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Where Are Students Most Motivated in Europe? (2025 Study)
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Sunlight is more than just a mood booster. Scientific evidence suggests it can increase serotonin levels, potentially improving focus, motivation, and overall well-being. This link raises an interesting question: do countries with sunnier climates foster more motivated students? To explore this and identify where international students thrive, StudiesIn.com conducted a comprehensive study. Our analysis considered student satisfaction, career opportunities, climate, and other key factors across Europe.
Wondering how your dream study destination performs? Discover Europe’s leading countries in our detailed ranking below:
1. Spain
International Students: 241,777
Final Score: 0.69
Post-study visa: 1-year work permit + renewable job-seeking residence.
Spain tops our rankings, achieving a perfect score for sunny days (1.00) and strong performances in affordable living (0.78), student support (0.77), and quality of life (0.75). While the employment opportunities score (0.27) is moderate, the overall lifestyle is often described as unmatched. Students can immerse themselves in vibrant cities like Barcelona and Madrid, renowned for their cultural festivals, accessible beaches, and dynamic nightlife.
2. Portugal
International Students: 75,000
Final Score: 0.66
Post-study visa: 1-year job-seeking visa.
Portugal stands out with a perfect score for cost of living (1.00), complemented by abundant sunshine (0.94) and robust student support (0.77). Employment prospects (0.64) are also promising. Although its GPA (0.15) and quality of life (0.38) scores are comparatively lower in this selection, the nation's laid-back lifestyle and charming cities like Lisbon and Porto offer a cheerful and affordable environment for students.
3. Hungary
International Students: 37,500
Final Score: 0.62
Post-study visa: 9-month permit for job search or starting a business.
Hungary distinguishes itself with exceptional student support (1.00), excellent affordability (1.00), and a high GPA score (0.75). Despite fewer sunny days (0.16) and a lower quality of life score (0.10) compared to other countries in our ranking, students in cities like Budapest benefit from historic architecture, famous thermal baths, and a buzzing student atmosphere.
4. Italy
International Students: 96,000
Final Score: 0.44
Post-study visa: 1-year work permit.
Italy demonstrates strong performance in GPA (0.75), sunny weather (0.65), and student support (0.74). While it registers lower scores for quality of life (0.10) and cost of living (0.25) in this study, its historic cities such as Rome, Florence, and Milan provide an experience rich in culture and art.
5. United Kingdom
International Students: 393,125
Final Score: 0.35
Post-study visa: 2-year Graduate Route (3 years for PhDs).
The UK achieves high scores for GPA (1.00) and student support (0.74). However, it ranks at the lower end for affordability (0.10) and sunshine (0.10) among the surveyed countries. Students are drawn to its excellent universities, world-class museums, and the rich cultural tapestry found in cities like London and Edinburgh.
6. Sweden
International Students: 39,806
Final Score: 0.33
Post-study visa: 12-month residence permit after graduation.
Sweden offers a high quality of life (0.88), a strong GPA score (0.83), and a good employment rate score (0.51). Although it is relatively expensive (0.13) and offers limited sunshine (0.19), it provides inclusive support systems in cities such as Stockholm and Lund, alongside unique cultural traditions like 'fika' and widespread access to nature.
7. Germany
International Students: 469,485
Final Score: 0.31
Post-study visa: 18-month job-seeking visa.
Germany presents a strong profile in quality of life (0.85), GPA (0.58), and student support (0.74). It scores lower on cost of living (0.10) and sunshine (0.10). Nevertheless, students benefit from efficient public services and significant career opportunities, particularly in major hubs like Berlin and Munich.
8. Netherlands
International Students: 122,287
Final Score: 0.22
Post-study visa: 1-year orientation year visa.
The Netherlands leads this selection with a perfect quality of life score (1.00) and offers stable employment prospects (0.48). However, high living costs (0.10), a lower GPA score (0.29), and limited sunshine (0.10) influence its overall ranking. Cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht are known for their modern, open-minded student environments.
9. Austria
International Students: 115,745
Final Score: 0.20
Post-study visa: 12-month job-seeking visa (extendable).
Austria scores well for its quality of life (0.87) and boasts considerable cultural richness, particularly evident in Vienna with its renowned music scene, historic cafés, and numerous museums. However, lower scores in GPA (0.29), cost of living (0.10), and sunny days (0.10) impact its position in this student experience ranking.
10. France
International Students: 430,466
Final Score: 0.20
Post-study visa: 1-year visa, extendable for Master’s and PhDs.
France's position in this ranking is influenced by lower scores in GPA (0.10), cost of living (0.10), and student support (0.34). Despite these factors, students continue to be attracted to iconic cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, drawn by world-famous landmarks, influential fashion, and celebrated culinary culture.
Methodology
To rank European countries based on student motivation and satisfaction, StudiesIn analyzed six key factors influencing international student experiences. All data were collected from reliable sources and normalized on a scale from 0.1 to 1.0 using the following formulas:
- Normalized Value = 0.1 + 0.9 × (x − min) / (max − min)
- (For inverted categories like Cost of Living:)
Normalized Value = 0.1 + 0.9 × (max − x) / (max − min)
The evaluated categories were: Sunny Days, Average GPA, Quality of Life Index, Cost of Living, Student Support (rated 1–5), and Career Opportunities (foreign-born employment rate). All were equally weighted, except Student Support, which was standardized to 1.0.
Final Score = Sum of Normalized Values / Number of Categories
This approach provides a fair and consistent comparison across countries.
I spent a fall semester in Valencia
Finding the Valencia program was fate. I still feel like it's a rare, undiscovered secret that only I was privileged enough to explore and call home. It fulfilled a combination of desires for me. I knew I wanted to learn Spanish, and had boiled it down to Spain because unlike South or Central America, I'd have access to traveling throughout Europe and North Africa.
From there, I realized I wanted a city of a decent size. Madrid and Barcelona were the other two Spanish cities for which programs were offered. I'd been to Madrid and enjoyed it very much, but I didn't like that it was so far inland. I heard Barcelona was amazing, but its main language was Catalan.
Then I came across Valencia, Spain's third largest city, located east on the Mediterranean coast. With about 800,000 people, it was an ideal size for being able to experience that large metropolitan vibe while still being able to run into familiar neighborhood faces. Valencia is also the birthplace of paella, and boasted some of Spain's best cuisine (in my humble opinion)
I knew I wanted to learn Spanish
The littoral outlet for well-heeled Deià, a village that has been home to Mick Jagger, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Branson and poet Robert Graves who is buried there, Cala Deià may be small (200m wide), far from sandy beaches but the water is crystal clear, the rocky outcrops imposing and the atmosphere convivial.
A mixture between the fresh caught seafood from the adjacent sea and the best rice dishes, as well as the sweet delectables like buñuelos and the sugary almond treat turron.
But dessert for me tended to be fruit, as I took advantage of the region's incredible bounty (the Valencia orange being one of the most delicious fruits I've ever had -- that perfect balance between sweetness and citrus acidity).
My plans for the near future
As of now, I am set to graduate in June from CUNY Hunter College with a bachelor's degree in Media Studies. I've already made plans, while not yet fully developed, to take some time off after undergrad and return to Spain.
I am going to try and find a job or internship somewhere in the vast field of media. My mind's run agog with possibilities: finding a job or internship, teaching English, or even enrolling in a Spanish university for graduate school. In a perfect world, I would be a foreign correspondent based in Madrid for The New York Times. favourite beach, Cala Deià, can be found here, one of the most bewitching inlets on Mallorca’s entire coastline with the clientele to match.
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