European Union

It has only been five years since the launch of the ‘Study in Europe’ Education Fair and Europe has proven to be an attractive destination for Singaporeans intending to study abroad. In the five years since, the numbers of Singaporeans applying to study in Europe has already increased by 50%. In 2005-6 there were 1094 application for student visas to Europe and in 2009-2010 the number of applications rose to 1939.

The organizers attributed this increase to the fact that Europe has been at the fore front of innovation and research. In 2009 alone, Europe had over 55,100 patents applications, most of which came from Germany, Sweden and Finland.

Globally, European countries are among the highest spenders on R&D (as a percentage of GDP):

• Denmark 2.55%
• Finland 3.47%
• Austria 2.56%
• Germany 2.54%
• Sweden 3.60%
• Switzerland 2.90%
• USA 2.67%
• Japan 3.40%

These figures also show that education in Europe is a fertile ground for nurturing innovators. The EU member states plus Switzerland and Norway share 470 Nobel Prize Laureates between them. Moreover, Europe is also home to thousands of internationally renowned universities and research institutes.

Europe is also home to some of the world’s most innovative and successful companies including Nokia, Novartis, BMW, IKEA and Airbus.

And in terms of employment, in 2006, R & D personnel made up 1.54% of total employment in the EU (Finland is one of the highest, employing up to 3.27% of the total work force. Sweden is the second highest, with an investment of 2.71 %). In the EU alone (excluding Norway and Switzerland), it hires over 2.3 million people in the R&D sector. And in 2007, 28.6% of the EU population aged between 20-29 was engaged in tertiary education. Of these 4.6 million were studying science and engineering.

With these exciting facts contribute to the increase in the interest to study in Europe. In Singapore, this is translated to the increased attendance of visitors to the annual Study in Europe fair organized by 14 European Countries at the Hilton Hotel annually. This year the event will be held on 16 October.

Facts about education in Europe:

• University education across Europe is strictly regulated to safeguard excellence in teaching and research and its universities award degrees that are internationally recognized.
• The fees are relatively low even for foreign students because we believe access to a university education is a universal right to everyone. University education in many European countries enjoys substantial state funding which keeps fees at a very low level. International students do benefit from the same subsidised rates.
• Many universities in Europe offer courses in English as well as their own native languages.

For more information, on studying in Europe, see:
www.studyineurope.sg

For queries on studying in Europe, please contact Ms Luenne Angela Choa at
Email: Luenne.choa@ec.europa.eu
Tel: + 65 9694 9110