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While university fees continue to rise in many parts of the world, some of you might be thinking that getting a recognized degree qualication, either in your home
country or abroad, is simply impossible without having a four- or ve-gure budget at your disposal, or without obtaining a scholarship (/student-info/scholarship-
advice/scholarships-study-abroad).
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Youll be pleased to hear that this isnt necessarily the case! There are many countries worldwide where students are able to study abroad for free or for a very
aordable amount; you just need to know where to look.
Below youll nd a selection of countries that oer low-cost or free tuition, with details on eligibility and what current (low) university fees you can expect. To nd
internationally renowned universities in these countries, visit the QS World University Rankings 2018 (/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2018).
These low study costs, combined with Germanys strong economy and excellent higher education system, makes the prospect of undertaking study in Germany for
free extremely appealing for both students and their parents worldwide. Indeed, in a recent HSBC report on The Value of Education, Germany is among the top ve
countries in the world in terms of perceived quality of education among surveyed parents. More than 40 German universities are featured among the worlds
leaders in the QS World University Rankings again, beaten only by the US and UK with the highest place taken by Technische Universitt Mnchen
(/universities/technische-universit%C3%A4t-m%C3%BCnchen/).
There are, however, signs that studying in Germany for free will not be possible for much longer. The state of Baden-Wrttemberg in south-west Germany recently
announced plans to reintroduce tuition fees (/student-info/university-news/tuition-fees-reintroduced-some-german-universities) for non-EU students from autumn
2017, meaning non-EU students will be required to pay fees of around 1,500 (~US$1,600) per semester to study at universities in the state, such as Ruprecht-Karls-
Universitt Heidelberg (/universities/ruprecht-karls-universitaet-heidelberg).
If youre successful in nding a university at which to study in Germany for free, you will of course still need to budget for living costs. If you need a German student
visa, youll need to prove you have around 8,700 (~US$9,230) per year for living expenses.
Two of the top destinations for study in Germany, Munich (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/munich) and Berlin (/university-rankings-articles/qs-
best-student-cities/berlin), were also ranked within the top 20 most aordable cities to study in the QS Best Student Cities 2017 (/city-rankings/2017).
For more information on how to study in Germany for free, see the following articles:
France (/student-info/qs-guides/how-to-study-abroad-in-france) may not be quite as widely known as Germany for aordable higher education. But international
students may be surprised to hear that they can also study in France for free (or, at a very low cost), regardless of their nationality.
Although technically university fees do exist at public universities in France, theyre just a fraction of those charged in most countries, amounting to just 184
(~US$195) per year at undergraduate level to cover course administration. Additional charges can bring this price up, particularly for more specialized programs
such as medicine and engineering, but not dramatically. If youre looking to study at a leading grande cole (https://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-
study/europe/france/study-france-frequently-asked-questions), however, expect fees to vary widely.
As is the case in Germany, the majority of programs oering the chance to study in France for free are taught in the native language. However, there are a growing
number of opportunities to study in English, particularly at graduate level. Alternatively, you can also attend a preparatory school to perfect your French skills before
beginning your degree, but this youll have to pay for.
Living costs in France are also relatively aordable, amounting to around 9,600 (~US$10,180) per year, though you should expect to pay more if you choose to live
in capital city Paris (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/paris). According to Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?
country1=France&city1=Paris&country2=United+Kingdom&city2=London), cross-channel rival London eclipses Paris in all aspects of expense, with consumer prices
marked 25% higher and rental prices a whopping 69% higher than in Paris. The French capitals comparative aordability, combined with a huge selection of
internationally ranked universities, means it continues to rank within the top ve of the QS Best Student Cities (/city-rankings/2017) index.
Known for their high quality of life, stunning nature and liberal politics, Northern European nations (known as the Nordic countries) also boast some of the strongest
higher education systems in the world. Nordic nations Denmark (/where-to-study/europe/denmark/guide), Finland (/where-to-study/europe/nland/guide), Iceland
(/where-to-study/europe/iceland/guide), Norway (/where-to-study/europe/norway/guide) and Sweden (/where-to-study/europe/sweden/guide) all oer opportunities
to study free or at low cost:
In Norway, university study is available free of charge to all students, regardless of study level or nationality. The majority of undergraduate programs are taught
only in Norwegian, and international students need to demonstrate proof of prociency in Norwegian in order to study at this level. At masters and PhD level,
English language programs are far more common and free tuition still applies.
Denmark and Sweden only extend their free higher education perks to students from within the EU/EEA (https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea) and Switzerland, meaning that
students from outside these regions must pay tuition fees for bachelors and masters programs. PhD programs in both countries are fully funded, oering
exceptional PhD candidates the chance to gain their degree without paying fees, and earn a salary. Finland will soon join them in charging tuition fees to non-EU
students starting from autumn 2017, which will be a minimum of 1,500 (~US$1,600) per year.
In both Denmark and Sweden, international fees at bachelor and master levels varies. In Denmark, university fees range from between DKK 45,000 and DKK 120,000
(~US$6,420-17,115) annually, while in Sweden they fall between SEK 80,000 and SEK 140,000 (~US$8,730-15,270).
In Iceland, there are no tuition fees charged at the countrys four public universities, with only a registration fee of around 400 a year (~US$425).
But what about living costs? Well, this is the catch, as the costs of living in Northern Europe are among some of the highest in the whole of Europe (/where-to-
study/region/europe/guide). This is largely due to the healthy economy of the region overall and the strength of the Nordic currencies, so paying more for living
when the streets are clean and the people are happy perhaps isnt so bad! Four Nordic capitals have been ranked among the worlds top student cities: Copenhagen
(/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/copenhagen), Helsinki (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/helsinki), Oslo (/university-rankings-
articles/qs-best-student-cities/oslo) and Stockholm (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/stockholm).
What about other places to study in Europe for free or at a low cost? There are a number of Europe countries which oer aordable or free universities, without any
need to sacrice on quality. See below for more examples.
Austria
Another country where students can study in Europe for free (or at a very low cost) is Austria (/where-to-study/europe/austria/guide). EU/EEA students enjoy the
same rights as Austrians when it comes to the cost of higher education, and can study for up to two semesters for free at any degree level. After this time, students
pay a fee of just 363 (~US$385) per semester. International students from outside of the EU/EEA should expect slightly higher fees of around 726 (~US$770) per
semester. Living costs will set all students back approximately between 10,200-12,000 (~US$10,820-12,730) a year. Vienna (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-
student-cities/vienna), Austrias capital city, is ranked 16th in the QS Best Student Cities 2017 (/city-rankings/2017).
Belgium
There are two main language communities in Belgium (/where-to-study/europe/belgium/guide), each with their own stance on university fees. However, EU students
will pay a maximum of only 835 (~US$890) a year. And while its just EU students who get the major benets of being able to study in Europe for free, fees are still
very aordable for international students, ranging from 890 to a maximum of 4,175 (~US$940-4,430) per year. You can live in Belgium with a budget of around
11,400 (~US$12,100) a year. Brussels (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/brussels), the capital city, was ranked 45th in this years QS Best Student
Cities.
Czech Republic
Students who speak Czech are able to study abroad for free in the Czech Republic (/where-to-study/europe/czech-republic/guide) at any public university. Students
who wish to study in English can also study fairly cheaply, at around CZK 108,334 (~US$4,260) per year. Living costs are more aordable than in many countries in
Western Europe, at around CRK 106,900-229,070 (~US$4,200-9000) per year. The Czech capital city, Prague (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-
cities/prague), is ranked 30th in the QS Best Student Cities.
Greece
All students from within the EU/EEA are able to study abroad for free in Greece (/where-to-study/europe/greece/guide) at public universities and colleges, with the
exception of some masters programs. And if this doesnt sound like enough, you could also get your course textbooks for free! International students from outside
of the EU are also eligible for low-cost higher education, at approximately 1,500 (~US$1,600) per year. Greece oers one of the lowest costs of living in the
European Union.
Italy
Although private universities in Italy (/where-to-study/europe/italy/guide) can be known to charge fairly high tuition fees, public universities in Italy are markedly
cheaper, charging between 850 and 1,000 (~US$900-1,060) per year for undergraduate programs. EU students are eligible for the same funding opportunities as
Italian students, including loans, grants, scholarships and fee waivers. Living costs in Italy are also not as high as you might expect, at around 12,000-18,000
(~US$12,760- 19,145) per year. Milan (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/milan) is ranked 33rd in the most recent QS Best Student Cities, while capital
city Rome (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/rome) is 65th.
Spain
With the same education rights as Spanish students, EU students are not required to pay high education fees. International students, meanwhile, are able to study
in Spain (/student-info/qs-guides/how-to-study-abroad-in-spain) for between 680 and 1,400 (~US$720-1,500) per year at public institutions. Fees are charged on a
per-credit basis and can be higher at graduate level. To live in Spain you should expect to spend between 10,800 and 13,200 (~US$11,500-14,050) a year in living
costs. Madrid (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/madrid), Barcelona (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/barcelona) and Valencia
(/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/valencia) are all featured in the QS Best Student Cities 2017, with Barcelona the highest ranked at 23rd.
Argentina
While Argentinian students all enjoy access to free universities, international students should expect to pay a small, nominal fee to enroll at public universities in the
country. Private institutions in Argentina (/where-to-study/south-america/argentina/guide), on the other hand, can charge upwards US$5,000 a year. In the QS Best
Student Cities 2017, Argentinian capital Buenos Aires (/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/buenos-aires) is 42nd.
India
In India (/where-to-study/asia/india/guide), international students will typically pay tuition fees of no higher than US$7,300 a year, though private university and
graduate fees tend to be more expensive. Living costs in India are, for most students, likely to be very appealing according to Numbeo
(http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries_result.jsp?country1=India&country2=United+Kingdom), consumer prices are 187% cheaper than in the
UK, while rental prices are as much as 373% cheaper. Overall, you should be able to live comfortably on as little as US$5,000 a year.
Taiwan
Tuition fees in Taiwan (/where-to-study/asia/taiwan/guide) oer great value, with the nations top universities oering aordable programs. For example, National
Taiwan University (NTU) (/universities/national-taiwan-university-ntu/), the nations leading university at joint 68th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, last
year charged undergraduate students just TW$100,920-124,200 (~US$3,175-3,900) per year. In the QS Best Student Cities 2017, Taipei (/university-rankings-
articles/qs-best-student-cities/taipei) was ranked 16th in the world and 16th for aordability.
This article was originally published in March 2015. It was updated in December 2016.
Want more content like this? Register for free site membership (https://www.topuniversities.com/user/register) to get regular updates and your own
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Related categories: Germany, tuition fees, study abroad, Europe, France, Nordic countries, living costs
Lexi G, Bhanuprasad p & 164 others saved this
Laura is a former sta writer for TopUniversities.com, providing advice and guidance for students on a range of topics helping them to choose where to study, get
admitted and nd funding and scholarships. A graduate of Queen Mary University of London, Laura also blogs about student life.
196 Comments
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Hi, I am a Pakistani student currently graduating in commerce. I want to study in the UK for MBA program. is there any insirution which
Hi, I have a Dutch passport only speak English and would like to study free in Europe with cheap accommodation it seems Germany is the best option. I have a Diploma in Supply
Chain Management and would like to further my business learning in Supply Chain, learn Excel etc, learn Spanish. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Hi , I wanna know about this tuition free of fees in some Universities you have described above,I mean, in my case,I have a baccalaureate in science, and spend one year in the
local University(Antananarivo, Madagascar),but for now I want to pursue a study in Technology in a foreigner University,then I wanna know if I am eligible or qualify for any
program in any University in Europe? or even America
Hello, i am from Nigeria. I currently have Higher National Diploma (HND) in mass communication and I will like to know if I am qualify for any program in Europe and if there is
any chance of having a scholarship or an institution with a low tuition fee.
Hello!
I want to study in New Zealand about fashion designing as undergraduate.Which university over there can provide this course at aordable rates.
I want to study for free in Europe , if any one can help me to get approval at the university for
free , please contact me
Reply (/) Report
$ 0 " Share
Hello! I completed high school which is the 11-year course.So, can I apply to this university?
hi i'm abir from Tunisia . i got my licence in marketing recently .. and i want to complete my master degree abroad .. i've asked a lot of people and they've told that i only can
study at private universities and that's too expensive for me .. so i wanted to know if i can study at a public and cheap university , if yes than what are the universities to study
marketing masters ? thanks in advance :)
Hai I am abhay
Where could I send my daughter to study abroad for cheap. I have a budget of 5-8000 us dollars. Your help would be welcomed.
Hey .. I'm mohamed from algeria i had my baccalaureate this month and i want to go and study abroad ( i wanna be a pilot ) so any help ... any advices ..... thnx
Hello...I am Mehedi from Bangladesh. Currently I am on MBBS course in Dhaka Medical College. I want to do my post grad in medicine abroad in a reputed institution. Please give
a suggestion.
Hi, next year is my nal year in school, after graduating am looking for a free or a low tuition fee universities over Europe and my interest is electrical or mechanical engineering ,
i wish you could help , your regards
Hi, am Benazir from India. I have completed my UG as B.E computer science. I need to know which course i should take in a country with no tuition fees. Please help me with this.
Hello am Meble coming from Uganda .I nished my highschool in 2007 & got 19 points .Want to get a scholarship & do fashion & Design. Where can i nd such opportunity
because am coming from a poor family.Thax
Hi,
I am from Nigeria and have a Bachelor's Degree in Statistics. i am looking for an option to continue studying for my master degree in statistic or related course. Is there any
chance for me to get a scholarship to participate in master degree's programm in North America or Europe for free or at low cost.
Thanks.
Hello. I am from Uzbekistan, and I am graduating lyceum-high school in 1month and I really want to pursue my Bachelor degree abroad for free, as my parent cannot help me
nancially. I have passed an IELTS exam recently. So I have an IELTS certicate, B2-6.5. Thank you for your attention. Hope your help.
Hi,
I'm from North West Region of Cameroon. I left high school last year and haven't been able to school because I want to study abroad (Europe) but don't know how to go about
getting into a university in Europe and which will be less costly. Please I need your help Madame Laura
Hi there....
I am from India, and I have just passed high school ( grade 10). I want to get education in abroad for free coz I am not aordable to pay high fee...I request you to help me about
studying in any country. Thankyou
Hi Laura,
I'm working as an HR ocer in UAE for nearly 2 years I'm looking at studying further and obtaining a post graduate course in Human Resource Management Abroad can you
please assist me with some of the destination abroad where i can apply for Human Resource Management studies at an aordable price.
Hi Laura..
I got a spot in UTICA to study nursing, but I have to take a track course in health studies to qualify for nursing, but due to the Naira-dollar exchange rate, I wont be able to aord
their fees of 35, 000 dollars. Could you please help out with scholarships, or grants I could apply for, or any other way forward, so I can start the application process early. Thank
you.
Hi,
I am from Russia and have a Bachelor's Degree in English Philology. I've been working last year and now i am looking for an option to continue studying. Is there any chance for
me to get a scholarship to participate in Bachelor's programm in North America or Europe. I am interested in IT for choice.
Hello there
I am Nikola from Serbia. I'm currently a high school student graduating in this term and i was wondering what is the best place for me to study abroad? Due to very bad nancial
situation i am in, i am unable to fund any of my study expenses and since i'm not yet in EU, i can't nd any free option. Basically my question is...Is there any university providing
free studies AND living expenses (at campus or somewhere) for high performing students? EDIT: I am interested in IT sector specically Software Engineering
Hi; am muhindo moris from Uganda, i have an under graduate degree in development studies and i need to continue with studies in Europe especially England. where can i join
for free or at a low cost? However i have nancial challenges.
I'm looking for a university in New Zealand who gives courses in all kind of elds, for a cost less than 9000 NZD (international student)
Thank you
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