Looking to study in some of the best and most prestigious academic institutions abroad, Europe is arguably the best home to some of these prestigious institutions in the whole world, Ranging from the oldest university in Italy (University of Bologna) to as far wide as Switzerland (ETH Zurich) which is often referred as one of the modern-day universities. Europe is a mother to universities as they have several options you can pick from.
When choosing your study location be it within or abroad, there are certain things you need to take into consideration and one of which is how safe and secure that study environment is.
Top 5 Safest Places for international students in Europe
In this article, we will be looking at some of the safest places to study in Europe and we have listed a few countries like Switzerland, Denmark, Finland Norway, etc.
Austria
Generally, Austria is considerably safe for study, as the country records a low crime rate with safety for both citizens as well as visitors in the city or towns.
Also, Austria has a considerably reliable means of transportation that is safe, however, you should not let your guard down as there may be incidents of pickpockets, theft, etc in crowded areas on these public transport.
As for natural hazards, The country does not really experience these environmental hazards like earthquake, typhoons, or hurricane however, some areas of Austria has recorded heavy snowfall and avalanches during winter months so as a visitor or student, endeavor to familiarize yourself with the weather condition of your environment.
Hence we can say that the country is really hospitable for students seeking to study abroad and they also have a good living standard with an awesome educational opportunity.
Finland
When it comes to the chart of countries with low crime rates, Finland is one of those countries as well as having one of the best living standards. Finland also has an excellent educational system. Schools in Finland are very much valued with examples like Aalto University and the University of Helsinki being recorded as some of the best in the world.
Switzerland
According to safety world rankings, Switzerland is one of the highest-ranking countries and this alone makes it a must-choose choice for students seeking to study in Europe. The country records a really low crime rate, a very stable political atmosphere as well as arms laws which are often upheld at every inch.
Of course, we cannot leave their educational system out of it as Swiss universities are among the top world ranking for best universities in the world, examples are ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, and University of Geneva amongst others making the chart.
Norway
This is one country that has a really high reputation for peace. Norway has a very strong political standard and a relatively low crime rate which makes it an ideal location for students seeking to study abroad.
Iceland
Iceland is arguably the most peaceful nation in the world and according to statistics, the nation tops the global peace index thus making it the safest European country to study in. Iceland barely records violent crimes.
European students housing safety measures.
For international and resident students, housing measures across Europe may differ depending on the state as well as regulations guiding that particular location. In this article, we will be looking at some of the possible general safety measures for student housing across Europe.
- Security measure: virtually all areas in Europe have implemented security safety measure to prevent illegal access to housing by students and some of these measures includes key card access, camera installation as well as the appointment of human personnel to ensure legal access to housing.
- Installation of smoke alarms and detectors for carbon mono oxide: the function of these is to alert students of any potential fire outbreak or mono oxide leaks so as to enable them to evacuate the affected areas as well as alert the authorities on the hazards.
- European nations also implemented emergency protocols to safeguard student well-being. This protocol is enforced during emergency periods such as fire outbreaks, or events of natural disaster. Some of these emergency protocols include emergency contact mustard point and evacuation where necessary.
- Health and safety regulations are very necessary for all students to adhere to, some of which include proper ventilation, drinking clean water, and carrying out proper sanitary activities.
Safety considerations for international students in Europe based on culture
Looking at some of the broadly applicable cultural safety measures which are very essential for international students to familiarize themselves due to some cultural differences, they include;
- it is important that as an international student seeking to study in Europe, you should try to familiarize yourself with some of the cultural practices, laws, rules, and regulations guiding your desired European destination as this will help to prevent cultural accidents or offenses.
- Try your possible best to be very much vigilant and observe your immediate surroundings as your safety level in your home country may be quite different from your host European destination. Endeavor to familiarize with some of their health care practices, and also have an insurance plan. Also, try to know some of your local Healthcare providers.
- Be very conscious of cultural differences as this may take a toll on everything, ranging from norms to communications.
Furthermore, try to learn and adapt to other cultural lifestyles and do not try to generalize or make any assumptions about a particular culture.
Political stability In European Countries
When looking at the political stability of a nation, both the country and the time frame should be considered and this often creates a variation in the political stability of that nation. Aside from these factors, the political stability of European countries on a general note is known to be quite stable with a well-established democratic system.
The political practice of a nation may either have a positive or negative effect on the educational system of that nation. Taking Europe as a case study, due to its relatively stable political system, you can generalize that these nations will have a relatively firm and consistent educational structure.
The stability enables adequate funding of the nation’s education thus bringing it up to expected standards as well as the implementation of laws, policies, etc as to uphold those said standards to achieve educational goals.
Generally, political stability provides a more comfortable climate for the creation of a vast and reliable educational system even where there is no clear causal relationship between it and educational performance.
