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It’s every student’s dream to study abroad. After all, who wouldn’t want to let loose at a cute pub down the road, or indulge in some delectable street food? Studying abroad can be one of the most life-changing experiences of your life! While all of that sounds great, many of us are all too familiar with the high cost of living abroad. If living costs weren’t enough to squash your dream of studying abroad, the back-breaking tuition fees surely would. But, what if I told you that you can study for free in Europe? Yes, you read it correctly! There are a few universities in Europe that offer world-class education for a fat sum of $0. Sounds awesome, right? Let’s take a look at some of the cheapest universities in Europe, affordable universities in Europe for international students for international students.
| Cheapest English Speaking Universities In Europe For International Students – Overview | |||
| Sr. No | University Name | Country | Tuition Fees |
| 1 | Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa | Italy | €0 |
| 2 | Sant’Anna | Italy | €0 |
| 3 | Free University of Berlin | Germany | €0 |
| 4 | University of Paris-Sud | France | €170 |
| 5 | Nantes University | France | €184 |
| 6 | RWTH Aachen University | Germany | €260 |
| 7 | University of Göttingen | Germany | €300 |
| 8 | University of Athens | Greece | €400 |
| 9 | Nord University | Norway | €725 |
| 10 | The University of Vienna | Austria | €730 |
Cheapest Universities In Europe
1. Scuola Normale Superiore
We start this list of cheapest universities in Europe for international students with Scuola Normale Superiore, a university-based in Pisa, Italy, that offers international students to study free of cost! In fact, Scuola Normale Superiore is a revered university in Italy and probably one of the best in Europe. This Italian university has three specialised courses for its undergraduate students namely –
- Humanities
- Sciences
- Political science.
The humanities programme offers specialisations in topics such as the history of art, archaeology, palaeography, modern literature and linguistics philosophy. Scuola Normale Superiore’s school of science has many degrees in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics.
As mentioned earlier, the cost of tuition at Scuola Normale Superiore is free. But what we didn’t mention was that the cost of housing and food is taken care of by the university! By enrolling at Scuola Normale Superiore, you will barely pay a penny during your studies here.
2. Sant’Anna
Here we have yet another one of universities with low tuition fees for international students in Europe, ranking highly on our free universities. Just like Scuola Normale Superiore, Sant’Anna is based in Pisa, Italy and, yes you guessed it right, is completely free of cost to international students. This university is renowned for its two main programmes:
- Experimental & applied sciences
- Social sciences
All these courses are administered in English, although we recommend you learn basic Italian to have a pleasant experience here. Sant’Anna also promises to cover your living expenses that include the cost of accommodation and food. With all that savings, you have the perfect opportunity to explore the beautiful and historic city of Pisa.
3. Free University of Berlin
Since Germany didn’t want to be alone, they also decided to comp the tuition fees at one of their top-rated universities – Free University of Berlin! That being said, unlike the aforementioned universities, you will have to pay for living costs such as rent and food on your own. The average cost of accommodation in Berlin is around €700 and the cost of food is quite affordable too.
All of this makes Free University of Berlin one of the cheapest English speaking free universities for international students. This university offers students a Bachelor of Arts programme filled with courses taught in English. Students also get the opportunity to live and study in one of the most developed cities in the world.
4. University of Paris-Sud
Coming in fourth or should I say Quatrième, is the University of Paris-Sud. Technically speaking, the cost of tuition at the University of Paris-Sud is nil but there is a cheeky processing fee of around €170 per semester. This is still not a bad deal considering the English-taught programmes of sciences and languages, physics, economics and management are well-respected.
By enrolling at the University of Paris-Sud, you save yourself a lot of money on tuition fees. This can be a huge thing for students as Paris is an expensive city to live in. Students can use these savings and explore many Parisien attractions, especially the Eiffel Tower.
If the cost of living in Paris proves to be too burdensome for you, get an education loan from UniCreds. They provide safe and reliable education loans in a hassle-free manner.
5. Nantes University
If you have aspirations of studying in France then you must strongly consider Nantes University. Not only is it one of the cheapest universities in Europe for international students, but it is also one of the best universities in Europe. Just like the University of Paris-Sud, Nantes University has a small processing fee of 184 euros per semester. This is quite a deal considering how well-established this university is. Moreover, you’re saving even more of your hard-earned money, as the cost of living in Nantes is relatively low. It will cost you around 600 euros a month to live comfortably as an international student. This university also has the cheapest bachelor degree in Europe.
6. RWTH Aachen University
Coming back to Germany, we have RWTH Aachen University, which is one of the cheapest medical universities in Europe, cheap universities in Europe for international students. RWTH Aachen University has made a name for itself, mainly because of its specialised courses in materials engineering, architecture and georesources.
An important point to bear in mind is that all the bachelor courses taught here are in German, so make sure you learn the language well before enrolling here. The cost of tuition at RWTH Aachen University is around 260 euros per semester and the average cost of living in Aachen is close to 800 Euros/month. This combination makes RWTH Aachen University a cheap masters in Europe destination.
7. University of Göttingen
By now you must’ve realised that Germany has a lot of free of cost universities. Well, add the University of Göttingen to that list. The University of Göttingen is a university based in Göttingen, Germany that is easily one of the cheapest universities in Europe for international students. This university specialises in law, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences. What’s more, the University of Göttingen houses one of the largest libraries in all of Germany!
The cost of studying at the University of Göttingen is a paltry 300 Euros per semester. To live comfortably in Göttingen, international students will require a monthly budget of around 700 euros.
8. University of Athens
Bit of a surprise, we get it, but the University of Athens comes in 9th on our list of the cheapest universities in Europe for international students. This university offers students a wide range of courses in subjects like nursing, social theology, and theatre studies. The University of Athens is one of the best places to do a cheap masters in Europe.
The cost of studying at the University of Athens is around €400 per semester and the cost of living in the Greek capital is around €600 per month. Make sure you explore Greece in its entirety, including Greek ruins sprinkled throughout the entire city.
9. Nord University
From Greece, we go all the way up to Norway to find Nord University. Nord University is a public Norwegian university that does not charge tuition fees or cheap universities in Europe. Instead, there’s a small processing fee of 725 Euros per semester. Some of the most highly rated courses at Nord University include Circumpolar Studies, 3D art, Animation, Games and Entertainment Technology, Biology, and English. However, the only flipside to studying in Norway is that if you are a non-EU citizen, you will be required to prove that you have the funds to support yourself for a year in Norway in order to get a student visa.
10. The University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is one of the best cheap universities in Europe for Masters. As expected, the cost of tuition at the University of Vienna, albeit there is a small processing fee of 730 Euros.
Students enrolled at the University of Vienna can choose from more than 200 different programmes that are taught in English, making it one of the cheapest English speaking universities in Europe for international students. Since this university was founded in 1365, there is a rich history and tradition surrounding it, which makes it a magical place to study as an international student. Moreover, the town of Vienna is famous for its culture and nightlife and will be the perfect place for you to study abroad.
Countries Where You Can Attend Universities For Free
Have a look at the overview of tuition fees at the affordable universities across Europe, from Germany to France and Poland. Here is the table for your reference:
| Country | Tuition fee for students from EU/EEA (per year) | Tuition fee for students from other countries (per year) |
| Austria | free | ca. 1,500 EUR |
| Denmark | free | 45,000 – 120,000 DKK(6,000 – 16,000 EUR) |
| Finland | free | 5,000 – 20,000 EUR |
| France | free | 2,800 – 3,800 EUR |
| Germany | free | free at public universities |
| Greece | free | ca. 1,500 EUR |
| Hungary | free | ca. 1,500 EUR |
| Norway | free | 15,000 – 30,000 EUR |
| Poland | free | ca. 2,000 EUR |
| Slovenia | free | ca. 5,000 EUR |
| Sweden | free | 80,000 – 200,000 SEK(8,300 – 20,800 EUR) |
Why Study In Europe?
International experience can significantly enhance your future employability. Studying abroad exposes you to diverse cultures, and Europe, renowned for its research initiatives, offers generous financial aid and scholarships for international students.
For EU citizens, tuition fees remain consistent across member states, with access to additional financial support and residence permits. EEA and Swiss students enjoy similar rights but may have varying access to public student loans.
Non-EU citizens typically face tuition fees but can benefit from substantial financial aid opportunities. Europe allocates over 16 billion EUR in scholarships annually.
At the Bachelor level, average tuition fees range from 4,500 EUR/year for EU/EEA students to 8,600 EUR/year for students outside the EU/EEA. For Master’s degrees, fees range from 5,100 EUR/year for EU/EEA students to 10,170 EUR/year for non-EU/EEA students.
In numerous European countries, students are pleasantly surprised to discover complete degree programmes costing less than 1,000 EUR/year.
Full Tuition Scholarships In Europe
There are many externally and university funded scholarships you can consider in Europe. Externally funded scholarships here provide many benefits and are available for every university student. Let’s look at a few of these scholarships and get to know them in detail:
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility | Award |
| British Chevening Scholarship | For 1-2 year masters degree | Fully funded, covers travel, tuition, accommodation, and food expenses. |
| DAAD Scholarships | For postgraduate courses in developing countries, for example Germany. | Full or partial scholarships depending on the country, programme, and university. |
| Holland Scholarships | For international students from outside the European | Scholarship amounts to GBP 5000 in the first year of studies. |
| Swedish Institute Scholarships For Global Professionals | For highly qualified international students undertaking masters in Sweden | Covers tuition fees, travel expenses, living expenses, etc. |
| Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship | Students pursuing doctoral or postdoctoral degrees at publicly recognised universities in Switzerland. | Monthly allowance, health insurance, lodging allowance, etc. |
| Danish Government Scholarships for Non EU students | Highly qualified international students studying in Danish Universities. | Full or partial tuition fee waivers . |
FAQs
Q1. What is the cheapest European country to study for international students?
Germany is frequently seen as one of the more affordable alternatives for international students to continue their education among the nations of Europe.
Q2. What are the cheapest European universities for international students to study?
The University of Debrecen (Hungary), Sofia University (Bulgaria), and the University of Warsaw (Poland) are a few of the inexpensive universities in Europe for overseas students.
Q3. Is the Netherlands cheap to study?
The Netherlands’ well-organised educational system and student-friendly legislation make it usually considered to be an affordable country for international students, despite the fact that living expenses might vary.
Q4. How can I study in Europe for free?
For international students, a number of European nations, notably those like Germany, Norway, and Finland, provide free or inexpensive education. There are also grants and scholarships available to aid with living costs.
Q5. Which study is best in Europe?
The ideal study abroad programme for you will rely on your unique interests, objectives, and strengths. You may select a career path that fits your objectives thanks to the extensive selection of top-notch programmes offered in Europe in a variety of sectors, including engineering, business, the arts, sciences, and humanities.
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