Discover 19 opportunities in student life

Attending university can be a ton of fun, but it’s also supposed to prepare you for the next stage in your career. Normally, this involves a lot of studying. But breaks and hobbies are important to have, too.

Even before COVID-19, students across the world face a mental health crisis of unprecedented proportions. Columnist James Matthew Alston investigated the phenomenon, looking particularly at university responses - his conclusions made for tough reading. Many institutions are overwhelmed, their mental health services ill-equipped to cope with the growing demand. Consequently, students are often left untreated in precarious states of mental health – an unsustainable situation that, as the statistics show, can end tragically.

What does it take to succeed as an economics student? What qualities make a good economics student – one who thrives at university, enjoys their economics degree, and then, once it's all done and dusted, who goes and gets a good job? These are big questions – there's no doubt – and their answers may not immediately be clear. 

Given the highly competitive nature of funding opportunities and the ever-increasing cost of higher education, a part-time job is seemingly an unavoidable part of the student experience. Whether it be to earn some more money to put towards tuition fees, or the cost of living expenses or even having a little aside for entertainment and leisure activities, students find themselves increasingly obliged to find a part-time job whilst at university.

Finland is known around the globe for its progressive higher education culture that aims to cultivate a humane and globally-minded ‘next generation’. This is emphasis is especially present in the University of Tampere (UTA). UTA prides itself on providing a friendly environment for students to connect with their professors and even the administration, even as undergraduates.

Groningen is a beautiful, scenic city in the north of the Netherlands which has hosted the University of Groningen since 1614, making it the second oldest Dutch university. The university is known for having astronauts, prominent world bankers, and Nobel laureates among its alumni.

Almost became a med student in Italy, Giada Carrara has decided to take a gap year and chosen a completely different path at Rotterdam Business School, Netherlands. How so? Let's find out!

Aristotle may not be around any more, but his disciples continue their critical studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. A mere 55 kilometers away from Aristotle’s birthplace in Stageira, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki can be considered a living, breathing monument to one of the most formidable philosophers of all time. It’s also the most sizable university in Greece, boasting 230,000 square meters in center Thessaloniki alone.

Because what's better than a real insider's perspective? Let's experience the vibe of Arnhem Business School, HAN University of Applied Sciences through the eyes of their current student, Tommaso Mondovì. Are you ready?

The University of Edinburgh is a storied institution founded in 1582 which sits in one of the liveliest and most charming cities in Britain.

The University of Southern California is one of the US's most prominent universities, with alumni including over 150 recipients of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes, Academy, Emmy, and Grammy awards, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities.

As well as traditional, research-based universities in the Netherlands, if you are looking for a more hands-on approach to education you may wish to consider newer, more vocational-based universities for your studies.

Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany is home to more than 37,000 students across 190 degree courses, as well as being a renowned research institution. Famous alumni of the university include Karl Marx, Heinrich Hertz, and Alexander von Humboldt, as well as 29 Nobel Laureates, and Albert Einstein was once a Physics professor.

As a historic British university, the Warwick Campus was established in 1965 by the British government as an initiative to expand higher education.

The beautiful, historic city of York in the UK is both a charming location and the home to one of the most highly regarded teaching and research institutions in the country, the University of York.