Student Associations
Also have a look at our academic partners.
What is an international student organisation?
An organisation run by students from various countries, usually also for students. Characteristic for these organisations is that they are non-profit organisations, and are not linked to any political party. Also typical for an international student organisation is that it has networks all over Europe by being active in numerous academic cities and European countries. They are in the first place mobilising students to study abroad. Second, they create possibilities to make studying abroad easier for students. For example, by giving information and organising activities in Europe like study trips, projects, summer and training courses.
What can they offer you?
When you are interested in studying abroad, the first thing you need is good information. International student organisations can help you with this by informing about different exchange or international programs. When your exchange program is chosen, the next step is helping you with practical matters like accommodation etc. During your stay abroad, international student organisations can also help you integrate in local community by participating in different activities.
Next to studying in another country, another possibility is joining a board. Working together with students from all over Europe gives you the possibility to develop or strengthen your social-, leadership-, (project) organising-, finance or marketing skills. These skills are very valuable for your future career!
Joining an international student organization also broadens your interpersonal world. Not only by taking many of the possibilities that they offer you, but also through the experiences that come along with it. Think about new friendships from all around Europe you build up, or how learning more about specific cultures in Europe brings forth more respect and appreciation among each other.
Our Student Partners
Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe (AEGEE) is one of the biggest interdisciplinary student associations in Europe. It represents 13.000 European students ranging geographically from the Canary Islands to continental Russia.
In order to really promote international co-operation and to avoid creating any physical or mental borders, AEGEE does not recognise any national level or national administration in its unique organisational structure.
Through its activities, AEGEE empowers students and young people in Europe to take an active role in society. It creates a space for dialogue and learning opportunities as well as act as their representative towards decision-makers. AEGEE strengthens mutual understanding among young Europeans and brings Europe closer to young people.
AEGEE is a secular, non-profit organisation, not linked to any political party. All projects and activities are based on voluntarily work of its members.
Visit www.aegee.org for more information.
Electrical Engineering Students’ European Association is an apolitical, non-governmental and non-profit organization which targets and trains through its activities students from electrical profile Universities, Institutes and Technical Schools in Europe.
EESTEC has 44 local committees in 25 countries and 57 universities across Europe with 3000 members and indirectly, EESTEC is addressing all students in the faculties that EESTEC exists.
EESTEC’s main goal is to promote, establish and develop international contacts and an exchange of ideas between students in electrical profile faculties. The activity of this organization relies on the skills, enthusiasm, openness and will of involvement of its members, also pursuing their professional development, the improvement of their technical knowledge and reaching their full potential. Moreover, students from all Europe meet and respect their differences and their cultures, and this empowered variety results in a friendly international environment and creates awareness for a common European identity. Please visit our web page www.eestec.net and find more information about our organization.
EFPSA, the European Federation of Psychology Students’ Association is established in 1987, which the first International Congress of Psychology Students in Portugal and now consists of 28 psychology students’ organisations of 28 European countries.
Stimulated by its mission, vision and values, EFPSA attracts more and more students every year, with the number of its members increasing and so far represents approximately 300.000 psychology students across Europe.
EFPSA is a multicultural and colourful network of European psychology students´ associations, run on a voluntary basis by and for psychology students of Europe. Its mission is to represent the needs and interests of the European psychology students, to promote the scientific cooperation and cultural exchange between them and enhance their mobility.
Its aim is to be a reliable and widely acknowledged representative of the European Psychology Students, including students themselves, psychologists, institutions, and professional organisations of national and European level.
EGEA is the European Geography Association which forms a network around Europe and supports young geographers in discovering their potential as young scientists. The association offers opportunities for personal development through: facilitating the exploration of European countries, exposing its members to different cultures, and providing the chance to make new friends, as well as to establish a European network.
EGEA organizes numerous geography-related activities throughout the year such as congresses, exchanges, seminars, training events, expeditions, and excursions, which all offer complementary and alternative learning opportunities to the more traditional “formal” geographic education we are used to. EGEA’s activities vary in scientific and recreational content, and they are founded in the spirit of respecting the principles of equality, diversity and non-discrimination.
Additionally, EGEA actively contributes towards strengthening geography’s position in society by promoting the discipline through its organisational network and strategic partnerships.
ELSA (The European Law Students’ Association) is an international, independent, non-political, non-profit-making organisation run by and for students. It is comprised of students and recent graduates who are interested in academic and personal excellence in addition to their studies at their universities. ELSA offers law students a perfect platform to develop their existing skills, acquire new skills and meet fellow students and legal professionals throughout Europe.
Five law students from Austria, Hungary, Poland and West Germany founded ELSA in 1981. Today ELSA is the world’s largest independent law students association and it is represented at nearly 300 law faculties in 42 countries across Europe with membership in excess of 30 000 students and young lawyers.
ELSA-activities comprise a large variety of academic and professional events that are organised to fulfil the vision of ELSA and in order to provide our members opportunities to enhance their skills and to interact with each other. Furthermore ELSA provides its members opportunities to develop their skills through our traineeship programme as well as through our publications. Finally working in the ELSA-network prepares active members of ELSA for their professional life through international experience gained through the association.
Association for all students and graduates of Erasmus Mundus Master and Docotoral Programmes.
Over 15,000 bright international students have taken part in the Erasmus Mundus programme from 2004 to 2013. Almost 9,000 of them are members of the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA)!
EMA serves as a channel of communication for students, alumni, universities and the European Commission. It is run by its dedicated members who form the EMA Steering Committee.
EMA members are ambassadors of the Erasmus Mundus. They share the idea of international education and spread the message around the world. Since its foundation EMA members have initiated or taken part in over 150 fairs, information seminars and promotional activities worldwide, using the promotional materials of EMA.
EMA offers an international professional and personal network for Erasmus Mundus students and graduates. The members can join the professional networksand service teamsto network and become active within the Association. Jobs board and a special entrepreneurship section are also offered to the members.
Through Programme Representatives and Regional Chapters EMA enables the potential Erasmus Mundus applicants to get in touch with the current students and graduates to receive a piece of advice and recommendations based on the experience of previous generations.
Stay updated about EMA and join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube!
Do you want to be a part of a network of European medical students aimed at facilitating European integration while promoting training, activities and projects related to health across Europe? Then EMSA is the place for you!
EMSA’s network and platform encourages medical students from various countries in geographical Europe to actively engage in matters relating to personal development, healthcare and general societal wellbeing.
European Medical Students Association is an enthusiastic volunteer-based organization advocating and representing the voice of all medical students of geographical Europe. EMSA was founded in 1991 in Brussels, by medical students for medical students.
Ourmain pillars include: Medical Education, Medical Science, Ethics and culture, European Integration and Public health.
Ourgoalis to implement solutions that highly value personal input, local autonomy and regional characteristics, but also facilitate international cooperation, multidisciplinary dialogue and cultural understanding.
EMSA also cooperates with student organizations and other organizations representing the medical profession to promote the highest standards in various aspects of societal wellbeing.
For more information about us:
Official website: http://www.emsa-europe.eu/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/emsa.europe
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a non-profit international student organisation. Our mission is to represent international students, thus provide opportunities for cultural understanding and self-development under the principle of Students Helping Students.
We are 13.500 members from over 460 local sections in 37 countries working on a volunteer base in Higher Education Institutions. We offer annually our services to over 180.000 students.
ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels, and providing an intercultural experience also to those students who cannot access a period abroad (“internationalisation at home”).
The main focus of ESN is placed on exchange students, who often face problems in their new environments. Therefore ESN offers help in academic, social and practical integration process. This is mainly done through activities in the local sections, which include cultural and social events such as trips to various places within the country, film nights, buddy group and language projects and international food fests and last, but not least, parties.
EPSA The European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association is a non-profit, non-political organization that represents around 160,000 pharmacy students in 32 European countries. The association has a Permanent Office in Brussels at the offices of the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) and is run and shaped by pharmacy students from all over Europe through their national students’ associations.
EPSA’s main goal is to bring European students, faculties and industry together throughout international projects, exchanges and initiatives. We strive toward professional projects and events that include all three key partners in the process of ideas, planning and realization.
Flagship projects of EPSA are concerning mobility and education and they follow a dynamic needs of our members. Existence of pan-European association is making possible for European healtcare advocacy to happen from pharmacy students’ perspective in addition to strong mobility and educational base. With 4 events a year, ranging from summer leisure, symposia and trainings to Annual reception in the European Parliament, EPSA is an organisation close to its members, aiming to include students of all educational levels, countries and affinities making possible for European students and professionals to meet, share knowledge and ideas.
For complete and newest information please visit our website www.epsa-online.org or follow us on facebook and twitter.
The organization known as ESTIEM (European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management) was created to increase communication and cooperation between students and institutions of technology in Europe within the field of Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM).
The IEM concept rests on the integration of technological understanding and management skills. The studies provide analytical capacities, engineering knowledge and practical management experiences, which make IEM students valuable since they are able to do business while understanding the underlying technology. As the demand for internationalization is constantly growing in the uniting Europe, young people with both a European orientation and experience will be most needed.
ESTIEM is the only Europe-wide organization of IEM and represents today through its 62 member groups over 45,000 students in 25 countries. Founded in 1990, it aims at establishing and fostering interrelations among students of IEM. Multinational project teams organize a wide scope of Europe-wide activities such as exchanges, conferences, case competitions, lectures and workshops. This makes ESTIEM a unique network connecting people with different cultural backgrounds and experiences.
EUROAVIA is the European Association of Aerospace Students, and was established in 1959. Since then, its main goal is to bring all students who are passionate about the aerospace field together, create links between them, broaden their horizons and provide them with unique experiences. Nowadays, it represents the interests of over 2000 students from 42 universities in 18 European and non-European countries. The association also serves as a bridge between them, universities and companies. Being a non-political, non-profit association, EUROAVIA is managed exclusively by students with its various activities being entirely financed by membership fees and sponsorships. Particular projects and events are funded by external partners and additional participation costs.
Every year, various activities are organized throughout Europe and are divided in two categories, local and international. EUROAVIA’s Local Groups are responsible for the organization of the local events: visits, workshops, lectures, etc. Similarly, the International Board coordinates the association’s greatest activities: Fly-Ins, training programs (FoWo & TNT), Congresses (EMEAC & AMEAC), Symposia, aerospace-related contests (ACC), and airshow presences.
EUROAVIA keeps expanding day-by-day with a sole objective: to ensure the growth and evolution of the aerospace field.
For more information, have a look at their website http://euroavia.eu/
IAAS, International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences, is a by students operated worldwide organization that connects students in the field of agriculture from all over the world.
Our aim is to exchange knowledge and connect students who share a common interest in agriculture on a global scale. We hope to create a better understanding of new technologies and approaches, globalised processes as well as emerging challenges.
To achieve our aim, exchange weeks, seminars and other activities are organised on a regional, national or international level throughout the year. Our biggest event is the annually held World Congress. During those events, local research institutes and companies related to agriculture are visited and field trips organised. Enriched with lectures and discussions amongst ourselves and experts, participants get a unique and interesting insight to the world outside our universities.
Another big project we undertake to show students a possible work environment is our Exchange Program. We provide internships for students on farms or at research institutes all over the world. This is a unique possibility to see agriculture outside of their home country.
For further information take a look at http://www.iaasworld.org
IFISO (Informal Forum of International Student Organisations) is an informal forum for international officers of pluralistic, “non-political” and not-for-profit international (worldwide, European, etc.) student-run organizations.
IFISO is an international network of global or European Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). IFISO provides a platform for these NGOs to share best practices, but also to pursue common aims, often by cooperating through inter-organisational projects on a European level.
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) is a non-partisan and non-profit organization recognized as one of the oldest and largest student-run organizations in the world. IFMSA was established in 1951 after the end of World War II to serve as a platform for unity, collaboration and peace among medical students.
IFMSA has a broad representation of national member organizations from more than 100 countries across the continents of the world and working in close relation with several non-governmental organizations from all over the world. IFMSA holds two biannual meetings, general assemblies, in March and August yearly, as well as yearly Regional Meetings.
IFMSA is officially recognized by the UN and the WHO as the international voice for medical students and is invited to annual conferences organized by the various UN agencies. Most notably IFMSA is invited to participate at the World Health Assembly organized by the WHO to represent the views of the future physicians when it comes to international health concerns. Core activities of IFMSA focus on a several main areas, such as public health, human rights, medical education, reproductive health including HIV/AIDS. In addition to this, IFMSA together with national members organise worldwide professional and research exchanges for medical students. In total more than 13.000 medical clerkships around the globe are done every year.
Vision: A world in which all medical students unite for global health and are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to take on health leadership roles locally and globally.
Mission: IFMSA unites medical students worldwide to lead initiatives that impact positively the communities we serve. IFMSA represents the opinions and ideas of future health professionals in the field of global health, and works in collaboration with external partners. IFMSA builds capacity through training, project and exchanges opportunities, while embracing cultural diversity so as to shape a sustainable and healthy future.
IFSA is a non political, non religious and non for profit organisation that has developed in the last 35 years to its current status as a worldwide organisation bringing together forestry students from all over the world in a wide spectrum of activities.
Their vision is for global cooperation among students of forest sciences in order to broaden knowledge and understanding to achieve a sustainable future for our forests, and to provide a voice for youth in international forest policy processes.
Their mission is to provide a platform for students of forest sciences to enrich their formal education, promote cultural understanding by encouraging collaboration with international partner organisations and to gain practical experiences with a wider and more global perspective. Through its network, IFSA encourages student meetings, enables participation in scientific debates, and supports the involvement of youth in decision making processes and international forest and environmental policy.
The International Pharmaceutical Students´ Federation (IPSF) was founded in 1949 by eight pharmacy student associations in London. The Federation now represents approximately 350,000 pharmacy students and recent graduates in 70 countries worldwide. IPSF is the leading international advocacy organisation for pharmacy students promoting improved public health through provision of information, education, networking, and a range of publications and professional activities.
IPSF initiatives focus mainly on the areas of public health and pharmacy education and professional development. Initiatives include public health campaigns, research on issues in pharmacy education and workforce development, the Student Exchange Programme, organising international and regional congresses and symposia, and publication of the IPSF News Bulletin, Newsletter and educational supplement Phuture.
IPSF holds Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), Operational Relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Roster Consultative Status with the Economic Social Council of the United Nations (UN ECOSOC). IPSF works in close collaboration with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). The IPSF Secretariat is supported and hosted by the FIP in The Hague, The Netherlands.
For more information about IPSF visit www.ipsf.org or contact us at ipsf@ipsf.org.
IPSF on social media: facebook.com/IPSForg | twitter.com/IPSForg | youtube.com/IPSForg
IVSA was founded in 1951 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
The mission of IVSA is to to benefit the animals and people of the world by harnessing the potential and dedication of veterinary students to promote the international application of veterinary skills, education and knowledge.
The way in which this is achieved is by arranging annual meetings (congresses and symposia), running permanent projects, facilitating exchanges and publishing a quarterly newsletter.
JADE is an umbrella organisation of more than 280 student-run businesses across 200 universities in 15 European countries. Following the motto “learning-by-doing”, our students bridge the gap between academia and real business world. By running non-profit SMEs and being social entrepreneurs, the students turn over 16 million euro per year and involve more than 20.000 peers, thus leaving a significant impact on the local and national business world.
JADE is not just a network of junior entrepreneurs; it is a business network of Junior Enterprises. “To do business” is the highest purpose connecting the Junior Enterprises in Europe. “Fostering entrepreneurship” is the next.
21% of the alumni of JADE Network open their own business within 3 years after graduation. 60% find better job opportunities than their peers´ average.
If your University has a Junior Enterprise and you want to experience putting academic theory into practice, managing clients, implementing projects, contributing to the business strategy, meeting up with junior enterprises from all around the globe and taking business decisions, then prepare for the recruitment process! In case your University still does not yet have a Junior Enterprise and you are willing to be the founder of one, contact JADE Headquarters in Brussels and you will receive support.
Visit www.jadenet.org for more information and to see what they can do for you.
