Is Forward College a good fit for you?

Choosing where to study is not only about rankings, locations, or course titles – a huge part of it is also fit. The kind that influences your everyday life, your motivation, and whether you enjoy the experience or just survive it. 

Forward College differs from traditional universities in many ways. It’s a more innovative approach to higher education, built around things like the flipped classroom, project-based learning, and even moving to a new country each year.

That’s why I wrote this “personality guide”, where instead of listing generic reasons to choose Forward, I’ll go deeper into what kind of person actually thrives here.

If this is you, you’ll probably love studying at Forward:

You’re curious
Not just about your major, but about exploring ideas across disciplines – how different fields overlap and influence each other. If you like asking why?, connecting ideas, and looking at problems from different angles, this is the place for you.

You like learning by doing
A lot of what we do is not traditional lectures or exams. It’s projects, collaborations, presentations, and real-world challenges. If you learn by trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again, this structure works in your favor. 

In year one we work on projects related to the sustainable development goals (SDG:s), and wicked problems. In year two, we create digital solutions, starting off the year with a bootcamp where we learn from industry professionals, then attending seminars giving us the tools and methods to develop our own projects. Year three is a consulting project with a randomly assigned partner. The challenge is dependent on each organization/company you are partnering with. 

You enjoy working with other people
A lot of projects and tasks are done in teams, and with classes of around 15 students, collaboration becomes part of your everyday learning. If you enjoy exchanging ideas and learning from the people around you, you’ll get a lot out of it. If you prefer working alone, this might be frustrating for you.

You’re open-minded
At Forward, you’ll constantly be exposed to different perspectives—academically and socially. With students from over 30 nationalities across the three cohorts, diversity is part of everyday life. If you enjoy hearing opinions that challenge your own, you’ll thrive in discussions and teamwork.

You adapt to new situations easily
Not only are you moving away from home, but you will also be moving to a different city in a different country with different cultures every year: from Lisbon to Paris, to Berlin. That means constantly adjusting to new environments, new routines, and new people. If you’re someone who finds that exciting rather than overwhelming, you’ll likely enjoy this aspect of Forward. 

On the other hand, Forward might not be the best fit for you if…

You want a traditional university experience
Amphitheater-style lectures, structured curriculum, minimal group work – Forward College is intentionally not that. Instead, seminars are intimate, with a maximum of 15 students, and follow a flipped classroom approach rather than a two-hour lecture. 

You dislike group work
You will work in teams. A lot. And not always with people who think like you. 

You’re only here for the degree
If your goal is just to get credentials with minimum friction, there are easier, more straightforward paths. Forward asks more from you – mentally and personally. 

You’re very risk-averse
Forward encourages you to make mistakes, and it’s a big part of learning. If you strongly avoid making mistakes or trying things without knowing the outcome, you might hold yourself back. 

You prefer long-term stability and familiarity
If you rely on routine, need time to feel settled, or find constant change draining, then moving countries every year can feel more exhausting than exciting. 

Remember

This is NOT a checklist where you need to tick off all the boxes yet. A lot of people develop these traits and skills while studying at Forward. It is not only about the person you are now, but also about the person you want to become.