10 Cheapest Universities In Europe For International Students

Let’s face it. It’s every student’s dream to study abroad. After all, who wouldn’t want to frolic 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.

Best Universities in Europe for International Students

1. Scuola Normale Superiore

We start this list of cheap universities in Europe 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 specialized courses for its undergraduate students namely – 

• Humanities 
• Sciences
• Political science.

The humanities program offers specializations 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 Italian university ranking highly on our free universities for international students list. 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 programs: experimental & applied sciences and 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 program 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 programs of sciences and languages, physics, and 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 universities in Europe, cheap universities in Europe for international students. RWTH Aachen University has made a name for itself, mainly because of its specialized 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 specializes 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 programs 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.

In a nutshell, Here are the best universities in Europe for international students –