Study and Work in Europe: all You Need to Know

Europe is a continent that is located in the northern hemisphere and mostly in the eastern hemisphere too. Europe is described as the peninsula of peninsulas because it is surrounded by bodies of water on three sides, we have the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Black and Caspian seas to the north.

Some of the countries in Europe include the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Greece, etc.

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The European country is popular for its influential arts, architecture, and culture. It is home to numerous beaches, cathedrals, vineyards, a well-performing economy, employment opportunities, and a sound educational system etc.

People from all over the world, due to one reason or the other, plan to relocate to Europe to find a better source of living for themselves and inadvertently their families. Most people, however, move to Europe to school and also find jobs while schooling. To achieve this feat there are some requirements you will need to meet up with before you can relocate. Some of these requirements are outlined below:

• To be eligible to migrate to Europe, you will need to prove your financial stability. You will need to prove that you can cover your needs before you get your first paycheck when you get to Europe.
• Secondly, you will need to have a basic health insurance package.
• Thirdly, you have proficiency in the English language. That’s why for you to migrate, you are to take language proficiency tests.

To gain peace of mind and financial stability, you will need to work while schooling at the same time. In most countries in Europe, it is possible to school and work. You can achieve that with either a student visa or a student work permit.

There are different conditions required to be met depending on the country you are from and the school you want in Europe. Students from European Union and the European economic union have the same entitlement as students from Germany. They have free access to the German job market. You can also work up to 20 hours per week while also studying. Additionally, you are to pay into German social services if you tend to pass the stipulated hour.

Students not from European Union and the European economic union are also eligible to work alongside their studies for a specific period of days per year. Some entail working for 120 or 240 days per year. But it is not counted in your limit if you take up a job as a student or research assistant at your university. All you have to do is to notify the Alien Registration office when you pick up such work. Non-EU students are not permitted to work in a freelance or self-employed capacity. The internship also is regarded as normal work even without being paid unless it is an internship that is mandated.

Some countries have stricter rules and a more complicated process, which makes it more challenging to work and study there,  to take note of how stringent these rules are before choosing to work and school.

As a student employee, you are categorized as a normal worker. You are also liable to pay tax as long as you earn more than 450 euros a month.

If you migrated from the united states, there are some European countries where it is very rewarding to work and school there at the same time with just having a student visa. These countries are:

• Germany: in Germany, a worker earns up to 450 euro a month, without having to pay taxes. If you are paid every month then you may earn up to 5400 euro in a year. For working students, there is an annual exemption tax threshold.
• United Kingdom: the united kingdom has a more stringent rule regarding school and work. You will need to have specific permission on if and how to work while studying. Students on full-time degree courses can work in the Uk

During the University term time, you are only to work for 20 hours per week. You can work full-time during the vacation period. Once your course has officially rounded up, you will be classified as being on vacation. Also, you can work as long as four-month until your visa expires. After this, you can apply for permission to work as a skilled worker if you desire to work long-term.

• Denmark:  Nordic and Swiss nationals can work in Denmark whilst still studying without any restrictions placed on hours. While non-nationals have a restriction of 20 hours a week from September to May and full Time from June to August. It is difficult to find a part-time student job in Denmark. There are lots of job listings from universities a student can take up.
• Sweden: startups abound in Sweden’s growing digital industry. It is, therefore, a great place to kick-start your career. Sweden permits international students to work while studying. There is no official limit to the number of hours spent while working. It will be prudent to keep in mind that you are to spend approximately forty hours per week attending lectures, studying, working on assignments and reading. Finding a job while studying can be difficult, especially if you don’t speak Sweden. But you can check your university website for job listings, get in contact with international companies, etc.

Other countries where you do not necessarily need a student visa to work as a student are:

• Ireland: students holding a valid immigration stamp2 can work 40 hours per week from June through September only. At all other times, students holding immigration permission stamp two will have to work 20 hours per week. This offer only expires at the end of the immigration permission stamp 2.
• Finland: In Finland, international students’ schooling can work on a part-time basis. It should not just exceed 25 hours of work in a week. Students can work in jobs relating to their field of study. During the holidays there are no restrictions on working hours.
• Norway: to work as a student in Norway, a letter has to be submitted by the college/school stating the fact that the job will have no adverse effects on your education. An international student can only work for 20 hours a week.

One important thing to take note of is the selection of countries that have good working prospects in Europe. After that, find a country with a work culture that matches your schedule as a student. Some of these countries are Norway, Denmark, Austria, and Estonia. The only disadvantage to this is the fact that these countries’ way of living is quite exorbitant, according to the OECD. The countries that have a balanced work-life balance are the Netherlands because they provide more working hours, Denmark supports working parents,

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why most people tend to flock to Europe for study, are:

• Because of the vast experiences it affords them, being able to get cheap train tickets, and flights to visit different countries in Europe over the holiday seasons.
• Quality Education: Europe is home to some of the most ranked universities in the world, such as the University of College London, Cambridge University, and Oxford University, to mention but a few, all these demonstrate Europe’s ability to provide an exceptional standard of education.
• Language Skill: studying in a country whose language is different from avail you the opportunity to pick up a new and exciting language, it demonstrates the fact that you are adventurous, adaptable and the willingness to learn about a new culture different from yours, in today’s global times it is an added advantage to know of a second even third language proficiency.
• High standards of living: studying in Europe provide a good standard of living with most countries in Europe offering various students discounts on travel, shopping, and cinema tickets, these discounts enable students to go out and experience life beyond studying.
• e., Financial benefits: pursuing a degree in any country in Europe can be very beneficial in terms of finances as their tuition fees are cheaper than those in other countries like America.

A few members of the European Union have stopped charging tuition fees to University students. This policy has enabled students from secondary schools to pursue higher education for free. Some states are even more generous than others in this context by endowing universities with infrastructures to attract students both within and outside the state. Some of the states that offer free education in Europe are Finland, Norway, Germany, and Denmark.

Now that you have known what Europe has to offer, the next thing is:

Things you need to do to get there.

• First and foremost, you will need to get an understanding of the language. The language differs within Europe, depending on the country you chose to go to. Picking up the basics of the language will go a long way to not make you feel alone in a strange land.
• Second, you must do a little research to get a feel of the area and place you will be residing. You can learn more about the neighbourhood by reading travel blogs, online guides even Google Street View. Try to know where most of the basic amenities are, like the local grocery store, dry cleaners etc. This will, in turn, help familiarise yourself with the environment. Some of the sites to check to get more information are time out and lonely planet.
• Third, try and get travel insurance; no matter the duration of your journey. It is very imperative to buy a travel insurance plan, and research to find out the best plan that suits your situation. Most travel insurance covers loss of luggage, stolen items, etc.
• Fourth, get familiar with the local means of transportation options. This will help you find the best place to live and its accessibility and affordability.

Are you motivated now to study and work in Europe? If yes, then you made the right choice. I believe that the information shared in this post will help you make well-informed decisions with respect to studying and working in Europe.