Located in central Europe, Hungary is a landlocked country famous for its art, culture, history, and architecture. From the Danube River to the Buda Castle to St. Stephen’s Basilica, Hungary brings a mix of nature and culture like its neighbors.  Beyond its geographical opulence, Hungary offers some of the best higher education opportunities in Europe. World-class universities coupled with manageable tuition fees and post-degree work opportunities attract hundreds of students each year. Here’s a detailed guide if you’re planning to get started with your bachelor’s in Hungary.  Why Study in Hungary?  In 2023, around 30,000 international students were studying in Hungary for bachelor's, master's, and PhD. The large number of students is a testament to the ease and acceptability of higher education in the country.  Besides, Hungary has a robust history as a seat of higher education dating back to 1581 with the establishment of the University of Szeged. Today, 5 Hungarian universities are ranked in the top 1000 list of QS Ranking 2025.  Unlike major Western European study-abroad destinations, Hungary offers a much more affordable tuition and living cost. The living cost index puts Hungary among the most affordable European countries in every expenditure head.  Hungary also has a generous 12 to 14 weeks of summer break in each academic year. The long breaks allow students to engage in self-development activities, work full-time, visit home, or even travel around. Additionally, the up-and-coming startup scene and widespread internship opportunities help the graduates smoothly kickstart their careers.  Read more: Distance Learning: Top Universities Offering Online Courses for International Students How Can Non-EU Students Apply for Bachelor's Degree in Hungary? Unlike West European countries, Hungary doesn’t have a centralized admission system. As a result, every university has its own admission schedule, process, and requirements. Application into the bachelor’s program can be divided into the following steps:  Step 1: Find a Program Study Portal’s bachelor's list for Hungary (https://www.bachelorsportal.com/search/bachelor/hungary) can be an effective starting point to get an idea about the disciplines, university location, program duration, tuition fees, and other aspects. Based on the overview, you can do more specialized research utilizing the specific university portals and their admission resources.  Step 2: Get the Paperwork  The next step is to organize the paperwork to apply for the bachelors. As there’s no centralized system, the document requirement varies from one university to the other. However, some of the universal documents include: - High school diploma (SSC and HSC certificate in the case of Bangladesh) - Transcript of the diplomas - Scanned copy of passport and birth certificate (NID is also applicable) - A Europass format CV - IELTS/TOEFL score - Proof of solvency - Letter of recommendation - Writing samples  Hungary follows the Bologna Process meaning you will need a high school diploma to be eligible for a bachelors. The English proficiency requirements aren’t all that stringent in Hungary. You can apply with “Medium of Instruction” or MOI if you studied your high school in English version. And in other cases, the minimum IELTS requirement is set at 5.5 overall for most universities.  Another thing to note is that all the physical documents to be submitted to the universities need to be attested by the education and the foreign ministry.  Read more: Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies Step 3: Wait for the Admission Decision  Hungarian universities notify results either by e-mail or post. Most universities offer decisions based on document screening only. Some universities may require interviews. Also, specialized programs like M.B.B.S. may require additional tests upon conditional offer. Many Hungarian universities require non-EU citizens to pay the first-semester tuition fee upfront. If there’s no such provision, then the university will issue your admission letter and admission confirmation documents for visa purposes.  Legalization process for non-EU students The first step to getting legalized in Hungary is to get the Permanent Residence status or PR. According to Hungarian law, a person becomes eligible for PR after staying in Hungary for 3 years on a residence permit. Note that, the residence permit for PR is different from the residence permit for students. So effectively, a student will need to legally live and work in Hungary for three years after graduation to be eligible for PR. There are also PR opportunities via investment and donations. The minimum amount starts at around 250,000 euros.  To obtain citizenship status in Hungary, a person will have to stay 8 more years after receiving their PR. In total, it takes about 11 years from graduation to becoming a Hungarian citizen.  Read more: Top 10 Best Affordable Universities in Canada for International Students

France, often dubbed the art capital of the world, offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Beyond its beautiful sculptures and scenic monuments, France is one of the top cosmopolitan destinations, attracting thousands of students worldwide. Every year, many Bangladeshi students dream of pursuing bachelor's degrees in France due to the high quality of education and manageable expenses. Here’s a detailed guide on subjects, costs, scholarships, and opportunities for studying for a bachelor's in France. Why Study in France? There are tons of reasons why students consider studying in France. First and foremost is the high quality of education. For the 2025 QS World University Ranking, 35 French universities made it to the list with 4 of them securing spots in the top 100. Apart from excellence, France has been a destination of higher education in Europe dating back to the Middle Ages. The celebrated Sorbonne University was founded in 1257 making it one of the oldest universities in Europe alongside Oxford and Cambridge University. Historically, France had a low tuition fee for both EU and non-EU students. However, there has been a recent tuition fee hike in 2019. But it is still much lower compared to other European destinations. The low crime rate can be another reason to explore France as your study-abroad destination. The criminality index of 5.82 puts France in 9th among 44 European countries and 1st among 11 countries in Western Europe. Read more: Study in Australia: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students France offers high-quality education in all the leading disciplines including Arts, Humanities, Law, Management, and Engineering. The cultural heritage, global perspective, wide networking opportunities, and a strong economy make France an easy choice for studying abroad. Some of the popular programs for non-EU students include Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Business Administration, Law, Film Studies, Computer Science, and Social Sciences.  How Can Non-EU Students Apply for a Bachelor's Degree in France? The application process for bachelors in France is divided into two options. Students who belong to EU countries are required to apply for bachelors via Parcoursup. It is the national application system for undergraduate programs in France. Students from non-EU countries like Bangladesh, are required to apply through Etudes en France. The “Study in France” option is part of the Campus France portal which deals with all international admissions from non-EU students. Some universities offer admission directly through their platform. Read more: Study in the Netherlands: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting admitted to a French university as a non-EU student. Step 1: Choose a Program and University The first step is to choose a program and university. Thankfully, Campus France offers a comprehensive list of programs and universities (every university that uses the Campus France admission system). The first thing to do is to navigate to the Taught in English (https://taughtie.campusfrance.org/tiesearch/#/catalog) section of the Campus France website. From there, students can choose the level of study (L3/Bachelors), and field of study. Now, a prospective student can choose a specific region from the filter menu. Step 2: Creating an Account in Campus France  The next step is to open an account on the Campus France portal (https://www.campusfrance.org/en/user/register). This account will be used for all application-related procedures hereon. Read more: Higher Study in Germany: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi and Other International Students Step 3: Filling Out Application Forms and Documents The next step is to fill out the application form and provide the necessary information. Here the applicant will be required to provide documents like a high school diploma, transcripts, passport copy, and language proficiency test scores (e.g., DELF/DALF for French or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programs). A prospective student will also need to submit a motivation letter stating why he or she wants to study in France and choose that specific program. Step 4: Attend Interview Some students may need to sit for an online interview depending on the university. Note that the procedure applies to non-EU students belonging to a country where the Etudes en France program is applicable. Unfortunately, Etudes en France isn’t available in Bangladesh. In that case, students would need to apply through Demande d'Admission Préalable - DAP" (preliminary request for admission) (https://www.campusfrance.org/en/application-non-EU-student-living-outside-EU-without-etudes-en-France-procedure). Read more: Top 10 International Scholarships for Women to Study Abroad Students would need to fill up the White Folder (https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2022-09/dossier-blanc-24403.pdf) along with other required documents and send it to the Department of Cooperation and Cultural Action at the French Embassy. The specific steps of application and required documents may differ depending on the applicant's country. So make sure to contact the French Embassy in Bangladesh beforehand. The application deadlines for each year are announced in the Campus France portal.

Germany is known for their robust economy and education system. Being one of the strongest economies in the world, there is a constant need for foreign labor in the economy in its diverse sectors. So how does Germany go about hiring this foreign labor? That is where Ausbildung comes in. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about Ausbildung for non-EU stuents and how students from Bangladesh can apply for Ausbildung in Germany.  What is Ausbildung? Ausbildung means vocational training or apprenticeship. Germany has a strong industry-oriented job education which falls under its diverse categories of industries.  So rather than simply diverting the prospective workforce into class-based theoretical education, Ausbildung allows for a combination of theoretical and industry-oriented training to make every candidate industry ready. Read More: Free Education in Germany for International Students in Bachelor, Masters, PhD This allows for a hands-on experience that churns out a more effective and skilled labor force all the while reducing pressure on the higher academic degree. Unlike other countries of the world, Ausbildung is an important part of the German education system and an integral gateway to the industry.  Types of Ausbildung In Germany, there are several types of "Ausbildung" or vocational training. The most common types of "Ausbildung" in Germany include: Dual vocational training ("Duale Ausbildung") Dual vocational training is the most common type of Ausbildung in Germany. In this curriculum, an Azubi or apprentice goes through both theoretical as well as practical learning. It’s a mix of technical as well as textbook learning and can last up to two and a half to three years. Apprentices are generally absorbed as skilled labor in their major fields.  Read More: Higher Study in Germany: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi and Other International Students School-based vocational training ("Schulische Ausbildung") School-based vocational training limits the learning prospects to the classroom only. In this type of Ausbildung, an Azubi will strictly be part of theoretical learning in a vocational training or technical training institute. Most of the students graduating from Schulische are generally certified, technicians.   Further vocational training ("Weiterbildung")  This form of training is for individuals who have already completed vocational training or have significant work experience in a particular field. It provides additional qualifications and skills that can help advance their career or improve their job prospects.

Norway has a long history of providing free university education to students from all over the world. They didn't make any distinctions between foreigners, Norwegians, or EU citizens, but this will all change soon. The Government of Norway has been advised to impose university fees on students from nations outside the EU or EEA. In presenting its recommendations for the nation's 2023 budget, Norway’s Ministry of Education emphasized that Norway continues to be one of the very few nations in the world that does not mandate that international students pay university fees, and it insisted that starting in the 2023 fall semester, universities should introduce fees to at least cover their costs per international student. Ola Borten Moe, the minister of education, responded to the suggestion by stating that since most Norwegian students studying abroad pay university fees, foreign students studying in Norway should also be required to do so. Read Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies She also emphasized that Norwegian citizens from other EU and Schengen Area nations will continue to be able to study there for free, even if taxes are implemented for international students. Rather, only nationals of third-party countries will be subject to the costs. However, the change would only be applicable to students who finished their entire education in Norway, not to those who were enrolled in exchange programs. According to Statistics Norway, there are presently 242,606 resident students in the country between the ages of 19 and 34, with 142,141 being women and 100,465 being males. Of them, over 13,000 were born in Norway to immigrant parents. Read Study in Belgium: Bachelor's, Masters and PhD options for Bangladeshi Students The Ministry of Education insists that universities should be well-equipped to attract international students because the quality of the education is good and not because it is free. The ministry claims that millions of kroner have been spent in an effort to improve the quality of education at the nation's universities. Minister Borten Moe further asserts that if the introduction of fees results in a decrease in the number of foreign students attending Norwegian universities, this will result in more open spots at universities and housing for Norwegian students. In the country's budget for 2023, the government has suggested providing framework funding for universities and colleges in the amount of NOK 42.8 billion. The Ministry plans to expand the funding for education even more through the proposed introduction of new fees in order to create a better and higher-quality system of higher education. Read Student Loans in Bangladesh: Banks Offering Education Loans for Higher Studies Estimated Tuition Fees Beginning in 2023, all universities are required to collect tuition from all students who are not citizens of the EU or EEA. Although estimates suggest that a single semester might cost as much as 150,000 Norwegian kroner (about $15,000 USD or BDT 14, 12000), colleges determine rates depending on real expenditures. Accordingly, a three-year bachelor's degree at a Norwegian institution can wind up costing as much as 900,000 NOK ($90,000 or BDT 82,72,000 ), which is obviously a large sum of money for the majority of us. Although it appears likely that most courses will cost significantly less than this amount, this will depend on the real expenses associated with offering the courses. Less crowded classes with a single professor will cost more than those with many students and several professors. Read How to Pick a College or University Abroad for Higher Education   Exceptions to the tuition payment requirement The new regulations for paying tuition at Norwegian colleges are aimed at immigrants from all of the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa who have no familial ties to Norway or the EU. Some groups will, however, no longer be expected to pay tuition at Norwegian universities in the future. The following groups will continue to receive free tuition at Norwegian universities: Norwegian nationals individuals from EU or EEA nations students who take part in programs for international exchange students every person who participates in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. Therefore, it will mostly need tuition for foreigners seeking a free university education who have no connection to Norway. The government presently pays the equivalent of one student's tuition to the institutions, as they clearly could not function without it. Read Best Countries for Bachelor's Degree in 2023 Will this modification last forever? The government presented its proposed annual national budget for 2023 on October 6, along with the news of the new additional foreign student tuition. Even though it's still not final and can still be subject to discussion and negotiation through December 15, it appears doubtful that this will alter before the announcement of the nation's ultimate budget. Currently, there are a lot of uncertainties about this new policy, and many overseas students who are pursuing degrees are worried. Read Studying Abroad: Major Pros and Cons You Need to Consider We don't yet know whether or not the move will have an impact on students who have already started their studies in Norway. Although it hasn't been confirmed, there are reports that foreign students who have already been admitted to the university would be able to complete their degrees without paying. We currently only have to wait and watch how everything turns out. In the months to come, especially as college applications season approaches in the summer of 2023, we will undoubtedly learn more. Read SoP for Higher Studies: How to write an unfailing Statement of Purpose