  1. I feel overwhelmed by the choices and next steps. Who can help me?

There are a lot of factors to take into account when selecting a degree abroad.  Be sure to follow Affordable Degrees Abroad’s social media accounts to stay up-to-date with any upcoming free live events (Grad school in New Zealand, in Ireland, in Scotland, Wales, France, etc.).  You can also watch a presentation to DU students and alumni here for more information.

By Mary Michael Hawkins
Mary Michael Hawkins Senior Director, Undergraduate Career & Professional Development