At first glance, choosing an executive course abroad seems like a decision about university, curriculum or diploma weight. What many people don’t appreciate is that the country ends up shaping almost everything around the experience.
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The pace of classes, profile of colleagues, type of networking outside the classroom and even the way you see your career and market change a lot depending on the chosen destination. And then the question arises: take an executive course in the USA or Europe?
The answer will depend on what exactly the professional is looking for, whether a more intense experience connected to large business and innovation centers, cultural diversity, international circulation, more fluid adaptation in daily life, among other aspects.
In recent years, European destinations such as Portugal, Spain and Italy have also started to gain space among Brazilians interested in executive training outside the country. Each for different reasons.
Studying in the USA or Europe: what type of professional experience are you looking for?
On an executive course, the city, classmates, teachers, nearby companies and even the pace of life also help shape learning.
International executive education rankings, such as those from the Financial Times and QS Executive, show that both American and European schools remain among the most recognized in the world.
In the United States, the experience tends to be more accelerated and connected to the country’s business culture. Cities like New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Boston are home to companies, investors, universities and ecosystems linked to finance, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
For those looking for contact with competitive markets, large-scale businesses and a more direct approach to networking, the country tends to offer intense immersion.
In Europe, the proposal is different, focusing on business schools in centers such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon and Milan. But the strength of the experience also lies in the multicultural coexistence.
In many programs, the student shares space with professionals from different countries and backgrounds. This favors more diverse discussions about management, leadership, international markets and different ways of doing business.
As for the language, the requirement appears since the selection process in the United States. As the programs are entirely taught in English and the corporate environment is highly dynamic, adaptation tends to be more immediate for those who are already fluent.
In Europe, the situation is more flexible. Although local languages are preserved outside the university, most executive courses and international postgraduate programs are offered in English. Still, the local language greatly influences everyday life, especially outside the academic environment.
Portugal, Spain and Italy: why these destinations gained popularity among Brazilians
These three countries began to attract different profiles of Brazilian executives, combining academic specializations, business environments and different levels of cultural and professional adaptation.
| Country | Focus | Advantages | Some highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Technology, startups and digital business. | Most comfortable gateway to the experience due to the language. | Nova School of Business and Economics; Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics |
| Spain | Global business, international management and connection between European and Latin American markets. | Contact with multinationals and international networking; language closest to Portuguese. | IESE Business School; IE Business School |
| Italy | Design, luxury, fashion and industry. | More cultural immersion; exposure to creative and industrial sectors outside the technology and finance axis. | SDA Bocconi School of Management |
Visa and bureaucracy
The legal procedures also change a lot depending on the chosen destination.
In the United States, the process tends to be more rigorous and centralized. For long-term courses, the student normally needs to receive form I-20 from the institution, issued by schools authorized to enroll international students. With this document in hand, it is possible to start applying for the F-1 visa, the most common category for foreign students.
The process in the USA still involves filling out the DS-160 form, paying the SEVIS fee and in-person interview at the American consulate or embassy. In many cases, financial proof must demonstrate the ability to cover practically the entire study period.
In Europe, processes vary depending on the countrybut they normally undergo formal enrollment at the institution, international health insurance and application for long-term national visas, generally known as a D visa. In Portugal, for example, Brazilian students usually apply for a D4 visa while still in Brazil, normally through service centers linked to the Portuguese consulate. In addition to the university acceptance letter, the process usually requires proof of accommodation, subsistence and travel insurance.
In Spain, you must apply for the Visado de Estudios directly at the Spanish consulates. For courses longer than six months, the student must subsequently issue the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE), a temporary residence document requested in the country.
Italy often adds bureaucratic steps. In addition to the study visa requested in Brazil, the student may need to present the so-called Dichiarazione di Valore, a document issued by Italian representations to validate foreign diplomas and academic records. It is also common to require a Permesso di Soggiorno, a temporary residence permit that must be requested within the first few weeks of staying in the country.
