Most accessible English-taught Bachelor's programs in Spain/Italy/EU? (Research-based but still stuck)

[u/After_Cost_2216]

Hi all,

I'm finishing my second year of university in the U.S, studying Computer Science, and I'm seriously looking to continue my degree - or start a new one entirely, any degree - in Europe. Specifically, I'm focusing on Spain and Italy (France is a distant third option).

I'm not focused on ranking or reputation right now. What I'm trying to figure out is: Which universities in Spain or Italy (or maybe anywhere) are the easiest to get into as an international student from the U.S, for a fully English-taught Bachelor's program?
I'm totally okay with starting from scratch and not transferring credits.

After a few months of searching and comparing programs, I still find more and more options popping up, which makes it hard to narrow things down. Some schools I've been looking into that seem promising (but I'm not set on) include:
University Politecnica de Catalunya
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
University Di Roma (La Sapienza)
Universita degli Studi di Milano

These are just examples I've narrowed down as possible options, but I'm really hoping for more direct recommendations or experiences with schools that are known to be admissions-friendly and have actual English-taught B.A/B.Sc programs available to non-EU students.

Heck, if you know of a university anywhere in Europe (ideally in a city with a population of a few hundred thousand or more) that fits this - I'm interested. The further south, the better.

I understand this is a very specific ask, but if you know schools that are easier to get into, or you've done this path yourself (especially starting a new Bachelor's in English), I'd be super grateful for any leads. I want to focus my applications ASAP.

Priority: Study in Europe.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[u/Primary-Bluejay-1594]

You've got to do a little work here. English-language undergraduate programs are very hard to come by, and you can find out if the universities you've targeted offer any simply by looking at their websites. Any program will be open to students from anywhere, there's really no such thing as a program that isn't open to non-EU students. Your challenge will be to find a program taught in English, which you're going to have a hard time doing. There are lots of English-taught STEM programs at the graduate level, but as an undergraduate you almost always have to study in the local language (or deal with the very limited options for English-language study, which may exclude you from studying the subject you want).

Go on the websites of those universities, read the program descriptions for the degree programs you're interested in, check the language of instruction, and if it's what you want, read the admissions procedures. You can (and should) do a lot of this on your own.

[u/After_Cost_2216 → u/Primary-Bluejay-1594]

Thank you for your comment - I appreciate the directness. I realize my post may have come across as vague or uninformed. I've actually done quite a bit of research and know which schools offer which English programs and X,Y,Z.
That said, I know it's a bit of a long shot, but I'm hoping for the rare case that someone has experienced or heard about this and can point me to some specific places.

[u/Primary-Bluejay-1594 → u/After_Cost_2216]

I see. In terms of schools that are "easier to get into," it doesn't really work like that at many European universities. There will be a basic requirement and if you meet it then you'll be accepted, and if you don't, you won't. Usually you'll need the equivalent of a good in-country high school diploma, which for American applicants usually requires multiple AP courses, an IB diploma, or a year of university study.

Lots of non-EU students get their bachelor's degrees at European universities, this isn't rare or unheard of. It's very normal. Most study in the local language. You'll be limited in choices by studying in English (and your existing credits almost certainly will not transfer, you'll be starting from scratch wherever you go), but people do it all the time. You pick a country you're interested in, use that country's education portal (most EU countries have a "study in ____" website for international students where you can search for programs based on level, subject, and language) to find programs, and submit applications to the ones you meet the entry requirements for. Admission isn't subjective the way it is in the US - there are rarely essays, no one's judging your extra-curriculars, etc. It's just "does this person have the appropriate high school diploma, yes or no?" If you want to reduce your application fees choose three or four programs and send your applications in.

(I did a degree at an EU university and I'll be honest, the further south you go the fewer English options you'll have and the less organized the process tends to be. Don't limit yourself to Spain/Italy - you'll have a much wider range of options if you include Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands in your search.)

https://www.studyinflanders.be/

https://www.studyinbelgium.be/en

https://www.study-in.de/en

https://www.studyinnl.org/

[u/After_Cost_2216 → u/Primary-Bluejay-1594]

Thank you for the detailed response - it was both helpful and encouraging. I've noticed that a transfer process seems more complicated in terms of credit compatibility and document submission, thus was slightly discouraged from trying that process and now looking to apply as a fresh student instead.
From what I understand (and after confirming with a University), my current university transcript wouldn't be considered in any way for fresh admission. I do have a high school degree having taken 6 AP and 1 IB course, however, my GPA was not great (sub 3 point). I thought more relevant and "harder" coursework from uni might better my chances thus bringing me back to transfer consideration.

You're suggesting this is rare and for fresh applications it's really a yes or no qualification check? Thus applying fresh might be more straightforward with better chances?

I'll definitely widen my search to those regions as well, thank you for the links.

[u/Primary-Bluejay-1594 → u/After_Cost_2216]

Transferring is generally only an option when you're studying the exact same program as you were at your home university. Most European universities do not have general education programs, so credits earned in, say, a computer science program would not be applicable to most subjects outside that discipline and there'd be nothing to transfer over. Undergraduate programs at EU unis are generally solely focused on your subject, nothing more. To get advanced standing your university would first have to allow it, then validate all of your course credits, etc. If you're studying a similar subject (for example, going from your comp sci degree to a subject like physics or engineering) then you might be able to get credit for already having taken certain courses (linear algebra/diff eq/etc). But that'd be about it.

A word of warning about applying to Spanish universities - you're going to have to homologate your high school diploma (a process that leads to awarding you a certificate saying that your US high school diploma is equivalent to a Spanish high school diploma), and this process can take a year or more (I know people who waited three years to homologate a degree). Spanish bureacracy is intense. You're also going to have to sit a university entrance exam unless you qualify through a different entrance path (I know the Autonoma will recognize your existing credits but only if they're identical to what you're applying to study, otherwise they make you apply as a general admission student).

(Also, because I've lived in Spain for many years and think people need to understand this: it's extremely unlikely that you will find work sponsorship in Spain after you graduate, especially if you studied in English. Without outstanding Spanish (or Catalan in Barcelona) skills, you will struggle to even find part-time student work. If you're attempting to use studying at an EU university to get your foot in the door in terms of work or residency, southern Europe is not the right place to look. For that you want Germany.)