With university fees rocketing, some savvy students are choosing to go further afield to study their dream subject at university.

We talk to one adventurous Chester student doing just that.

With her impressive A* and two Bs in drama, classics and philosophy, King’s School pupil Olivia McNee is heading to Maastricht University to study European Law.

A school assembly about studying abroad and lunch with a friend who had already decided to apply to institutions in Holland inspired 18-year-old Olivia to broaden her horizons too.

She says she has always wanted to travel, so it seemed a great way to experience another culture.

“I looked into universities abroad and found out that Holland was the best option for what I wanted to study and it was much cheaper than studying in the UK,” she said.

Wanderlust

“I also found that the law degree and career structure in UK universities were very narrow and I was not looking to go down such a strict route.

“I have always dreamed of travelling with my job and so having a degree that specialises in worldwide law was perfect for me.”

Olivia’s three-year course, which includes a semester abroad, teaches using interactive method problem-based learning (PBL).

She added: “It teaches with the method of PBL which means instead of sitting in a lecture hall with 200 other students listening to a professor, we are split into groups of 12 and given a problem prior to the meeting that we have to come up with ways to solve.

“It is a very interactive way of learning and something that I am very excited to be introduced to.

“Although the term times and holidays are a lot like high school in the UK, the cost and employment rates are very beneficial!”

Michael Rowland is trading the UK education system for that of the Netherlands'
Michael Rowland is trading the UK education system for that of the Netherlands'

Christleton High School's Michael Rowland is also upping sticks to the Netherlands, having achieved brilliant A Level results of one A* and two As.

Now Michael, from Hoole, is a proud undergraduate of the University of Amsterdam.

He said: "I started planning to go abroad 4 years ago when I realized that I would be saddled with debt if I went to a university in the UK.

"Growing up in the UK has given me an Anglo-centric view of the world.

"Being a part of of the Netherlands' education system will enable me to look at the world from a Dutch perspective.

"This will allow me to fulfil my ambition to become more globally aware. Additionally, the multicultural nature of Amsterdam, the city I have chosen to live in, will expose me to ideas from not just the Netherlands but from across the world."

Are you heading off to a far-flung destination to study too? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ChesterChron.