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Cool European countries for international students

If you are thinking of studying abroad in Europe, the quality of the school, its course options and its prices will no doubt be important factors for you. Some countries, however, have that little something extra, which is hard to define, but which succeeds in attracting vast numbers of international students each year. But which countries are currently registering as hot on the study-abroad thermometer for their cool credentials? And exactly why are they so hip? Here are the top three cool countries for students studying in Europe – and the reasons why they are so popular:

Coolest for music, theatre and red buses: UK

The red London bus is just one of the iconic images for which the UK is known the world over. Cool Britannia has long ruled the airwaves with its music scene – from the mop tops of the Beatles to the swagger of the Rolling Stones, the glam of Bowie to the sneer of the Sex Pistols, the beats of the electronic scene to the bravado of Oasis. The club and music scene in the UK is still hard to beat – catch it in local pubs, intimate jazz venues, large stadiums, or even from skilled buskers on the street.

Similarly, the name, image and plays of Shakespeare continue to dominate world literature. You can visit his birthplace in Stratford and see his work performed in its home, the Globe theatre. Of course, you can also enjoy the hundreds of shows and plays on offer every night in the West End of London.

On top of this, the UK’s academic credentials are impeccable. Think not only of Oxford and Cambridge – there are respected universities across the UK, and studying at an English summer school is a much sought-after opportunity.

Coolest for architecture and late-night parties: Spain

From the surreal curves of Gaudí’s Barcelona, whose Sagrada Familia proved so ambitious that it remains unfinished, to the Moorish-inspired buildings of Granada and Seville, Spain is an architecture lover’s delight. Spain’s habits of taking siestas, eating tapas and dining late at night make it a place where parties really do go on until the early hours. So don’t get up too early to go sightseeing, or you won’t be able to keep up!

Coolest for history and living La Dolce Vita: Italy

Italy’s beautiful people have long aspired to live the beautiful life. Rome and Milan are centres of the fashion world where a contemporary edge is always played out against a backdrop of history. The Colosseum, Pantheon and other Roman sites provide plenty of interest for intrepid history lovers. The Vatican itself contains enough works of art to put many a museum or gallery to shame, while the Renaissance wonders of Italy are best appreciated in Florence. Further south, the remarkable story of frozen-in-time Pompeii continues to fascinate and teach us new things about life in the past.

It is not essential to explore Italy on a scooter, but it does add to the ambience. Check out Rome, Pisa, Florence and Milan for fantastic centres of learning with a cool veneer and history everywhere.

If you’re planning on studying abroad in Europe, look into these top destinations. Whether you end up studying at a SKOLA summer school in the UK or near a Gaudí masterpiece in Barcelona, you’re guaranteed an incredible experience.