Have you given up on your hopes of studying abroad because of the exorbitant cost involved? Wait! Before you drop your ambition of studying abroad simply because you think it is too expensive, do you know you can study in Europe on a shoestring budget? This article uncovers affordable European Countries where you can study without breaking the bank.
Switzerland
Switzerland has proved to be a popular destination for international students because of its long tradition of educational excellence. The first university in the country was founded in 1460 at Basel. Switzerland is home to some of the best universities in the world as universities in the country rank among the top universities in the QS World University Rankings.
Public Universities in Switzerland are funded by the Government and as a result, tuition is more affordable in Switzerland compared to other European countries. Tuition fees are the same for all students irrespective of their nationalities or whether they’re EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA students. Also, international students on exchange programmes don’t pay any tuition fees.
After completing their programmes, students are allowed to stay back in the country for six months to look for jobs and they get work visas if they could secure a job within this time frame.
Sweden
Sweden is a Nordic country where it is cheap to study. It’s a great destination for international students not only because it’s cheap, but because a wide variety of programmes and courses are taught in English.
Education is free in Sweden for students from the EU/EEA, other Nordic countries, and Switzerland. Public universities in Sweden offer tuition-free Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes for EU/EEA & Switzerland citizens. PhD programmes are free for all students, regardless of their country of origin.
Tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA vary depending on their universities, courses, and programmes. Non-EU/EEA International students can expect to pay between 7,500 – 25,500 EUR/year for a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme. There are also a lot of scholarships and funding options for international students.
Germany
Germany is one of the best European destinations for international students from around the world. Germany has an enviable history of university education. In fact, Research Universities started in Germany when the concept was first introduced in the 19th century. Since then, countries around the world have adopted that model and we now have many research universities around the world. German Universities rank among the best universities in the world.
Most public universities in Germany are tuition-free. They don’t charge students for any tuition fees regardless of their nationality. Students only have to cover their living costs, like accommodation, food, transport, and so on.
The cost of living in Germany is quite affordable. The average living costs for students range between 700 – 1,000 EUR/month. This is another huge benefit of studying in Germany.
Ireland
Located in north-western Europe, Ireland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is the second-largest island of the British Isles and the third-largest island in Europe. Ireland is a warm and friendly country with many cosmopolitan cities and a lot of history.
Irish Universities offer first-class education and no wonder why thousands of international students flock to the Island country to study each year.
In Ireland, tuition is free for undergraduate programmes for citizens of Ireland and students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. However, EU/EEA students are required to pay tuition fees that range from 3,000 to 30,000 EUR each academic year for postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) programs.
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students range between 9,850 – 55,000 EUR/year for Undergraduate courses and 9,950 – 35,000 EUR/year for Postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) courses.
All international students (both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA citizens) are required to pay a student contribution fee of maximum 3,000 EUR/year for student services, like examination entries and support for clubs and societies. The fee varies from one university to another, and it can change every year.
The Irish government is committed to supporting students, and to attract international students, hundreds of scholarship and funding programmes are made available.
Italy
Italy has an impressive history of university education. The oldest university in Europe is the University of Bologna and it was established in 1088. It is almost 1,000 years old. Bologna is also the name of the process adopted by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to create a more coherent system of education among European countries. This process promotes European higher education on a worldwide scale in order to increase its international competitiveness.
Italian universities’ tuition fees are incredibly more affordable compared to other western European countries. Students from the EU/EEA countries don’t pay more than 4,000 EUR per year, and it could be way less than that. Non-EU/EEA citizens enjoy almost the same tuition rates as EU/EEA students but in some cases, they could pay more.
Scholarships and funding opportunities are also available to international students. Most scholarships in Italy are offered by the government or by the universities.
The overall living costs for international students in Italy range between 700 and 1,000 EUR/month. These include accommodation, food, public transportation, etc.
Poland
Poland is one of the best European Countries to study if you are on a budget. Public universities in Poland are tuition-free for Polish, EU/EEA & Switzerland students for programmes taught in Polish. Other programmes require students, especially international students to pay between 500 – 6,000 EUR/academic year for Bachelor’s degrees and 1,000 – 8,000 EUR/academic year for Master’s degrees.
Poland is an affordable European country to live in. Living costs in the country are low. Living costs for international students could be 350 – 550 EUR/month. Larger cities such as Krakow or Warsaw could be a bit expensive.
Holland/Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country of stunning landscapes with fields of tulips and rows of windmills. Studying in the Netherlands is becoming more popular among international students because there is growing number Dutch universities offering English-taught programmes and about 90% of the Dutch population speaks English.
In the Netherlands, tuition is not free and all students irrespective of their countries or whether they are from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, or Surinam are required to pay tuition fees. In general, all students enjoy low tuition fees and affordable living costs. However, students from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and Surinam often pay lower tuition fees than non-EU/EEA students.
The average tuition fees for EU/EEA students range between 1,040 and 2,083 EUR/year for Bachelor’s programmes and 1,070 and 2,083 EUR/year for Master’s programmes. While non-EU/EEA international students pay between 6,000 and 15,000 EUR/year for Bachelor’s programmes and 8,000 and 20,000 EUR/year for Master’s programmes.
There are also a good number of Public Dutch universities that are extremely affordable for international students. Tuition fees in these universities are about 2,200 EUR/year.
Apart from low tuition fees, there are various scholarships and other funding opportunities offered by Dutch universities and many local and international organizations.
Cyprus
Cyprus may not be well-known among international students but it is gradually becoming popular as one best study destinations in Europe as many students from around the world are moving to Cyprus to complete a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree.
Cyprus offers affordable and high-quality education with all its universities offering English-taught programs. Tuition fees in Cyprus university are between 3,400 and 8,000 EUR per year and some scholarship opportunities are available to students.
Cyprus universities have cheap accommodation and attractive facilities. Most universities and colleges have their own dormitories and accommodation costs around 150 EUR per month.
France
France is definitely one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Famous for its world-renowned landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame Cathedral, France attracts millions of visitors each year.
France is gradually becoming a popular study destination among international students. Recently, both public and private universities in France have increased the number of English-taught programmes for Master’s and Bachelor’s students, to attract more international students. There are over 1,500 courses taught in English and the number is growing every year.
French universities offer very affordable tuition fees. EU/EEA students don’t pay more than 800 EUR per academic year for all study programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Students from outside the EU/EEA countries pay more tuition fees than EU/EEA students but tuition is generally less expensive in France compared to other European Countries.
Austria
Located in the heart of Europe, Austria is a beautiful country that places a premium on offering quality higher education. With a low crime rate and a high standard of living, Austria is one the best countries to live in the world. This is a huge benefit to international students looking to study in Austria.
Education is free in Austria for students from EU/EEA and Switzerland. Tuition in Austrian universities costs about 1,500 EUR/academic year for non-EU/EEA students. Also, many public Austrian universities waive tuition fees for international students from developing countries.
There is a range of study grants and scholarships available to international students.
Turkey
Uniquely located between the east and the west, Turkey has a unique blend of cultures and people. It is also one of the best destinations for international students and holidaymakers from around the world.
Turkey has a well-established educational system that is friendly towards intentional students. There are over 600,000 international students studying in 207 universities across the country. Turkish Universities are among the best in the world and many courses are taught in English at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Tuition fees and the cost of living are low in Turkey and yet the quality of education is still high. Scholarships are also available that cover not only tuition fees but accommodation, insurance, and travel costs.
Norway
Education is cheap and affordable in all the Scandinavian countries. But Norway is a country in the Scandinavia where Eduction is Free. Most Public universities in Norway do not charge any tuition fees and this applies to international students regardless of their country of origin.
Norwegian universities offer tuition-free programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Another reason to study in Norway is that a good number of degree programmes and courses are taught in English and there are a lot of locals who are proficient in English.
Norway is a beautiful country located in the northern part of Europe borderd by Sweden, Finland, and Russia on the east. It has a lot of natural beauty and stunning scenery. Norway has a population of just over 5 million, with Oslo its capital and the largest city, having a population of about 620,000 inhabitants.
Spain
Spain is a beautiful country with a long history and it’s known for its architecture, food and wonderful climate.
Apart from being one of the best tourist destinations in Europe, Spain is also a popular choice for foreign students seeking high-quality university education at a moderate cost. The Western European country offers many courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Spanish public universities like the University of Barcelona, the Complutense University of Madrid, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid rank among the best in the world. Spain has 53 universities in the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
In Spain tuition costs between 150 – 3,500 EUR/year for Bachelor’s programmes and 300 – 3,500 EUR/year for Master’s programmes. However, non-EU/EEA students pay around 1,000 – 1,500 EUR more for tuition than EU/EEA citizens. Generally, most international students don’t pay more than 4,000 EUR per year to study in Spain.
There are a number of scholarships and funding options available to international students.
The average living costs for international students range between 700 – 1500 EUR/month depending on the cities students choose to live in. Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive Spanish cities.
Hungary
Hungary is a beautiful county known for its striking scenery, sophisticated food, and its thermal water springs.
Hungary is becoming increasingly popular among students because it offers top-quality education at very affordable costs. This is why over 28,000 international students from all over the world choose to study in Hungary each year. The country has invested heavily in higher education to attract international students.
With low tuition and living costs, it’s easy to see why a lot of international students are moving to study in Hungary. International students pay between 1,200 and 5,000 EUR per year for most study programmes at public universities.
The average student living costs in Hungary range between 375 and 700 EUR depending on the students’ spending habits, type of accommodation, and the cities they live in. Budapest the capital city is the most expensive city in Hungary and it hosts some of the country’s most well-known universities, including Eötvös Loránd University, Corvinus University of Budapest, and Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
There are a handful of scholarships and funding options to help student reduce their study costs and living expenses.
Finland
Finland is a Nordic country located in northern Europe between Sweden and Russia. Finland has a population of over 5.5 million inhabitants. It’s a warm and friendly country with a low crime rate, making it a peaceful and safe country to live in.
Finland’s educational system is designed to attract international students with over 500 English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. Over 20 000 international students are studying in different universities across the country.
Tuition is free in Finland for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Non-EU/EEA students International students are required to pay tuition fees for English-taught programmes. However, programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish are free for all international students. Also, Exchange and PhD programmes are tuition-free.
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students range from 5,000 to 15,000 EUR per year. A number of scholarships and funding options are available for international students looking to study in Finland.
Studying abroad is a great accomplishment that gives a life-changing experience, but it also comes with some high costs. We hope you will find an ideal study destination in Europe you can afford.
Looking to Study Abroad? Worldwide Integrated Network and Education helps Nigerian students get into academic institutions of their choice abroad for High School, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate programmes. You can reach out to our team of Certified Admission and Immigration Consultants via email: info@winenetedu.com for more information.