Universities with travelling cohorts: how to study and explore the world at the same time

Image: Forward College

Over the course of the past academic year, we’ve extolled the virtues of studying at universities all around the world, from the coveted US Ivy Leagues (we’ve unpicked everything you need to know about applying for a place) to Canada’s internationally renowned universities (where fees are significantly lower than in the US) and the wealth of prestigious universities across Europe, from Madrid to the Netherlands. But what if you’re still undecided on which country you want to study in? Choosing a university with a travelling cohort – which sees students hop between campuses in different countries throughout the duration of their degree course – could be the perfect solution. And no, it’s not too good to be true – you really can combine a university degree with an opportunity to travel the world.

‘Universities with travelling cohorts are gaining in popularity’, says Martine Gagnon from UES Education (which supports around 200 UK schools and help over 800 students a year through US university applications) – and there are a handful of brilliant options out there’. Students choosing one of these universities will find themselves looked after by one institution the whole way through their degree (just as they would at a more conventional, one-campus university), yet they move to a different location each year, immersing themselves in a totally different city and culture, brushing up on their language skills and developing skills that make them highly employable, including a willingness to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone.

One of the best examples of this type of university is Forward College. This revolutionary university has campuses in Lisbon, Paris and Berlin, with students spending one year in each city. It’s a brilliant solution for UK-based students looking for a global study experience without having to cross the Pond or stump up the hefty fees charged by US universities (currently, Forward College charges UK and EU students €18,500 per year, in stark contrast to the US, where average fees are over double this figure). There are also generous bursaries on offer – about 30 per cent of Forward College students currently benefit from some degree of financial aid.

There’s serious academic heft behind the university too. Courses – which range from politics and international relations to business analytics and psychology – are accredited and awarded by the University of London, and delivered under the academic direction of LSE and King’s College London. And there’s very little sitting around in soulless lecture theatres: at Forward College, the emphasis is on a properly holistic education, with practical, hands-on learning and small teaching groups taking centre stage, alongside regular assessments to keep an eye on students’ progress. Importantly, students are taught leadership skills and teamwork, helping with future employment prospects. ‘It combines what recruiters are desperately looking for: a solid intellectual training with soft and digital skills,’ says Jean-Claude Legrand, an adviser for Forward College and the global head of HR at L’Oréal.

The pastoral side to speciality institutions such as Forward College also holds huge appeal. Students are guaranteed accommodation for their full three years, often in lovely purpose-built campuses shared with teachers, researchers, undergraduates and postgraduates, which eliminates the mad rush to find digs in an unknown city that has become so commonplace at UK universities. Students stay as a pack, travelling to each campus with the same cohort – so there’s no worry about having to make a new set of friends each year. Then there’s the opportunity to rub along with others from all over the world: Forward College currently has 33 nationalities on its student roll, everywhere from Italy to India. ‘My passion for travelling, learning new languages and getting to know other cultures and people always made me eager to study abroad after high school,’ says student Allegra from Austria. ‘Forward College allowed me to achieve exactly that, not just in one location but three, making it simpler for me to eventually start a career abroad.’



So what’s the catch? In truth, there isn’t one: even the application process is much more holistic than at UK universities. Academics are important (students need an average of 35 points in the IB or three As at A-level), but universities such as Forward College are looking for go-getters, risk-takers and those who can prove why they want to look beyond the traditional university pathway, be that through extracurricular activities or a willingness to throw themselves into the unknown. ‘Even if you haven’t got the academic results you were hoping for, it’s worth highlighting your other strengths to show them why you think you’d be a good fit for the university and the course’ advises Martine.

While Forward College is still in its relative infancy (the first cohort graduated in 2024), Minerva University has been around for over a decade. Based in San Francisco, this world-famous university is renowned for being a trailblazer in the sector – and as a result, places are highly sought after (the acceptance rate is just two per cent). Students can pick from a wealth of different campus options, moving somewhere new for each year of their degree. The list changes each year, but currently includes Berlin, Hyderabad, Buenos Aires, London, Taipei and Seoul. As is the case at Forward College, there’s a big emphasis on tech-heavy, experiential learning, with explorative seminar-based classes taking precedence – and there’s a lot of time spent exploring and focusing on real-world issues. Wherever they choose to live and study, students receive a fully accredited, US-delivered degree, with courses available spanning the arts, humanities, business, computer science and social sciences. The downside is the fees, which come close to $50,000 per year.

The world’s oldest business school, ESCP, is a compelling option for anyone serious about learning a new language. This Grande École’s literal and figurative headquarters may be in Paris, but with campuses in Madrid, Turin, Warsaw, Berlin and London, students can flit between cities for each year of their degree – and in turn, gain unrivalled exposure to Europe’s business culture. What really sets ESCP apart is its language requirements; students are expected to throw themselves into language classes and graduate with fluency in the primary tongue of the cities they study in, giving them a real leg up when it comes to future employment.

There’s another alternative for anyone keen to combine travel and study: dual-campus universities. These more ‘conventional’ places offer students the opportunity to spend time at both their ‘home’ campus and at a partner university elsewhere in the world. Take Scotland’s University of St Andrews, which runs a four-year undergraduate programme in partnership with William & Mary in Virginia (America’s second oldest university), whereby students spend an equal amount of time at both universities, receiving a joint degree when they graduate at the end of their course. Columbia University, meanwhile, offers transatlantic dual-degree programmes in partnership with the likes of Sciences Po in Paris, Trinity College Dublin and Tel Aviv University, with pupils studying in one of these alternative locations for two years before returning to New York to complete the final year of their degree. It’s important to note that these programmes are different to those at universities that simply allow students to spend one year studying abroad (such as the University of Edinburgh).

A number of American universities have campuses in Europe too: some of the best known include The American University of Paris, NYU’s campus in Florence, and The American University of Rome. Then there’s the University of London’s Institute in Paris, where students gain a Russell Group degree awarded by Queen Mary University, while living and studying in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

So the key message is: look beyond the obvious and don’t pigeonhole your options when it comes to choosing a university. For the right student – someone keen to embark on a real journey of independence, travel, forge lifelong friendships with peers from all over the world and get under the skin of a different language and culture – considering a university with a travelling cohort could certainly be seen as the best of both worlds.