U.S.- Style Programs in Europe

There are a number of degree-granting colleges and universities in Europe which provide a U.S. style higher education. They have accreditation (usually they enjoy the same accreditation as the parent university in the U.S., that is U.S. regional accreditation) or government recognition in the host country and offer full undergraduate degree programs in a variety of majors. Most provide study abroad and transfer opportunities and a few also offer Master’s and Ph.D. degree programs.
These colleges and universities are characterized by their use of an American-style curriculum and their goal of educating students to become globally minded and able to appreciate the essential interdependence of mankind, regardless of national origins. A selection of the most prominent U.S. and U.S.-like campuses in Europe is available below:

U.S-style colleges/universities in Europe: where are they?

AUSTRIA (1)
Webster University in Austria http://www.webster.ac.at/

BULGARIA
American University in Bulgaria www.aubg.bg/

BELGIUM (1)
Vesalius College http://www.vesalius.edu/

FRANCE (2)
The American University of Paris www.aup.edu
Parsons Paris School of Design http://www.parsons.paris.edu/

GERMANY (1)
Jacobs University Bremen http://www.jacobs-university.de/
ECLA Bard in Berlin/European College of Liberal Arts  http://www.bard.edu/ecla/

GREECE (2)
The American College of Greece, Deree College & Junior College http://www.acg.edu
American College of Thessaloniki http://www.act.edu/

IRELAND (1)
American College Dublin http://www.amcd.ie/

ITALY (2)
The American University of Rome http://www.aur.edu/
John Cabot University http://www.johncabot.edu/

MONACO (1)
International University of Monaco http://www.monaco.edu/

THE NETHERLANDS (2)
Roosevelt Academy http://www.roac.nl/roac/
Webster University in the Netherlands http://www.webster.nl/

SPAIN (2)
Saint Louis University, Madrid http://spain.slu.edu/
Suffolk University Madrid Campus http://www.suffolk.edu/madrid/

SWITZERLAND (6)
Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne http://www.ehl.edu/
Franklin College-Switzerland http://www.fc.edu/
Glion Institute of Higher Education http://www.glion.edu/
International University in Geneva http://www.iun.ch/index.cfm
Les Roches Swiss Hotel Association School of Hotel Managementhttp://www.lesroches.edu/les_roches_bluche/en/en-en/index.cfm?
Webster University Geneva http://www.webster.ch/

UNITED KINGDOM (4)
American Intercontinental University-London http://www.aiulondon.ac.uk/
British American College London (Regent's College) http://www.bacl.ac.uk/
Huron
Richmond, the American International University in London http://www.richmond.ac.uk/

History

Most of these schools are relatively new players in the international education arena, although the American College of Greece (Deree College) dates its founding to the second half of the 19th century. The majority of U.S.-like universities in Europe emerged in the interval 1969-1972 when no fewer than nine colleges were established in the UK and continental Europe.
Many of them began as two-year programs meant to serve the sons and daughters of American diplomatic, military and business personnel in Europe. Later on they evolved into full, degree-granting institutions. When Webster University in St. Louis decided to open campuses in Europe, they offered not only Bachelor's but also Master's degrees.

Policy and size

American-style colleges in Europe accept applications from students regardless of citizenship. The colleges and universities range in size from 150 students at Parsons School of Design, Paris to nearly 1,000 students at Richmond and International University Bremen. To check enrollment at Jacobs: interns

Areas of study

Most of the U.S.-like universities in Europe place great emphasis on area studies. In recent years there has been an increase in course offerings in business studies and economics, areas in which these international colleges have always been exceptionally strong. International University Bremen has a great reputation in engineering and the sciences.

Internships

A major area of strength that all U.S.-like universities in Europe share lies in the internship programs which many of them offer to their upper division students in a variety of fields such as politics, teaching, business, computing, and art history.

Financial aid

The number of international students receiving financial aid shows considerable variation. Generally, those institutions with a parent campus in the United States will offer financial aid for entering international freshmen if the necessary academic merit criteria are met. Competitive Romanian students tend to get significant amounts of financial aid at these universities, although full rides are most unusual. As a rule, most of the independent U.S.-like colleges in Europe such as Vesalius College Brussels, Franklin College Switzerland, International University Bremen and Richmond in London, will have more generous scholarships or financial aid packages for international students.

Housing

The American universities which have dormitories on campus pride themselves on the quality of student life they offer. Those that do not offer on-campus accommodation have access to hostels and assist students in finding suitable lodging.
Some of the institutions have more than one campus. Webster University, for example, has four locations in Europe, while Richmond, The American International University in London, has two campuses in the London area and two study centers in Italy.

Accreditation

The U.S. colleges in Europe have U.S. regional accreditation either through their parent institution or independently. Many also hold government recognition from their host countries.

Faculty

The faculty of these institutions tends to combine well-established faculty from the U.S. who are committed to this very special blend of American and international education with enthusiastic, often young but prominent scholars from the host country, and part-time senior lectures from universities in the area.

Transfer opportunities

For international students who plan to spend one or two years studying abroad before transferring to a university in the United States, these colleges and universities can serve as a useful bridge, allowing the students to continue in a familiar environment while adjusting to the demands of US college life. All of the institutions offer a liberal arts and science curriculum. As a result, they require the students to take a range of general education courses in the languages, the humanities, and the social and natural sciences.

In conclusion

The U.S. style degree-granting colleges and universities in Europe provide an exciting educational option for Romanian students.
For further information about any of the colleges or universities please visit the individual institutions' websites.

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