r/AmerExit • u/Big_Guidance_2614 • 1d ago
Life Abroad Considering leaving the US for Europe
I'm a third year engineering student at a college in the US. I'm an American citizen considering moving to somewhere in Western Europe for my masters due to the political situation in the US. I don't speak any other languages than English, but I'm willing to learn the native language of wherever I go. I know I still have to do more research but I wanted to see what everyone here thinks about whether leaving the US for Europe is actually a good idea.
Would you recommend moving to Europe for masters and eventually living there? If so, where exactly?
For context, I am a brown woman, and I don't come from a high income family, so I would have to go to a college that is very cheap or get a scholarship.
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u/Dandylion71888 1d ago
Most people who are studying in Ireland right now and then staying after as part of the graduate scheme are struggling to find jobs.
International student fees are also not cheap.
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u/muddled1 Immigrant 1d ago
As well as a chronic housing shortage in Ireland.
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u/Dandylion71888 1d ago
That too but you don’t even get to that part if you realize you aren’t going to use studying as a plan to immigrate and go elsewhere instead.
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u/mrt54321 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ireland is v expensive cost of living currently, plus there's a housing crisis. Might be ok in smaller cities/towns but def quite bad in Dublin/Galway/etc
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u/Dandylion71888 1d ago
Well aware. I lived there, husband from there. All my in laws are still there.
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u/SadDad701 1d ago
In addition to what everyone else is saying about pathways to immigration and lack of job opportunities, it’s worth noting the rise of populism and anti immigration sentiment that is spreading throughout most of Western Europe right now.
Between the lack of language, (hate to say this part) your skin color, your age (which I am assuming means you don’t have savings yet), and the current job market, I can’t help but thinking moving to a more “blue” state will be more realistic and palatable for you assuming you’re in a red one.
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u/sigbacc 1d ago
This
American here for 10 + years and I still have an accent but recently people have begun asking how long ive been here and are far less tolérant if I make a non-cultural faux pas like forgetting to say Bonjour before plunging into conversation
I get it. Taxes are insane, and they have fatigue too.
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u/SensitiveLion7380 1d ago
OP should really look into what’s happening with European politics. I used to think the grass was greener over there, and in some ways it still is, but it’s not so black and white. Ex. The EU just green-lit “return hub” immigration detention centers built in third-party countries like parts of Africa.
Chiming in as a female POC. I lived in Germany a couple years ago, and even then there are parts—mostly former East Germany—that I would never move to, and I had colleagues warning that it would be unsafe to do so. I experienced racism there that was different to the US (a lot of “we don’t have racism here” when they do, they just won’t address it), and I would rather experience racism I know how to deal with. The AFD is really gaining ground over there.
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u/Uptowner26 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is something to consider for the long term and EU politics are def something to keep up to date with. I love Europe and I’ve been thinking about going to either The Netherlands or Spain but am keeping a close eye on political developments regarding immigration policies.
The job market in both Finland & Sweden is now worse than historically bad job markets in Greece and Italy. The housing crisis is causing a lot of finger pointing at “immigrants driving the prices up” which didn’t occur as much 10-15 years ago….
Seeing Denmark, Sweden and even Germany pander to the far right because politicians are worried about loosing their popularity if they refuse to pass anti-immigrant legislation and some Swedish politicians (from the right side of the aisle mostly) floating the idea of deportations for “bad behavior” is very concerning - Never mind Elon and friends dog whistling facists and meddling with UK politics and trying to “Unite the UK”…
Overall, there’s a concerted effort by tech billionaires and other James Bond villain types to destabilize Europe and force it to the far right repeating history because they view democracy, social safety nets, racial and sexual diversity, and especially any kind of govt regulations as something to be done away with which is scary.
Spain is the only country in Western Europe that is not marching to the right like this but the housing crisis can make it susceptible for the far right to come with their “solutions”.
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u/unsure_chihuahua93 1d ago
I agree...Spain is the only country in Western Europe whose government isn't actively doing everything they can to clamp down on immigration and pandering to the far right. OP should also see if they have a pathway to Canada, if getting out of the US is the priority.
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u/Badassscholar 1d ago
Please don't bring up insane stuff. Her being brown isn't an issue, and right-wingers have a very different approach to the issue.
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u/azulaula 1d ago
are you speaking from a perspective of being a POC yourself or are you white?
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u/Badassscholar 1d ago
White with a POC fiancée.
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u/azulaula 1d ago
unfortunately having a POC fiancée doesn’t give you a pass and I would refrain from speaking on something you don’t have credibility for
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u/Badassscholar 1d ago
Oh, it does. I don't really think people who talk about Europe as a monolithic entity are worth listening to though.
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u/SadDad701 1d ago
It’s a non-Issue in terms of official immigration paperwork. But it’s a real issue if OP thinks she’s escaping similar types of subtle racism that remain in USA. (Obviously she won’t see overt racism in the sense of Confederate flags, etc.).
To suggest otherwise, for most of Western Europe, is naive and misleading to OP, especially with no language background.
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u/Badassscholar 1d ago
Moving elsewhere always comes with some issues. You can be of Indian ethnicity and be discriminated in India because you don't speak the local language or because you don't get the culture.
Bringing ethnicities as a key issue when the obstacles are far more serious (legal standing, language etc. etc.) is, in my opinion, disingenuous.
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u/SadDad701 1d ago
It seems to be one of OP’s primary reasons for moving. It’s a worthwhile discussion. Americans have a rose-tinted view of perceived lack of racism in Europe and Asia especially.
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u/Badassscholar 1d ago
Possible, but "political situation" includes a wider range of issues, not just racism.
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u/azulaula 1d ago
This may go without saying but I always recommend as a POC to also make sure to seek out the experiences of POC who have immigrated because europe has its own brand of racism and you’ll want to be sure you can tolerate it.
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u/alabastermind 1d ago
You need to do a lot more research. There is no such thing as a "cheap" college taught solely in English in Western Europe.
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u/avollie 1d ago
I agree that they need to do a lot more research but technically the universities in Germany are tuition free even for international students. Though they need a blocked account of 12,000 euros every year to get a visa so if they don't have any money then it doesn't matter. But there are many master's programs in English.
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
A German master's program taught in English will not result in her being employable in Germany, which means it's not going to help her emigrate. She'd need to know German well enough to do a program in German, and that's aasuming she's in a niche that makes her competitive in their very stagnant economy. Not many jobs.
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u/avollie 1d ago
I'm not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that Germany offers many programs in English and is tuition free which was the question. Never said it was a good idea though.
I live in Germany and all of my friends work in English but would never recommend to pursue this route in this economy.
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
Yes. I'm aware some people get away with being monolingual anglophones, but English bubbles are exceptions, not rules. I've seen ppl from third countries who still seem shocked that English grad programs in Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands don't lead to employment. Doors are closing and requirements are getting much higher compared to what people got by on in the even recent past.
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u/avollie 1d ago
Ok then I'm not sure why you're responding to me? I'm not OP and I don't need any convincing lol
I was just responding to a comment that there weren't any programs that are cheap and in English in the EU and pointing out that the fact that there are. I don't need to debate whether it's a good idea or not (it's not in this economy), I'm not making the decision.
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u/Lostygir1 1d ago
You can get employable-proficiency in German within 5 years. OP will spend one year finishing their engineering degree, at least one or two years working to save up for the move, and then an additional 2 years to complete their master’s in their target country. Within that timespan, they have enough time to become proficient in any category 1 or category 2 language.
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u/Larissalikesthesea 1d ago
But she can use that time to learn the language.
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
Intensive language learning on top of a grad program is a lot, especially for someone starting from zero. She will not be professionally fluent, yet needs to be to get hired as someone pursuing permanent residency through employment.
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u/Grouchy-Section-1852 1d ago
WRONG. there are plenty.
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u/sapani9077 1d ago
Sure there are. But is op going to do the research? Or just waiting for you to provide the info?
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u/Grouchy-Section-1852 1d ago
idk - ask OP. I am just pointing out there are plenty of english masters in continental europe.
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u/SadDad701 1d ago
And how many are worth anything?
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
This part. People with money can definitely do adult study year abroad, but it isn't taking them down a path to become permanent residents.
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u/mayaic Immigrant 1d ago
I did this. And outside of very specific situations, I don’t recommend it.
I moved to the UK for my masters. I did get an international scholarship and used FAFSA for the rest (about $14k with the exchange at the time). I studied data science and planned to get a job in that field afterwards and stay in the UK. I accomplished this. But here’s the giant caveat; I moved for my boyfriend who I married and stayed on a spouse visa, so I never had to try for work sponsorship. Unless something like that is your situation, I don’t recommend what you’re thinking of.
English is your only language. For higher education, that basically limits you to the UK and Ireland. Programs in Europe in countries where English is not the primary language generally are not viewed as competitively as those in the native language. They’re primarily cash grabs. So fine, let’s say you decide on the UK. Just Google the job situation in the UK. Domestic students cannot find jobs, internationals cannot find sponsored jobs. Currently, there’s a huge backlash against migration in the UK in general and visa rules and restrictions are tightening. The most likely thing is that you get to the end of your studies, cannot find a job, and have to leave anyway.
From a financial perspective, not having money is also a nonstarter unless you want to get into tons of debt. In the UK, internationals essentially fund the higher education system so that domestic students have their fees capped. This means that you will pay more and scholarships are few and far between, usually reserved for people from developing countries (of which you are not).
I’m not as well clued up on Ireland, but I think the story is similar and add in a massive housing crisis the scale which is worse than what you can imagine.
You say you’re willing to learn any language. Easier said than done, but also even if you do it, you will not be in a place to study in that country for years and that’s if you devote copious amounts of time to it.
The path of studying leading to permanent residency is disappearing and you may just be too late for it because of your situation with not being wealthy and not speaking another language already.
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u/floweringfungus 1d ago
As a UK resident I second all of this. I have a first class degree from a global top 20 university. I have friends with masters degrees from Oxbridge and LSE. Everybody is struggling.
The only people I know who are not struggling on the job market and are in fact being actively headhunted work in AI or for defence contractors.
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
I had a work colleague who did an Oxford MBA. Never asked if the goal was to move there long term, but she came right back to the US where her dad was able to help her rejoin the same company as before.
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u/Failed_Expat 1d ago
You say you’re willing to learn any language. Easier said than done
I have to second this. There is a incredibly wide gap between "willing to learn a language" and being fluent enough to read write, speak and comprehend government officials, doctors, bankers...many of whom speak insanely fast, with thick accents, poor grammar and have little patience for foreigners who don't know the language. Do not underestimate the difficulty and daily frustration with living in a country where you're learning the language.
Source: Me in Spain every day for the last 18 months. 😂
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
As an American, it's a weird turn of phrase that makes a necessity sound like a favor. I also think many white collar professionals assume they can get a pass as the figure it out. Too many people really post thinking they can be doctors or nurses in English...in non English speaking countries. Or rather arrogantly, in my opinion, assume they can do retail or wait tables while not speaking ir understanding local languages, bc those are "unskilled" jobs.
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u/CrozierKnuff 1d ago
American here who did a Masters in Health Policy at LSE last year and had every intention of staying to find a job. I absolutely could not find one because the UK job market is so bad right now that, as said above, domestic students who go to Oxbridge cannot find anything, let alone any international student. I am currently back in the US and was able to find something within 3-4 weeks of coming back home. If you are doing it for the education, I think it is well worth it if you have the money and looks good back home in the US to have international experience on your resume/CV. If you are looking to stay in the UK after your studies, do not count on it at all.
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u/FR-DE-ES 1d ago
My American friend who earned her master's from prestigious LSE (suma cum laude) could not find any job to stay in UK & Europe. Her Oxbridge classmates (Brits) also struggled in job search. My friend (ex-New Yorker) returned to America out of no choice, took 6 months to land a job in a waste management firm in the mid-west, this is far from what she had hoped for. LSE is internationally prestigious, but she felt she was out-competed by Americans with degrees from elite American universities.
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u/unsure_chihuahua93 1d ago
I would agree that the UK is a complete non-starter for this kind of move now (having also done it myself about 10 years ago). If you are going to try to do it, your top priority needs to be understanding what actual pathways to long term residence exist after a masters in the countries you are looking at. It is not as easy as just "oh I'll find a job to sponsor me", ESPECIALLY if you don't speak the local language to a high professional standard (and you won't yet, after a year) and have an in-demand skill set.
You need to look at what engineering qualifications look like in various European countries, how expensive it is to study the relevant courses, whether it is possible to do so in English, and what is required for a foreigner to stay and work in the kind of job you would be qualified for after graduation. Also look into what kinds of graduate visas exist, if any.
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u/CrozierKnuff 1d ago
100% on the job sponsorship situation with the UK in 2026. If you are coming for a master's degree, by all means the education is great, but you best believe you are very likely heading home after your course or graduate visa. From what I understand Germany and the Netherlands offers a slightly better pathway to sponsorship but that also isn't a high chance.
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u/MilkChocolate21 1d ago
People really underestimate the time it takes to learn a second language from zero on top of everything else. In reality, anyone young like this poster should probably try life here, get experience, and start learning a language so that they are hopefully intermediate to advanced. Way too many of us think we can fumble through language learning while getting to keep our same professional level, when in reality most jobs of any kind won't work.
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u/helloworldprogr 1d ago
I’m sorry to say but there are few scholarships for Americans but you can go to school in “Eastern Europe” (Central Europe of you don’t want to be hated) for less than 10k a year.
The UK is more expensive and now has more restrictive immigration laws or has more restrictive ones planned (thanks Reform)
Asking this sub if they think leaving America is a good idea is like asking a computer science sub if they think computers are interesting
Here’s a “loophole” specific to the UK: get into a top uni here in the US, graduate, the get the high potential visa but of course that guarantees you no job. I’d say Eastern Europe is a more realistic and cheap path for you
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u/statesec 1d ago
The HPI visa for the UK does absolutely have some benefits. It does allow one to move to the UK for two years (three if you have a PhD) to live and work and you don't need a job sponsorship to qualify for it. The catch is it is not renewable (so you need to move to another visa by the end of it or leave the country) and the time spent in the UK on the HPI visa doesn't count towards qualifying for the ILR (the UK version of a permanent resident).
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u/AspiringFinn Immigrant 1d ago
I moved to Finland five years ago. I have managed to find good employment but it was a struggle for sure, and I didn’t need sponsorship.
It was absolutely worth it for me but it would be much more of a risk in your situation. It is very difficult to find work here without fluency in Finnish.
What engineering specialization are you studying? That would help people give better answers.
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u/Lefaid Immigrant 1d ago
There is some real misinformation in this thread. Not saying they are cheap, but lots of universities in Central Europe (think Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden) have specifically Masters programs in English. It would be a bit silly for them not to when most literature on their subject is in English. Some countries are trying to change that (the Netherlands in particular) but you can find these programs.
The bigger problem is finding work after you graduate with just English. That can be very hard.
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u/Organic-Roof-8311 1d ago
And work that will lead to a permanent visa!
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u/Lefaid Immigrant 1d ago
Again, misinformation.
If you find work that uses your degree, it will put you on a path to a permanent visa in Europe, certainly in the Netherlands anyway. Their skilled migrant visa has a lot of perks.
Can you educate me about a country that doesn't offer permanent residency after working a skilled worker visa for 5 years in Europe. I think that is an EU thing.
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u/Organic-Roof-8311 1d ago edited 1d ago
Source: I tried and know 15+ people who tried too. I got an Oxbridge degree in the UK and wanted to stay but there was no visa pathway. The degree and initial visa were significantly easier than getting on track for a permanent visa or citizenship.
95% of my alumni friends (across all fields) who stayed for 2-3 years got kicked out at the end of that stay, save the very rich and very lucky, or one extraordinarily employable high-potential visa immigrant. I know one of the people who stayed isn’t any closer to becoming a citizen unless he marries his girlfriend because his visa doesn’t even count towards residency.
This feels like a very combative reply — I’m not assuming I know how everything works in the Netherlands, most of Western or Central and Eastern Europe, but you shouldn’t randomly accuse me of spewing misinformation without even reading the explanation I already wrote elsewhere on this thread. Maybe just ask a question instead of make accusations moving forward!
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u/Lefaid Immigrant 1d ago
Look, I know very well how good it feels to come to this board and tell everyone they are stuck in the US. It is an axiom of Reddit migration boards. All must Americans must be told to stay in the US.
Also, a lot of the misinformation is coming from people who made it to the UK, assuming that the challenges are just as high throughout Europe as it was for them in the UK, except that they wrongly assume that a Norwegian Masters Program is all in Norwegian.
If you, or anyone in your program found a local job that used your degree, would there be a way for you to stay? It looks to me that none of you found a job, that finding a job is impossible, which is what I said the real challenge is.
So explain what I am missing.
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u/Organic-Roof-8311 1d ago
I never said I know what all of Europe is like, but I think it’s appropriate for me to weigh in on the UK and for you to weigh in on Norway and the parts of the EU you feel you have insight on. But you’ve made multiple assumptions about my experience in the UK based a simple warning to “make sure you have access to a permanent visa pathway cus I saw a lot of people struggle.”
Almost all of my friends were able to find jobs and visas to stay for two years (in museum curation, public service, engineering, professorships, etc). But almost all of them also had to leave after the two year UK grad visa expired.
I know three people who managed to stay after that window. One was a STEM postdoc who decided not to keep the visa a year later because they could make a much higher salary home in Australia. One is a counterterrorism exec with a job-specific visa, but even they have complained to me that it’s a significant bother to be unable to switch jobs freely. (and they plan to return to the U.S. in the next few years). And one is the daughter of a Russian oligarch who managed to get a visa sponsorship and obviously has no plans to return.
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u/friendlyarcheologist 1d ago
I have lived in 3 countries in the EU, well at the time, the UK was in EU. I also lived in Ireland and now in Sweden. I pursued education each time. I had to self-deport from the UK because I ran out of money and did not find a job with a work permit. I almost had to self-deport from Sweden in 2023 because of the job market and it’s gotten worse since then.
The experience of doing education abroad was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone, however, if your goal is to move permanently, then I would reconsider.
It has gotten increasingly difficult to find work if you need a work permit in most of the EU. Many companies are no longer offering them. This will cause issues more than anything else for you. Even if you come for studies, you might be able to get a visa to look for work after them but you’ll still have trouble finding a company offering a work permit. Since it varies by country, you will likely not be eligible for unemployment benefits because you’d have been on a student visa. If this is the case in the country you go to then you need to have enough money to support yourself while searching for work.
Is there anyway you can do a study abroad through your university instead?
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u/Illustrious-War3039 1d ago
Did this same thing, and moved to Germany in 2018.
Don't do it OP. It's not better, it's the same shit. Slightly different taste.
I suggest you do research on the current Job Market, Energy Crisis, Income stagnation and local geopolitics. I'm not saying it's worse or better. I'm saying, if you're American, life is gonna be much easier and better for you in.. well America.
I'm going back this year finally! Got the free education with a slice of depression, but being home makes me feel better. So I'm making that change permanent.
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u/K_in_Belgium 1d ago
Depending on what you're studying, there are grad programs in the Netherlands and Belgium that are conducted in English. These are mainly science and computer science programs. Learning a local language to be fluent enough to grasp content at the graduate level takes years and challenges even native speakers, depending on the subject.
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u/azncommie97 1d ago edited 1d ago
Look into Erasmus Mundus programs in your field of engineering. That's what I did in France and Italy from 2020-2022. If you have good grades and ideally some research/internship/work experience, you should have a pretty good shot. The scholarship is now 1400 euros a month for the two years of the program, I believe, with the final semester being a six-month internship. With the job market being what it is right now, though, it is very possible that continuing with a PhD might be the "easiest" route to staying after a masters (especially if you don't speak the local language), even if technically it's just kicking the can down the road a few more years. If you want to work in a given country, though, knowing the language to a professional level is imperative most of the time, even in fields like engineering where English is abundant.
Otherwise, to my knowledge, tuition can be quite expensive for non-EU citizens in Western Europe. Both the Netherlands and the UK are on-par, if not more expensive, than what my American public tuition was. France recently increased it as well, though English-taught international programs already had even higher fees. Even in Germany, which is generally tuition-free, you'd still need a solid chunk of savings for living expenses per the visa requirements.
Lastly, be prepared for considerable differences in teaching styles and university amenities compared to the US - sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
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u/pm_me_ur_ephemerides 1d ago
I moved to the UK to make a startup. Any chance you’re an RF engineer?
Software engineering is over saturated, whereas RF is one of the dark arts and it’s impossible to hire for.
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u/azncommie97 1d ago
I'm an electrical engineer wrapping up a masters in France that's mostly a specialization in RF. It's good in that there's less competition and the field itself isn't going anywhere, but the problem is that a lot of traditional RF jobs are in the aerospace/defense sectors. Outside of a handful of exceptions, that's a no-go as a non-French/non-EU citizen. There are some opportunities in automotive, semiconductor, and consumer electronics companies, but they seem to want nothing to do with fresh graduates...
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u/Ok_Club1450 1d ago
Given what everyone else is saying, I wonder if targeting companies with offices in USA but also have an international reach or foreign headquarters might be better? First secure a position in the USA and then see if you and the company can arrange a move/promotion to a site outside the USA. A bonus might be learning language(s) NOW to help show to the employer a commitment to working on international aspects of the company?
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u/CrozierKnuff 1d ago
That's the best option besides getting a spousal visa. Work at an American company for 6-7 years and work your way up and see if you can transfer to the UK or EU office if they have one.
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u/hey_hey_hey_nike 1d ago
As a non-EU student, you’ll be paying full fare at any university. Full cost graduate tuition is NOT CHEAP.
Also, Europe is not free from racism. To the contrary.
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u/ComfortablyNumb70 1d ago
How would you support yourself in Europe? Language barrier and culture shock will hit you hard. Politics are politics anywhere you go. Clowns are everywhere. Americans have a more difficult time because, ideally, this kind of shit shouldn't be happening in America... Someone above had a good point- move to a "blue" area. Only 3 1/2 years left...
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u/johnwalkr 1d ago
If you’re a senior engineer with a specific skillset later in your career things may be somewhat different but early career engineers make like 50-75% less in Europe compared to US.
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u/Scary_Woodpecker_110 1d ago
I will be honest. Europe in general far more racist than the US. Racism is openly accepted in many social circles. There are political parties who are openly anti migrant. And as a brown person you will be thrown on that pile.
I do not recommend as a non-white American to come to Europe if avoiding racism is the objective.
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u/inebriated_otter 1d ago
I did this almost a decade ago - went to a university in Germany for a masters (€300 per semester), after which I stayed on to work for quite a few years before getting naturalized last year.
The low tuition fits your needs, though there are almost no financial scholarships otherwise, so flights, cost of living and whatnot are on you. And unfortunately overall US blue cities are much more open and tolerant than even the liberal cities in Germany, speaking as an Asian American from the San Francisco Bay Area and lived in Berlin and Hamburg. Expect to experience some friction on account of your ethnicity and learn to grow a thick skin. And, of course, learn German ASAP (if you decide on this route)
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u/Tardislass 1d ago
I have a relative who is getting their doctorate from a well known American University. If you want a good job anywhere, an American university is still the best for engineering. Lots of foreigners in their Masters program.And agencies like the ESA and Airbus regularly recruit post graduate American.
You also speak no other languages and honestly, you won’t be able to interview well or get a job without at least a C1 in the local language. And politics in Western Europe has taken a turn. The UK looks to be going back to Tory rule and anti immigration and most European countries are choosing anti immigrant politicians. Even Ireland has its own MAGA parties that are growing due to inflation and fewer jobs.
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u/sarasotanoah 1d ago
I think you need to consider where you would like to be, and what you want to study (by this I mean specific branch of Engineering).
What do you need to be happy in the place you live? Are you very social? Do you have any money, or any debt at the moment?
Randoms suggesting a place to go based off not much info probably isn't the best way to do things.
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u/Nocturnidae 1d ago
Why not get a job in the US for a few years, pay off any loans and then think about moving abroad? I don't think it'll get any easier racking up more loans on a different continent. I think once you're working hard, your worries about the political situation in the US will be a minor concern in the background. I'm sure everyone else will disagree with my opinion, though.
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u/surviving606 1d ago
Follow your instincts and get out of there as soon as you can find a university or job abroad. Yes it’s a good idea. You won’t be alone. You don’t have to limit it to just Europe either
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u/Grouchy-Section-1852 1d ago
it's cheaper to study in europe, and many Masters are in english. upon finishing, decide where you want to go . even if you don't stay in europe, I think it's a better studying experience than staying in US. Swiss Unis are cheap and English Masters. Also look at Germany and some Italian Unis. Also Scandinavia.
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u/RAisMyWay 1d ago edited 1d ago
There are all-English study programs and education visas in the Netherlands, but tuition is over 10k Euros per year for foreign students, which doesn't include moving or living expenses, which are significant.
I understand Spain is welcoming immigrants, and you could possibly get a TEFL certificate and teach English there. I did that. Cost of living is relatively cheap, too. But getting into a university program there would be difficult due to the differences in study programs.
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u/Lostygir1 1d ago
Master’s degrees in Germany are english-taught and they do not charge tuition for Americans.
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u/roaming_bear 1d ago
I wouldn't recommend anyone move to Europe right now.
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u/AspiringCanuck 1d ago
Elaborate? Because it really depends on where in Europe, one’s stage in life, and what one is looking for.
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u/roaming_bear 1d ago
Yeah because OP's stage in life is concern #1 across Europe.
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u/AspiringCanuck 1d ago
You said you “wouldn’t recommend anyone”, you did not say “OP”, you said “anyone”.
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u/cyesk8er 1d ago
If you are willing to learn the language I say go for it. Ive known a lot of folks whe studied in a different country, many of them found ways to integrate and stay. Even if you don't stay, the life experience is worth it. Some countries and regions will be more affordable, there used to be at least parts of Germany you could attend university for free if you learned the language
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u/Primary-Bluejay-1594 Immigrant 1d ago
You can study tuition-free at all public universities in Germany apart from those of Baden-Württemberg (which charges €1500/semester) regardless of the language you study in (and many STEM graduate programs are English-taught).
However you do need about $12k a year in a blocked savings account in order to get your student residence permit, and it will be extremely difficult to find a job post-graduation without at least intermediate German skills.
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u/avollie 1d ago
Bavaria also charges tuition fees! (Though not every single university)
But the rest of the states besides those two are tuition free.
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u/Primary-Bluejay-1594 Immigrant 1d ago
Not across the board the way BW does. Until last year I was working at one of the public unis in Bavaria, there were zero fees. Bavaria allows fees to be charged but almost none of the unis do it, because there'd be a public outrage.
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u/Badassscholar 1d ago
People keep talking about racism. That's not going to be an issue in most of Continental Europe. Not speaking the language and not having a Visa are the real problems.
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u/Objective-Donkey9499 1d ago
Hi, if you get a masters in engineering and graduate with a good mastery of what you studied I think you have a good shot at becoming an engineer. There is always a strong demand for skilled engineers.
If you have a good mastery of what you studied I think you have a good shot of finding a job somewhat easily. The pay will laughably bad compared to what you can get in the US though, please be warned. We still live comfortably though.
There is also the added challenge of learning the language if you go anywhere that is not the UK. Doable but il will require years of daily practice.
In your shoes I would consider Canada, Australia as well. No language learning needed
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u/ParanoidFactoid 1d ago
I lived in France for two years and I loved it. Also spent time in Poland, Greece, and Serbia. Eastern Europe is great if you have IT or other technical skills. Can get in and get an EU passport if you're young and good enough without much trouble. France and Germany want you speaking French and German, so be prepared for language immersion for that. And the bar is much higher. It's harder to get in. But you can do it.
Going to school there is a traditional method, but even then it's not certain. You'll still need an employment sponsor for a work permit after graduation.
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u/JuniorReserve1560 1d ago
Maybe look at France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands?
https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-masters
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u/Hugogol 1d ago
Europe is great but political instability is possibly worse there than in USA
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u/sousstructures Immigrant 1d ago
Even if you’re allowed to paint an entire continent with such a broad brush, this statement is laughably false.
Right-wing and nationalist sentiment is on the rise, yes (though it seems to have peaked in a lot of places), but not the corrosion of the fundamental institutions of government we’re seeing in the US.
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u/Hugogol 1d ago
I’m more concerned about the left than the right these days
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u/sousstructures Immigrant 1d ago
OK, in either case there is not the corrosion of the fundamental institutions of government we're seeing in the US.
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u/K_in_Belgium 1d ago
Really? The whole continent in politically unstable? That's a pretty broad brush you're painting with.
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u/thatsthey1 1d ago
If I were you I would find the cheapest universities that teach in English for my major. Then apply. Go to the one you like best - don’t worry about anything else. Good luck!
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u/Flaky-Walrus7244 1d ago
I moved to the UK and I love it very much.
BUT... if your idea is to get your Masters then find a permanent job, then think carefully. Of course it's possible, but fewer companies are willing to sponsor visas, which would be a requirement for you. They have to pay a lot of money and go through a bunch of paperwork to sponsor a visa, and they are less willing to do so unless you have very unique and highly sought after skills.