Your child fills in one Kastu application form, which allows them to apply at the same time to several programs at universities in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden or Finland – we recommend 2–5 programs.

The Kastu team reviews the application before submission – it checks the information and documents and submits the applications to the universities. The platform then sends the student e-mail and SMS reminders about key deadlines and a notification about every university message, including requests for additional documents or information. Reading those messages and acting on them is the student's part.

You will find the whole process here: Application process.

While studying abroad, your child will not be alone if help is needed. Universities have international student offices, student welfare and psychological support services, and many also have campus security services.

Before departure, it is worth getting a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives access to necessary public healthcare in other EU countries on the same terms as local residents. It is also worth considering whether additional insurance is needed.

The common emergency number 112 works throughout the European Union. Before departure, we recommend saving the contacts of the university, the housing provider and family members on your child's phone.

The key is not to predict every possible situation but to make sure the student knows where to turn and what to do if help is needed.

The first months in a new environment can bring both many new impressions and homesickness. This is a normal part of adapting, and it lasts a different amount of time for everyone. Listen without trying to solve every problem immediately. Agree how often you will be in touch, and stick to it. Encourage your child to take part in the university's introduction weeks and buddy programs.

Before departure, it is worth calmly going through the key practical points together:

• all university registration steps are completed and the admission letter is at hand;
• the identity document is valid, the EHIC card has been arranged and, if needed, additional insurance;
• the housing terms, the security deposit and the first payment date are clear;
• the trip is planned and it is clear how to get to the accommodation on arrival;
• the budget for the first months and a financial reserve are in place;
• the key contacts of the university, the housing provider and family are saved on your child's phone;
• the common EU emergency number 112 is known and you have agreed how often you will stay in touch at the start.

It is best to turn the preparation into a shared plan rather than a to-do list for parents. Discuss these points together, but the more practical things the student sorts out on their own before leaving, the more confident and independent they will feel on arriving in the new country.

Everything Kastu does is completely free: the application form, document review, motivation letter review and submission of the applications to the universities. Our work is funded by EU institutions, so there is no application fee, no admission fee and no hidden costs – from the first click to the first day at university, you never pay Kastu anything. If a document needs a certified translation, that is ordered from a professional translation service and paid separately.

Filling in the application form or receiving an admission letter does not in itself oblige anyone to go and study abroad. If your child changes their mind or chooses another university, it is important to inform the university as soon as possible. Applying through Kastu does not stop your child from applying elsewhere at the same time – the final decision on where to study can be made in the second half of summer, when the admission results and all available options are clear.