Choosing an Overseas Destination
- Germany. According to student.com, Germany currently ranks as the fourth most-popular country in the world for international students. This is due in large part to the fact that most people in the country speak English and that the country is welcoming and friendly to non-natives.
- Iceland. Iceland is a great destination for people who want to save money on their college tuition. All public colleges in Iceland are totally free for U.S. students, and international students make up about 5 percent of the college population.
- France. French universities are virtually free for U.S. students. In fact, an undergraduate degree only costs about $208 annually.
- Norway. Norway offers free education for U.S. students at colleges like The University of Oslo and University of Nordland. While living expenses can be high, the education system is one of the best in the world.
- Finland. Finland provides free tuition for U.S. students at all its various universities, although some semester fees may apply.
What You Need to Attend an Overseas University
Choosing to go overseas for college is exciting, but it does require some preparation.
The first piece of that preparation is financial. According to NerdWallet, overseas students should consider submitting the FAFSA before they apply to an overseas organization. While U.S. students can't access federal grants overseas, federal student loans can be applied. In fact, more than 400 schools in 40 countries around the globe accept them.
Going to school overseas also requires the translation of multiple documents so that the U.S. student can apply and be considered.
Keep in mind that some countries require students’ documents to be translated into the native language. These are some of the documents that require a certified translation:
- Academic transcripts
- Birth certificates
- Customs’ documents
- Diplomas
- Driver’s licenses
- Financial records
- Immigration and naturalization papers
- Marriage certificates
- Medical records
- Passports
- Recommendation letters
- Visas
Keep in mind that even if you speak the language into which your documents need to be translated, that's not enough to account for a "certified translation."