For students looking for a different kind of university experience, these locations provide a personalized and distinctive experience beyond the well-known educational hotspots.
EU Helpers explores the appeal of studying in these quaint locations in this article, highlighting the benefits and unique features that make attending school in Europe's smallest cities the best option for those seeking academic success.
Belgium's Leuven
Every year, around 40,000 students are drawn to this Belgian city by its exciting nightlife and vibrant cultural environment.
One of the oldest universities in the world, KU Leuven will celebrate 600 years of existence in 2025. It offers some of the greatest worldwide programs in science, engineering, and technology as well as the humanities, social sciences, and medicinal sciences.
Germany's Heidelberg
Heidelberg University was established in 1386 and has a population of 160,000. It is situated on the banks of the Neckar River and is a hidden gem for international students.
This university, which provides a wide range of subjects, including natural sciences and medicine as well as humanities and social sciences, is affiliated with more than 50 Nobel Prize winners.
Each year, about 30,000 students enroll, with over 20% of them coming from outside the country.
Spain's Salamanca
This Spanish city is the perfect place for architecture students to study because it is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage monuments and boasts the oldest university in Spain, which is eight centuries old.
It has connections to a number of significant historical personalities, including as Miguel Cervantes, Beatriz Galindo, and Christopher Columbus.
Salamanca University is well known for its humanities and language programs, particularly for students from abroad.
Czech Republic's Olomouc
With 100,000 people overall, Olomouc, a city in Czechia, is the ideal university town. It has the greatest student population density in Central Europe.
With the Morava River tucked away and gorgeous scenery all around, Olomouc is home to Palacky University.
The university, which has been around for more than 450 years, offers summer programs, internships, and opportunities for study abroad across several faculties.
In the Netherlands, Maastricht
Maastricht is a city with a lot to offer and is well-known for its mediaeval architecture, thriving cultural scene, and exciting nightlife.
Maastricht University is a great choice for students because of its cutting-edge educational model, which emphasizes a strong multidisciplinary approach to research and instruction.
The majority of programs offered by the university, including bachelor's degrees, are conducted in English, and more than half of its student body is international. Maastricht University is an excellent research university that offers courses in several fields, but its political economy department stands out.