Shared kitchens, 3 cities, zero fanfare: Inside the elite European university royals are flocking to

Spanning three European capitals, the forward-thinking university caps class sizes at 15 and has quickly become a magnet for royal families. Sofia, the 19-year-old daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, is currently enrolled in a degree in Politics and International Relations. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit’s 20-year-old son,  Prince Sverre Magnus, will join this autumn to study Business Management.

Unlike typical academic institutions, Forward College turns higher education into a pan-European journey. Sofía spent her freshman year in Lisbon, Portugal - where Prince Sverre Magnus will begin his studies in September. For her sophomore year, the Spanish royal is relocating to the Paris campus, before finishing her final year in Berlin, Germany. 

An international education

It's that opportunity to live and study in three different cities that Boris Walbaum, president and founder of Forward College, believes makes the university particularly appealing to royal families.

"I think one key element that really defines Forward College is that we are very international. We started as an international institution," Boris tells HELLO!. "It's not that we were a national institution that then became international. We started recruiting students from all over Europe first, and now from all over the world. I think people understand, and especially people in leadership positions, in politics and business also, understand that the issues that we are facing are international. And especially young people."

He adds that the college's international environment and its ability to offer students a "passport to the world" through its programs make Forward College "very, very attractive."

© Antoine Meyssonnier/Forward College

Apart from its international appeal, the school also prepares students for a rapidly changing world. "There is a lot of AI at Forward College. Whatever you study, if you study politics, if you study economics, psychology, you will learn about AI, how to use it, how it works and so on," Boris shares. "So I think this mixture makes students very well prepared to understand the problems that will occur or that are already occurring in the world, and being well-informed, being able to decipher this world and to act on it is a key responsibility when you end up in leadership positions."

Student experiences

The college, founded in 2021 by Boris, alongside founding partners Celine Boisson and Jeffrey Sampson, offers an intimate classroom setting, with just 15 students in each class.

"Every teacher at Forward College knows their students by name," the university president explains. "That sounds basic, but it rarely happens at traditional universities. It is something deeply valued by those who understand the power of personal connection."

The college's small size also means students feel accountable to one another. When it comes to high-profile students, questions around privacy and security naturally arise. Boris notes that "security is their responsibility" and the school collaborates, but ensures that "it's not detrimental" to other students.

"When you're in a small tight-knit community, students feel naturally accountable for one another," Boris says. "We haven't had issues with photos or privacy because people understand. When you join a university where you live, study, and travel across three countries together, you arrive with an open mind and a sense of responsibility toward your peers. At least that's what we see with our students."

© Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Despite their titles, royal students share the exact same day-to-day experience as their classmates.  In Paris, Lisbon and Berlin, the university partners with student residences to provide accommodation, including for Infanta Sofia during her first year in Portugal. "She was living with the other students, sharing her kitchen with other students, and that's part of the experience," Boris says. 

Living together and sharing kitchens is something Boris says all students, regardless of where they come from, "have to adjust to." He sees that as part of what makes the experience exciting, "because it's about being with people. It's about filling up belonging."

Relocating to a new European city each year offers a transformative experience. Boris recalls one student describing their time at the school as having lived "three different lives." The experience of studying in three countries "really transforms students because they need to adapt," Boris says, explaining: "It's not easy to start in a new country. You need to find your routines and to understand how the country works, how your environment works, where you can do your shopping and where you can have fun and so on and so forth. So they grow a lot out of that."

Students also gain greater autonomy, something Boris sees as "super important" for a generation that he describes as sometimes staying "a little bit too much at home and inside." They "go very much outside" and are "really good at communication" as they are trained in nonviolent communication, learning how to reach out to people they don’t know, connect with others and build trust.

"We really believe that in a highly technological world, but human skills - your ability to relate to others, communicate openly, and build trust - will always be super important," Boris says. "That is where our students show exceptional growth." 

By graduation, students have managed international projects, collaborated in cross-border teams, and integrated AI into their studies.

According to the university president, three-fourths of Forward College students go on to pursue a master's degree, with those who do enrolling at one of the top 15 universities or business schools in Europe. "I think that is a testament to the quality of what we do," Boris observes. "It's new. It's a different way of teaching, but it really works."

A royal-approved choice

Within the first five years of its founding, Forward College has already welcomed two royal students. For Boris, the speed at which the school has gained the attention of prominent families admittedly came as a surprise. But then again, the college has quickly begun to build a reputation.

For a university only five years old, attracting two high-profile European royals came as a welcome surprise - though Boris attributes the rapid traction to the school’s forward-thinking approach.

"Traditionally, you need a century of history to get on the radar of well-informed families," Boris admits. "But we've been able to accelerate that... To stand out, particularly to families with endless options, you have to be courageous enough to do things differently. Education has spent too long looking backwards at reputation and legacy. We are looking ahead, hence our name."

© Getty Images

Ultimately, Boris hopes Forward College becomes recognised not just for its royal ties, but for restoring a sense of joy to higher education. 

"Education doesn't need to be dull," Boris says. "When you ask adults about their university years, they usually remember them as the most exciting time of their lives. We want to make higher education deeply challenging, immensely rewarding, and above all, exciting again."

Forward College students begin their studies in Portugal.

The campus in Lisbon has learning spaces in Bairro Alto and Chiado.

In their second year, Forward College students study in Paris.

Students study and live at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris during their sophomore year.

The third and final year takes place in Berlin.