Studying abroad can be an opportunity of a lifetime. This is when you get to explore a new country, learn its culture, and embrace the people’s lifestyle that is different to the one you are used to back home. Additionally, it enables you to build a professional network on a global scale as you forge relationships with classmates from around the world.
Career-wise, it can enhance your employability factor, as graduates with international experience are often the ones preferred by recruiters. According to a study by the Erasmus Student Network, 64% of employers consider international experience important for recruiting.
Many institutions host international students. The US alone has over 1.1 million of them scattered across the country during the 2023 to 2024 academic year. If you are looking to study abroad, consider these three leading universities with strengths of their own.
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is a fantastic place to be. Consistently ranked in the top 100 Best Student Cities in the world (QS, 2026), the sunniest city in the UK is fun, exciting and friendly. Inclusive and free-thinking, this is a city with much to offer students. It has the sea (next to an award-winning beach) and the beautiful British countryside, modern culture and exotic architecture, as well as festivals – many of them, with Brighton Pride and the community-led Brighton Fringe Festival as standouts.
“Brighton has its own sense of style. You really get to feel at home in this smaller, diverse seaside city,” student Andrew Baumann from the US says. “[Studying abroad is] such a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you really get this special bond with all the people you go through it with.”
Ready for an unforgettable, life-changing experience? The University of Brighton’s study abroad programme welcomes international undergraduates looking to experience what it is like to study at a UK university, learn about British culture, and make lifelong friends – either for a semester or full academic year.
Besides opportunities to explore and embrace the uniqueness of Brighton city, the programme allows you to choose optional modules in a range of subject areas, so you can study topics that are important to you.
Apply to the University of Brighton now. A dedicated Study Abroad Office is always ready to help you with immigration, accommodation, finance, and anything else you need to help prepare you for arrival.
Atlanta, Georgia is ranked the #2 most livable city in the US. Source: Emory University/Facebook
Emory University
There is nowhere quite like Atlanta, Georgia. Where else could you find hip-hop, 31 Fortune 500/1000 companies, the Centres for Disease Control headquarters, and good chicken and waffles if not at the #2 most livable city in the US, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit? Atlanta is an international hub for healthcare, business, the arts, and culture, all of which create opportunities for you to engage with, whether to grow academically, personally, or professionally.
Emory University is located here, where leading research in science, medicine, and liberal arts takes place. To elevate your studies to an international level, the university offers an Education Abroad programme comprising over 90 semester/academic courses, as well as 20 to 25 summer programmes in more than 40 countries worldwide. This is for you to learn about different cultures and broaden your academic horizons, all while complementing the university’s style.
The programme consists of two options: the semester abroad or the summer abroad. The former offers three types of experiences, which include full immersion, island-style, and a hybrid of the two. The full immersion experience allows you to enrol in a local university in that country, while the island-style includes you with other US students to take courses together. The summer abroad, on the other hand, lets you participate in multiple summer programmes during any summer semester that are led by a faculty member.
All four campuses of the University of Southern Denmark are close to the sea. Source: University of Southern Denmark
University of Southern Denmark
Studying at the University of Southern Denmark means gaining a world-class education while also enjoying the relaxed Danish lifestyle. In Danish terms, this is called the hygge, which loosely translates to being cosy or comfortable by taking time away from the daily rush to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures. With this way of life planted in the hearts of Danish people, it is no wonder Denmark is consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 most peaceful countries.
Each of the university’s four campuses is close to the sea, giving a sense of serenity even if you are swamped with work. These four campuses are interconnected, allowing for a close-knit community where you can engage with other students from different departments, all within university grounds. It is also conveniently located with easy access to city life; only needing a bicycle to get from one place to another. Take part in the numerous city events and university-organised activities, including weekly student bars and an annual on-campus music festival.
“The Danish people are so welcoming – they made me feel like one of them, and there’s always a sense of inclusivity and warmth that makes Denmark feel like home,” student Jony Pall from Bangladesh says. “Danes may seem reserved or quiet in public spaces, but I quickly learned that once you get to know them, they are incredibly open and friendly.”
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
