A Degree, Internships, and $0 Debt: What International Education Gave Our Family

Paphos Cyprus
Paphos offered our family a peaceful new chapter—and a seamless continuation of our kids’ education.|©iStock/RichardCliff

When I moved overseas with my family in 2015—for my job in Abu Dhabi—we had no idea that the experience would be so beneficial for our school-age kids.

Over the years, the kids’ "education experience" evolved as they studied in the UAE, then Cyprus, with my daughter going on to attend university in the Netherlands.

The international exposure gave them insight into diverse cultures… and access to new opportunities they were genuinely excited about.

And the cost… well I’ll get to that in a moment…

When we arrived in Abu Dhabi, we had a major decision to make—should we go with an American or British curriculum school?

The difference between the two would become particularly evident in high school. The British curriculum requires students to take a broad range of subjects before specializing in three focused "A-Levels" for their final two years.

This deep, subject-specific learning contrasts sharply with the American system, which emphasizes general education across multiple disciplines. We opted for the more popular British school.

A Degree in Three Years…

In the UAE, expats from around the world make up 80% of the population. But when I retired to Paphos, Cyprus, in 2022, we found the culture to be more traditional. Most residents were Greek Orthodox. Despite all the differences, we were able to continue the kids’ education in a British curriculum school.

On her first day of school in Cyprus, my daughter came home excited about a class trip to visit universities in the Netherlands. Little did we know, that trip would lead her to fall in love with The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

The opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in just three years, combined with the Netherlands’ academic efficiency, made THUAS the perfect fit.

The admissions process was grade-based, with no entrance exams. The Netherlands use a centralized application portal where students can apply to up to four schools. Unlike in the US, Dutch universities don’t require general education courses, something we felt (agree with me or not) added little value to a college education.

My daughter got to dive straight into her chosen field, doing things like real-world corporate collaborations. Her second and third years will include formal internships—an aspect of Dutch education that ensures graduates are workforce-ready. Often these internships lead to employment.

The biggest shock was the cost. For EU students tuition is only €2,560 per year—a fraction of what American universities charge. (While we’re American, we also have Italian passports.)

With living expenses, including her €1,200 monthly dorm, the total cost is dramatically lower than in the US. (Even without an EU passport, you’d likely pay €10,000 to €14,000 in tuition… again, a far cry from the States.)

Dutch degrees offer quality education, global experience, and big savings.
Dutch degrees offer quality education, global experience, and big savings.|©Wikimedia/OSeveno

A Happy Kid, Set up for Success

Academically, my daughter finds project-based learning much more engaging than rote memorization. She’s learning to navigate group-work dynamics, and socially, she’s seamlessly integrated into an international student community. (She’s already traveled to visit friends in Paris and the UK.)

For American families considering international education, Europe provides an easy, affordable gateway to travel and cultural exposure.

We couldn’t be happier with the choices we’ve made for our kids.

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