You can consider yourself lucky if you can afford to pay an estimated annual expense of around £ 20,000 to study in Europe. If you can’t afford such an investment, but you can somehow land a scholarship, you should also count yourself fortunate. But if your urge to study in Europe is still there, yet you don’t have the money or a scholarship, then what do you do? Just give up?
No! Don’t give up ever! In Europe, you can still follow your heart. The truth is, you do not get to go to Cambridge or Oxford. In Europe, you’ll have to go to some cheaper but top institutions. So, here’s a list of the top 16 affordable countries to study abroad in Europe where you can earn a respectable university degree.
1. The Netherlands
One of the many European countries that offer one of the cheapest tuition fees you can think of is the Netherlands. Unlike Norway, for international students, tuition is not free, and every academic year they will have to pay a certain amount of money. But not as much as can be obtained in most European developed countries.
Although the cost of studying in the Netherlands is really inexpensive, students who come from the EU/EEA or Suriname are given preference. Costs usually range from EUR 700 to 2,100 per academic year and are affected by the type of university where you study, the discipline, and the type of degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D.). Radboud University, Twente University, and Utrecht University are the most affordable Dutch universities.
2. Germany
In most parts of Germany, international students can enjoy access to tuition-free universities. Average tuition fees are as low as EUR 260 in the few German regions that charge tuition fees, such as Munich. For the student union, an additional mandatory fee of EUR 32 – 64 is expected each semester. Most German cities are more affordable than other European cities to live in.
The Technical University of Berlin, the Free University of Berlin, the Humboldt University of Berlin, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Technical University of Munich are among the top German universities for international students.
The average tuition fees per academic year are EUR 200 – 700.
3. Spain
As a travel destination for many tourists from all over the world, Spain is very popular. But it is also a very popular choice for students who wish to study in Europe, in addition to that. The Spanish government sets the tuition fees for public universities at the lowest level possible each year.
Spain’s private colleges are also seeking to comply with the government’s laws. They may not be so affordable, but as many private universities of the same standard, they are not as outlandish.
Here’s a list of the top-ranked Spanish universities’ annual tuition fees: the Autonomous University of Madrid – the average tuition rate is between EUR 2,000 and 3,000 per year. The average tuition at the University of Barcelona is 2,900 EUR per year. The tuition varies between EUR 3,000 and EUR 4,000 a year at Pompeu Fabra University.
4. Belgium
The capital of Belgium, Brussels, and indeed the entire nation can be considered another one of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe. The cost of living is relatively low while the quality of living is high.
Top Belgium universities for international students include The Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Université Libre de Bruxelles.
The average tuition fees are EUR 1,500 – 5,000 per academic year.
5. Hungary
Hungary provides some of the world’s cheapest universities. The housing charges are fairly competitive. Hungarian universities also have separate sets of scholarships for foreign students. Compared with other European cities, the average cost of living in Hungarian cities is cheap, making the destination one of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe.
The University of Debrecen, the University of Szeged, Corvinus University of Budapest, and Eötvös Loránd University are the top universities for foreign students.
The average tuition fees per academic year are EUR 1,000.
6. Italy
Many of the world’s cheapest universities are provided by Italy. At competitive rates, they also have numerous accommodation options. Italy is known for providing the best education at low cost in such fields of study as fashion, history, liberal arts, and the arts. It is the best place to study the arts, indeed.
Top universities for international students include the University of Bologna, University of Rome La Sapienza, Polytechnic University of Milan, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
The average tuition fees are EUR 1,500 per academic year.
7. France
For both local and foreign students, France has a low tuition cost. In 2019, Paris, the French capital, ranks as one of the leading QS Best Student Cities. In France, other cities have the added benefit of providing a lower cost of living than Paris. French universities offer foreign students a variety of accommodation packages at competitive rates, making it one of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe.
Top universities for international students include University in Lyon, France, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon and Université Jean Moulin Lyon.
The average tuition fees are EUR 170 – 650 per academic year.
8. Finland
Finland’s universities provide affordable education to foreign students who are not from the EU. The yearly tuition fee depends on the university and the degree program, which ranges between approximately EUR 4,000 and 18,000, which for many people is undoubtedly on the high side (and don’t forget the extra cost of living). However, as a foreign student who is not a resident of the EU, you can study for free in Finland, EEA, or Switzerland.
There are some conditions added to it, though. For example, you’ll be exempted from tuition fees if you want to study in Finnish or Swedish as opposed to English.
Aalto University, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu, and the University of Eastern Finland provide superlative education for both students from the EU and international students outside of the European Union on cheap tuition.
9. Luxembourg
One of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe is Luxembourg. It will be one of the most charming places you’ll ever visit, with its new, multilingual, and multicultural society! It’s also one of Europe’s safest destinations, making it suitable for international students.
Top universities for international students in Luxembourg include the University of Luxembourg and European Business University.
Average tuition fees are EUR 400 – 800 per year, for business-related studies, it is EUR4,000 – 5,000 per year.
10. Austria
In Austria, public universities have an average tuition fee of approximately EUR 727 and an extra EUR 20 per semester for insurance and Austrian student union membership. The cost of living for students in Austria looks good compared with other countries in Europe.
Top universities for international students in Austria include the University of Vienna, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, University of Graz, etc.
The average tuition fees are EUR 1,452 per academic year.
11. Poland
Poland is one of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe. Along with plenty of fantastic culture and history to discover, it provides a high level of education.
If you can speak Polish and take the same entrance exams as Polish students and study your course in Polish, you can study for free as an international student. However, several English-language teaching services are also affordable, costing about EUR 2,000 – 3,000 per year.
The cost of living for students in Poland is also cheap, with an average of EUR 500 a month. Interestingly, in the new QS Best Student Cities ranking, the capital city, Warsaw, was listed in the top 20 cities for affordability, and 53rd overall. The University of Warsaw and the University of Szczecin are among the cheapest universities in Poland.
12. Norway
For foreign students, the state universities and colleges in Norway give tuition-free education. For student union membership, students only pay a token EUR 32 – 64 each semester.
This free education ranges from an undergraduate program to a master’s degree studies and Ph.D. programs for foreign students. Private colleges have tuition fees, but they are also affordable, but Norway has a higher cost of living than other European nations. Volda, Sogndal, Porsgrunn, and Narvik are the cities with the lowest living costs.
Top universities for international students in Norway include the University of Oslo, University of Bergen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the University of Tromsø.
13. Cyprus
Cyprus is geographically situated in Asia, but it is part of the EU. This makes it a country in Europe, therefore. Cyprus has 12 main universities and these universities serve the academic needs of more than 6, 000 foreign students. In Cyprus, the standard of education is wonderful. University education is also accessible in Cyprus, in addition to this.
The sum that international students have to pay in Cyprus depends a lot on the university and the type of degree they earn. All things being equal, in Cyprus, foreign undergraduate students pay less than EUR 3,500 per year. Except for the pharmacy, that is. For postgraduate students, the tuition fee is even smaller, as they have to pay about EUR 2,000-2,500 annually. The cost of living in Cyprus is also affordable, in addition to the cheap tuition fees.
The cheapest universities for international students in Cyprus are including the University of Nicosia, Cyprus International University, and Frederick University.
14. Sweden
Tuition fees are charged by foreign students from non-EU / EEA / Nordic countries or Switzerland. For foreign students, however, many colleges offer partial and full scholarships bundled as tuition waivers. You will take part in their study abroad exchange programs if you are enrolled in a school that is a partner university for universities in Sweden. However, Ph.D. programs for international students are free. Sweden’s cost of living is reasonably high.
Top Swedish universities for international students are Lund University, Uppsala University, Karolinska Institute, Royal Institute of Technology, and the Stockholm School of Economics.
The average tuition fees are EUR 7,600 per academic year.
15. Ukraine
With its universities providing one of the cheapest engineering and medical education compared to other European countries, Ukraine is one of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe. The requirements for admission are easy, as TOEFL and ILETS are not necessary and all payments are made on arrival.
The cost of living in Ukraine is low, but living standards are favorable compared to other European countries. During the summer holidays, there are also work openings. Deserving students are assured that they will receive a student visa.
Top universities for international students in Ukraine: Kharkiv National Medical University, Dnipropetrovsk State Medical Academy, Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy, Crimea State Medical University, Odesa State Medical University.
The average tuition fees are EUR 4,514 per academic year.
16. Estonia
In Estonia, foreign students can also receive quality education on a low budget. While Estonian is Estonia’s official language, several degree programs are taught in English in this region.
The tuition fees that are payable to foreign students studying in Estonia are very cheap. This includes the fees for Master’s programs, as well as for programs for Bachelor’s. Other international students in Estonia pay EUR 1,660 per academic year, in addition to medical students who pay more than EUR 1,660 annually.
Besides, when studying at an Estonian university, many individuals do not have to pay tuition fees. Such individuals include foreign students with excellent academic achievements and others with financial difficulties.
The most affordable universities in Estonia for international students are Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonian Business School (EBS), Tallinn University, and the University of Tartu.
Final thoughts
It can be very costly to study abroad, but there are still many affordable countries to study abroad in Europe. We hope that our list of the most affordable countries to study abroad in Europe can enable you to make a decision. Are you interested in moving to Europe to study? In terms of costs and tuition fees, share your experience with us.
