collageWhat really do you know about the best european country to do master’s? Do you often get confused by the conflicting information you see on it online? You need not search further as you will find the answer to this question in the article below.
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About Cheapest Country to Study in Europe
There are a host of attractive and affordable places throughout Europe for university students from around the world who wish to study in another country. Here are our top picks of the best places to study abroad in Europe, so you can narrow down your choices to the ideal fit for your needs, budget, and expectations.
Germany
- Germany
Germany is one of the best places to study abroad in Europe, especially if you are hoping to save money, because there aren’t any tuition fees when you are working towards your undergraduate degree at a public university. This applies to students who are from other parts of Europe, as well as those from outside of the European Union. All that you will be required to pay is an administration fee, which will be billed every semester. The country is home to some of the top schools in Europe, such as the Technical University of Munich, Humboldt University, and the University of Aachen, where top subjects include chemistry, physics, history, philosophy, and mechanical engineering. Plus, because English is usually taught to German students as a second language, you can get around surprisingly well even if you do not know a lot of German; however, English-speaking undergraduate programs are rare, so it’s likely that you will still need to learn the language.
France - France
France is home to over 10 universities that are included in the 2019-19 QS World University Rankings (QS stands for Quacquarelli Symonds, which is a U.K. company that specializes in, evaluates, and ranks schools and study abroad programs). Although the majority of the programs are taught in French, there are over 1,000 courses taught in English. France is also a country where you can expect low tuition costs and a high quality education. You will find some of the most affordable schools on the planet when you go to France, which means you get to spend more of your money on exploring and having fun while studying abroad. And with so many beautiful places to temporarily call home while you are in school, such as Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, and Montpellier, there is always something to see. Top universities include École Normale Supérieure, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sciences Po, and Paris-Sud University.
Spain - Spain
Like other countries in Europe, one of the many perks that comes with studying abroad in one of Spain’s many prestigious universities is the low cost of tuition there. Compared to the United States and the United Kingdom, tuition in Spain is much more affordable, and you are likely going to pay a fraction of what you would have to pay for a similar program at home. Stick with smaller countryside towns to save even more money, as the bigger and more popular cities are more expensive. But if you are ready to spend more to have it all, check out schools in the capital city of Madrid. Just be prepared to brush up on your Spanish speaking skills, as many of the programs in the country are taught in Spanish. Top schools include the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universitat de Barcelona, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Italy - Italy
For the 2015 academic year, Italy was the second most popular place to study abroad for students from the U.S., with more than 33,500 individuals choosing to attend school there in 2014-2015. The country is home to some of the most prestigious and oldest universities. Not all schools will have entire programs in English, but they may offer courses in English. Popular destinations include Milan, Rome, Florence, and Venice, but there are also countryside towns that students enjoy as well. Throughout the country, you will find 89 universities, along with many academies and polytechnics, so there are loads of programs to choose from, including those in engineering, art and design, and architecture. Just be prepared to spend a bit more than you would in Central European countries, but rest assured that the costs in Italy will likely be far less than those in places like the U.S. and U.K.
Sweden - Sweden
Believe it or not, you might able to get a PhD level education for free if you are a student from abroad, such as from the United States, and you go to school in Sweden. On top of that, many of the university programs that are taught in the country are taught in English, and there are also many opportunities to receive scholarships. Plus, you will be able to choose from some of the top universities in the world, such as Uppsala University, Lund University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. And in addition to scholarship options, PhD positions are typically paid, so you can go to school for free while earning a salary.
Netherlands - Netherlands
The Netherlands is yet another popular destination for students who wish to study abroad in Europe. It is also a great option for students from the U.K., as it is not only affordable, but also close to London. A 45-minute ride by plane will get you from London to the Netherlands, which is the biggest provider in mainland Europe of programs that are taught in English. You can choose from over 2,100 international study programs while enjoying plenty of art and culture in cities like Amsterdam. Top schools include Delft University of Technology, the University of Amsterdam, and Wageningen University and Research Center. - Poland
Poland offers competitive tuition rates and a low cost of living, especially when compared to the expenses that you would have to cover when living in other European countries. Many courses are taught in English, but it would be a good idea to brush up on your Polish so that you can take even more courses and get around more easily around town. There are more than 500 institutions for higher education throughout the country, and many of them are specialised rather than following a traditional model like other European universities. Top schools in Poland can be found in Krakow, Warsaw, Poznan, and Gdansk, and top programs of study include science, technology, and engineering.
Finland
- Finland
Public universities in Finland offer a tuition-free education to students from the EU/EEA, and since the beginning of the autumn semester of 2017, non-EU/EEA students will have to pay tuition. However, if you are enrolled in a Swedish or Finnish taught degree program, tuition will be free even for non-EU/EEA students. Helsinki, which is found on the southern coast of the country, is the biggest urban area in Finland, and it is also the home of the University of Helsinki, which is one of the best schools in the nation. Another school, Aalto University, is also a top university and it is found in Helsinki too. The most affordable cities for students include Tampere, Pori, and Laaperanta.
Slovenia - Slovenia
Slovenia is a beautiful country located between Croatia and Italy, and it features plenty of amazing outdoor areas to explore, from beaches to mountains. But in addition to being a popular destination for tourists, this country is also a great choice for those seeking a highly rated university. In fact, the country has one of the top education systems in the EU, and one of the biggest schools in the world is the University of Ljubljana, which is also considered the country’s main university. Another popular school is the University of Maribor, but there are other universities where you can expect low tuition and a picturesque setting. Plus, there are also opportunities available for those who wish to get a doctorate level education for free, there are roughly 150 programs in English, and the country on a whole offers a low cost of living.
Slovenia - Norway
Tuition is free when you attend a public university in Norway, though there are few exceptions when it comes to specialised programmes in the country, and there are also private universities to choose from as well. Even though the cost of living in Norway is considered more expensive than other areas of Europe, Norway’s friendly locals, lovely landscapes, and low crime rate have helped make it one of the most attractive countries in Europe to study abroad. Roughly 250 bachelor’s level programmes, along with another 250 master’s level programmes, are taught in English, making it convenient for students from the U.K., U.S., and Australia. Top universities in Norway include the University of Bergen, the University of Oslo, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
About Tuition Free Universities in Europe for International Students 2020
List of tuition free universities in Europe for international students
By MBA Crystal Ball on February 5, 2018Categories Tags
Knowledge comes with a price tag, or so it may seem. After all, it takes a lot of money to run an institution, recruit talented faculty, provide educational resources, and then have some set aside for providing scholarships to the exceptional students. There are many such reasons why degrees have become so costly. In the US alone, knowledge is one of the costliest commodities.
No wonder parents start saving up for their kid’s college even before they plan to have a family! But there are, surprisingly, avenues that you can explore if you want to keep your education meaningful, yet pocket friendly. Read Cost of doing an MS in the US and Cheapest countries to study abroad.
In this article, we have attempted to collate the list of countries, from the European continent, that have policies, and the subscribing universities, that make the pursuit of a degree possible without the doom of an inconceivable student debt. These include undergraduate as well as graduate courses (Read How to study abroad for free). The list below is not comprehensive, but provides a rather useful glimpse at the trends in the European university system.
List of tuition free universities in Europe for international students
Low & Free Tuition universities in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Spain
Tuition free universities in Germany
Germany has been one of the few countries leading the world in treating education as an investment rather than a consumer product. All public universities have been tuition free for not only German, or EU students, but also for other international candidates. Though a Masters degree may come at a small cost, much smaller as compared to US universities, PhD degrees are largely free for at least the first six semesters. Unfortunately though, this happy situation has been reigned back with reforms in the Ministry of Education – Baden Wuttemberg Act on State University Fees 2017 – to compensate for the country’s debts. Undergraduate degrees, in some public universities, are no longer free for non-EU internationals who don’t qualify the following criteria:
International students who have been educated in Germany.
International students from the European Union.
Non-EU students who are German permanent residents.
And refugees who qualify to stay in Germany.
The fees for qualifying students, exempt from tuition, is less than $250 per semester for administrative costs. For the rest, it is about $1,800 per semester in addition to the administrative fees. While most of the public universities are free, we have compiled a list of ten to give a glimpse of the range of financing, you may need, to get a degree under their excellent tutelage for undergraduate and Masters degrees.
University of Teubingen (No tuition for EU/EEA students. Only semester fee of $180. Other internationals have to pay $1,800 + semester fee).
Freie University of Berlin (Bachelors: No fee. Masters: Some like Executive Master of Business Marketing costs $17,000).
Humboldt University in Berlin (No tuition. Only semester fee of $350).
Leibniz University Hannover (Free for 6 semesters with only a semester fee of $550. After 6th semester, pay $600 + semester fee).
Technical University of Munich (Semester fee of $155).
University of Hamburg (No tuition except for professional Masters degrees. Semester fee of $390 applies).
University of Cologne.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (All Non-EU students will have to pay tuition ~$1,800 per semester).
Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (No tuition-fees. Semester fees ~$300 applicable).
RWTH Aachen University (No tuition-fees. Semester fees ~ $310 applicable).
The reforms seems to have touched various public universities to varying extents. Some still offer free education with a semester fee cheaper than an iPhone four generations ago. For further information, read MS in Germany – Costs, Top Universities and Eligibility.
Tuition free universities in Finland
Though not a very well known international student study destination, finishing in a Finnish school keeps your pocket from running dry. Their schools are well regarded with University of Helsinki featuring amongst the top schools in the world. As far as how costly it is to obtain a degree in Finland, well, it depends. You can study for free as long as you are an EU candidate. That one being straight forward, you can also qualify for a tuition exemption if you fulfill one of the following golden criteria.
You are a Non-EU/EEA student who began her degree, in Finland, before autumn 2017.
A permanent/long term (Blue Card in Finland or Type P-EU) resident.
A EU/EEA citizen, a relative of an EU citizen, or a citizen of Switzerland.
A PhD or a temporary exchange student in Finland.
A student enrolled in a degree taught in Finnish or Swedish.
As long as you satisfy these conditions, you can be spared a tuition of $5,000 to $24,000 (minimum of $1,800) depending on the category of your degree, professional degrees being more expensive. But if you can wise up early enough and buy your copy of Rosetta Stone for Finnish, or Swedish, you can save a chunk. Here are some of the public universities that have to abide by the University Act requiring the changes to tuition as per the above rules.
University of Helsinki.
University of Eastern Finland.
University of Jyvaskyla.
University of Lapland.
University of Oulu.
University of Tampere.
University of Turku.
University of Vaasa.
Abo Akademi University.
Lappeenranta University of Technology.
Hanken School of Economics.
University of the Arts Helsinki
Aalto University
Tampere University of Technology.
Besides these, there are also a list of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) like the Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Centria University of Applied Sciences, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, and about 20 more that fall under the same category and follow similar policies.
Tuition free universities in Norway
State Universities, in Norway, are largely free barring the payment of a small semester fee of the order of $100. Certain specialized Masters degree may have a slightly higher price tag though. This is true for all students, whether Norwegian, EU, or from any other part of the world. Your health insurance also automatically falls under the care of the National Insurance Scheme, as long as you are enrolled in a program of a duration greater than a year. All you have to keep in mind is the cost of living in Norway. It can be a steep $1,300 monthly expense for a single person, in Oslo. So while tuition will never be a concern, your daily meals might. Here are a list of some of the Norwegian state schools with low/absent tuition-fees.
University of Oslo.
University of Bergen.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
University of Tromso.
Norwegian School of Economics.
University of Stavanger.
Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences.
Ostfold University College.
University of Agder.
Low and free tuition universities in Sweden
Sweden is not as forgiving, about tuition, as some of the other Nordic countries like Finland or Norway. Cost of a degree depends on where you are from. You may be exempt from paying a single dime if you happen to be
an EU/EEA citizen,
a Swedish permanent resident,
a temporary Swedish residence permit for non-academic purposes,
a family member of an EU citizen/permanent resident,
foreign exchange student,
or one from Switzerland,
For the rest, it can vary from around $20,000 per year, for a Masters course like Bioinformatics, to $17,000 per year, for a Bachelors in Physics. Here are a list of some of the public universities where EU citizens can enjoy free education, in Sweden.
Lund University (~$20,000/year for Masters. $17,000/year for Bachelors).
Uppsala University ($9,000 per semester).
University of Gothenburg (~$8,000/year for Masters and Bachelors).
Royal Institute of Technology (~$19,000/year for Masters in Science).
Stockholm University ($11,300 for Masters and Bachelors).
Karolinska Institute ($22,000 for Masters in Biomedicine).
Linkoping University (Between $10,000 to $17,000).
Umea University ($11,000 to $18,000).
Linnaeus University ($10,000 to $33,000).
Malardalen University ($11,000 to $17,000)
Low cost and Tuition free universities in Denmark
Yet another Nordic nation, its tuition fee policies are similar to that of Sweden. EU/EEA citizens, permanent residents, exchange students, temporary residents who can be upgraded to permanent residentship, children of non EU/EEA parent holding a resident permit, and citizens of Switzerland, are exempt from ponying up on study fees. For the rest it can range between $7,000 to $20,000. A glimpse of some of the universities, and their payment, are listed below.
Technical University of Denmark (~$18,000 tuition. $9,000 per semester fee applies if Masters students enroll for less than 30 credits or extend their period of study beyond the normal duration + one year).
University of Southern Denmark ($10,000 to $20,000)
University of Copenhagen (~$12,000)
IT University of Copenhagen
Aarhus University ($9,000 to $15,000 for Masters and Bachelors).
Aalborg University ($12,000 to $17,000)
Roskilde University ($17,000/year for Mathematics & Computer Science).
Low cost and Tuition free universities in Belgium
A highly multilingual nation, the teaching medium mainly follows French with some courses offered in English as well. While it may not be completely free, the tuition is comparatively low and manageable. We have listed some of the low cost education centers in Belgium.
Katholieke Universitiet Leuven (~$700 for Bachelors. $1,200 to $10,000 for Masters)
Ghent University (~$1,000 for Bachelors. $2,000 for Postgraduate)
UC Louvain (~$1,000/year)
University of Antwerp (~$300/credit for Masters. Certain Masters have a reduced fee for EU/EEA citizens).
University of Liege ($1,000 for EU citizens. Non-EU citizens pay an increased fee depending on the program).
Low cost and tuition free universities in Austria
In the case of Universities, in Austria, students from the country and other EU/EEA nations are exempt from paying any fees for the normal plus two semester tolerance of the course duration. Beyond the extra two semesters, they are liable to pay $480 per semester, for Bachelors, Masters and even Doctorate studies. Other categories that fall under the exemption include,
Swiss nationals,
persons entitled to Austrian asylum,
Turkish students living with their parents in Austria, or whose parents have been employed in Austria.
And finally students with a residence title – Red-White-Red Card plus, family title and residence card holder.
For students from third countries, a fee of $870 per semester applies. Tuition for Applied Sciences universities doesn’t come cheap and the individual amount is the discretion of the particular university. The same is true for private universities. Here are some of the public universities in Austria.
University of Vienna.
Johannes Kepler University
TU Wein
Graz University of Technology
University of Salzburg
Low cost and Tuition free universities in Italy
As you can probably already guess, tuition in public universities is lower than private. Public universities, however, can charge tuition in the neighborhood of $1,000 a year, but a lot depends on the applicant’s financial situation. Some of the universities have individual means to determine the cost of a degree. Here are some public universities listed.
University of Bologna (Tuition decided on an Equivalent Financial Situation Indicator – ISEE. Exemptions are given to anyone with ISEE values below $27,400).
University of Milan ($190 to $5,000 based on your economic situation).
Sapienza University of Rome (Reduced fee for low economic background, foreign students with less means, and families with more than one child enrolled at the university).
Polytechnic University of Turin ($3,000 per academic year liable to reduction based on economic condition).
University of Turin (Fee reduction based on ISEE evaluation of less than $35,830).
…and some more low cost and tuition free universities in Europe
Below are a list of a few more countries with excellent faculties at a reasonable fare. In the interest of not overwhelming the reader, we will stick to a few well known countries. You are strongly advised to follow the lead and check out what the rest of the European continent has in store.
About Best European Country to Study and Work
Are you looking for a change of scenery from good old U.S. of A and are thinking about applying to a Master’s degree in Europe? Then you might want to make sure you will also be allowed to work while studying and gain that piece of mind and financial comfort that come with a student part-time job. This is also a good idea if you’re planning to travel and discover Europe in addition to your Master’s degree studies.
In most EU countries, working while studying is totally possible. Either with a student visa or with a student work permit you will be allowed to work, generally part-time during the school year and full-time during holidays. But which are the countries that have the best prospects for work and study? Let’s explore your options together:
Find Masters in Europe
- Countries with the best student-work permit conditions
A key aspect to take into account if you want to work while studying is how relaxed are the ‘work and study’ rules. These rules are not the same in all the European Union. Some countries have stricter rules and a more complicated process which make it more challenging to work there.
American students going abroad
For example, you might need to get a special work permit. Also, you might only be able to work 10-15 hours/ week which might not be enough if you want to earn a decent pay.
But there are also European countries where it’s very easy and rewarding to work as a student if you come from the U.S. These countries are:
Sweden
In Sweden you only need a valid student visa to be able to work. Plus there’s no restriction regarding how much you can work, as long as you dedicate at least 40 hours per week to your studies. Wages in Sweden are also more then attractive, the average being 2.500 USD/ month. Here are some Swedish universities you can check out:
Jönköping University
Hanken School of Economics
Uppsala University
Estonia
In Estonia you also only need a student visa to work during your studies. But what makes it appealing is that you can stay and work an additional six months if you get your university permission after you finish studies. There’s no restriction regarding how much you can work provided you have passing grades. The average salary is about 1.400 USD/ month before taxes. Here are two top Estonian universities:
University of Tartu
Tallinn University
Denmark
The student visa in Denmark includes the right to work 20 hours/ week during school year and fulltime during school breaks. Even if it’s part-time work the pay is more then rewarding with the average pay being 16 USD/ hour. That means about 1280 USD/month for a part-time job. Go Danish for your studies at these schools:
Roskilde University
Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA)
University of Southern Denmark
France
In France you can work part-time with a valid student visa. You are allowed to work 20 hours a week off campus, but if you find a job on campus you can work more. Per year, you can up to 60% from the legal annual working hours – meaning you can work more on holidays. In France there is a guaranteed minimum salary, which is 10 USD/gross per hour. For a month of part-time work, you are guaranteed to make at least 800 USD. Some schools you can consider for your studies in France are:
Georgia Tech Lorraine
IESA School of Arts and Culture
Strate School of Design
Ireland
You do not need a work permit to work part-time in the Ireland, provided you have a Stamp 2 Permission on your visa. You can work up to 20 hours/week during the school year and full-time during school breaks. The part time salary in Ireland can reach about 800 USD/ gross/ month. Sounds like a deal? Here are some Irish schools you can check:
Dublin Business School
University College Dublin
Finland
In Finland you are allowed to work 25 hours a week during school term and full-time during school breaks without needing a work permit. Salaries for part-time jobs usually start at 500 USD/month. Check these universities out, if Finland is where you want to work and study:
University of Helsinki
University of Oulu
Tampere University
The United Kingdom
You can work part-time in the UK as long as you have Tier 4 student visa. The average part-time wage across the UK 600 USD a week. In London it is generally higher, about 800 USD. If this fits you plans, here are some universities in the UK where you can apply right now:
University of the West of England
University of Portsmouth
Loughborough University
University of Chester
University of West London
Norway
You do not need a work permit for the first year of your studies in Norway. However, after the first year you have to renew it and provide additional documents. Part-time workers earn an average of USD 4.000 /month. However, note that most Norwegian jobs require knowing Norwegian language.
University of Bergen
BI Norwegian Business School
Germany
Germany is also a country where you can work part-time as long as you have a valid student visa. Wages for a part-time job start at about 500 USD/ month. The good part is that living costs in Germany are one of the lowest in Western Europe.
Hochschule Bremen – International Graduate Center
RWTH Aachen University
University of Mannhein
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