What It’s Really Like To Study In Europe
Europe has long attracted ambitious business students — not just for its world‑class schools, but for the chance to live somewhere that feels endlessly connected, mobile, and full of possibility.
What is life actually like for students in Europe today? How do students navigate the realities of housing, friendships, career hopes, and identity across a continent that’s both inspiring and increasingly complex?
HOW STUDENTS SEE LIFE IN EUROPE TODAY
One of Europe’s oldest and most international schools, ESCP Business School, just introduced its inaugural Live, Learn & Love in Europe survey, capturing the thoughts and feelings of college students currently living in Europe.
Between January and March of 2026, on ESCP’s behalf, Viavoice gathered the perspectives of more than 900 students and recent graduates across six campuses and over 30 nationalities. The numbers show that this generation holds Europe in high regard, but they worry about the financial impact of living in Europe.
Most of the students surveyed (91%) said they are happy with the quality of life Europe has to offer. In fact, a whole 90% expect to stay and work in Europe after completing their studies.
At the same time, students are concerned with the financial challenges they are facing. Almost all respondents, 94%, consider Europe expensive, and 63% say they struggle to find housing.
When asked why they hope to remain in Europe, the answer was often the promise of work-life balance, chosen by 46% of respondents. That’s what Oli Mould with The Guardian found is most important for young adults today. Mould says Gen Z is increasingly rejecting “hustle culture” in favor of stability, community, and healthier boundaries at work.
FINDING IDENTITY IN EUROPE
Of those who took the survey, one of their strongest ambitions of the group was to pursue entrepreneurship. More than half of respondents envisioned starting a business in Europe.
Students are also finding a clear sense of identity in Europe. Nearly 89% of respondents said they feel aligned with a European way of life.
When it comes to social connections, a good 75% found it easy to make friends, yet only 61% say it is easy to build close relationships. Just 49% said they felt confident in maintaining romantic relationships. All-in-all, Europe appears to have a socially open culture, but it seems to be emotionally complex.
Another theme that surfaced was trust in institutions. This was an area where student’s opinions were far more mixed. Only 52% of respondents said they would consider European institutions transparent and trustworthy. When asked what they see as the most urgent challenges for the decade ahead, students said democracy and political stability, international security, and migration and integration as the issues most likely to shape Europe’s future.
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