This page contains a list and review of cheapest universities in Europe for international students; the fees paid by international students at these institutions will astound you! Some government-funded colleges in Europe provide completely free tuition, with students paying only a minimal charge of less than $300 every semester.
These colleges are also the most affordable for European students.
Some colleges may be inexpensive for domestic students but not for international students, therefore we chose to focus our research on discovering institutions in Europe that are either tuition-free or have extremely low tuition rates for international students.
In general, colleges that charge low rates to overseas students charge substantially lower fees to domestic students.
Studying in Europe
Getting an education or degree of any type overseas opens up a world of possibilities; you can meet new people from all over the world, learn about different cultures and lifestyles, and participate in other exciting trends that come with studying abroad. It’s a fantastic experience and a fantastic method to learn.
All of these things and more are available to you when you study in Europe, and this is in addition to the world-class education you will receive.
Students who study abroad have a distinct edge over those who study at home, as their international experience can enhance their employability in the future.
You might be wondering why, with all of these advantages, don’t more students move to Europe to study. The answer is that it is expensive, and not many of these eager students have the time to investigate available affordable European universities. That’s why we’ve gone above and beyond to deliver this knowledge to your fingertips.
The best choice is to look for some of the cheapest universities to study in Europe for international students and apply to them.
Hey, this article is all about that. Here’s where to find the cheapest universities in Europe to attend. I’ve done all the research and compiled a list of the 15 cheapest universities in Europe that accept international students.
Can I really study in Europe for free?
To be honest, you won’t be able to study in Europe for free unless you take advantage of some of the available resources, such as scholarships, loans, and savings. Even in this scenario, only the scholarship choice appears to make sense, but as I previously stated, these scholarships are not easy to come by and are extremely competitive.
So, why not take advantage of some of these European universities’ low-cost offers, avoid the hassle of applying for a scholarship, and enroll in one of the low-cost Europe-based universities I’ve listed below, pay little or no tuition fees, study for your degree, finish it, and begin a promising career?
Which European nations are the most affordable for overseas students to study in?
Another way to save your education costs is to choose an affordable study location in Europe that also happens to be home to one of Europe’s cheapest colleges.
10 cheapest countries in Europe for international students are;
The top ten cheapest countries in Europe are listed below. Germany is at the top of the list; you should know that since 2014, Germany has abolished tuition costs in all of its public universities, both for international and domestic students.
- Germany
- Argentina
- France
- Norway
- Spain
- Austria
- Sweden
- Belgium
- Finland
- Netherlands
Cost of living in Europe for students
The typical yearly living costs in these locations are between $7,000 and $9,000, which should easily fit into the budget of any international student.
Okay, it’s past time for me to get down to business, so without further ado, here is a list of the cheapest institutions in Europe for international students.
15 Cheapest Universities in Europe For International Students
- Free University of Berlin, Germany
- University of Pisa, Italy
- Heidelberg University, Germany
- University of Basel, Switzerland
- University of Wurzburg, Germany
- Novosibirsk State University, Russia
- University of Gӧttingen, Germany
- University of Paris-Saclay, France
- Fontys University of Applied Science, Netherlands
- Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Italy
- University of Mannheim
- RWTH Aachen University, Germany
- The University of Vienna, Austria
- Nord University, Norway
- University of Crete, Greece
Free University of Berlin, Germany
Did you just figure out that this university’s name means “free”? Oh well, you are correct; this university is one of the most affordable in Europe for overseas students, offering a tuition-free education.
The Free University of Berlin does not charge tuition, but there are a few other regular payments totaling around €312.89 every session that cover registration, student support services, transportation tickets, and student union costs.
Some graduate and doctoral programs, however, are not free; you must contact the university to learn about these programs and the accompanying fees; nonetheless, undergraduate students can study for free from the university’s wide selection of courses.
Tuition Fees
- Masters: NA
- Undergraduate:
- International students:
- Other fees: €312.89
University of Pisa, Italy
The University of Pisa, usually known as UniPi, is the oldest and sixth best university in Italy, having been founded in 1343. Due to its low tuition fees, UniPi has been able to make it onto the list of low tuition universities in Europe for international students.
For overseas students, the university offers a variety of bachelor’s degree programs that cost $2,500 per year and a master’s degree program that costs $2,307 per year. You’ll agree with me that these are extremely affordable tuition expenses when compared to a traditional university of this kind.
Tuition Fees
- Masters: $2,307
- Undergraduate: $2,500
- International students:
- Other fees:
Heidelberg University, Germany
Heidelberg Institution, a public research university founded in 1386 and offers a variety of graduate and postgraduate degree programs, ranks among Europe’s low-cost universities for overseas students.
International students from the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) pay €171.75 for their studies at Heidelberg University, which covers administrative charges, the social contribution for student services, the student union, the transit pass, and the use of nextbike services.
International students from outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) must pay €1,500 every semester.
However, there are additional expenses for continuing education and existing non-consecutive master’s degrees, which you should inquire about with the school.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students(EU): €171.75
- International students: €1,500
University of Basel, Switzerland
The University of Basel, one of Switzerland’s top institutions of higher learning, was founded in 1460 and is regarded as one of Europe’s most affordable universities for international students, offering a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs.
Tuition expenses for international undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Basel are $1,714 per year.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students: $1,714
- Other fees:
University of Wurzburg, Germany
I’m pretty sure “Wurzburg,” which is a German term, does not mean “free,” yet the University of Wurzburg, a well-known public research university in Germany, is a tuition-free institution for international students, making it one of Europe’s most cheap universities.
International students, on the other hand, will pay a charge of €137.90, which covers the student contribution and semester tickets.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students:
- Other fees: €137.90
Novosibirsk State University, Russia
Are you surprised to learn that this university is among Europe’s cheapest institutions for international students? Unless you aren’t aware of it.
Novosibirsk State University, or NSU as it is more often known, is one of Russia’s top universities and the primary source of the country’s academic elite.
The university is well-known for its educational and scientific research activities, and it provides a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in both English and Russian for all students.
Now comes the exciting part.
Students pay under $3,000 a year in tuition costs, despite the university’s top ranking, worldwide master’s and undergraduate programs, and popularity.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students: $3,000
- Other fees:
University of Gӧttingen, Germany
On our list of the cheapest universities in Europe for international students, we have an internationally known research university.
This just continues getting better and better; I’m sure you think the universities on this list are shady because they’re so inexpensive; I’m sure you’ve had your mind blown by this point.
International students at the University of Göttingen pay around €760 per year, which includes enrolment and re-registration for both the first and second semesters.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students: €760
- Other fees:
University of Paris-Saclay, France
The University of Paris-Saclay is a research-intensive university that has made our list of Europe’s best low-cost universities for international students.
Saclay University provides undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees to interested students for a tuition fee that appears to be too low to be true.
The undergraduate program at the University of Paris-Saclay costs €170 per year, the master’s program costs €243 per year, and the Ph.D. program costs €380 per year.
Aren’t these incredible? They appear to be far too real to be true, but you may check for yourself to see whether we made it up to wow you. They are real, as you can see.
Tuition Fees
Masters: €243
PhD: €380
Undergraduate: €170
Fontys University of Applied Science, Netherlands
Ranked among the best universities in the Netherlands especially in the fields of engineering, I.T, logistics, business administration and management, and has several campuses located in the southern Netherlands. The Fontys University of Applied Science makes it to our list of cheap universities in Europe for international students.
Fontys offers various bachelor, masters and short term programmes with tuition fees that will leave you in wonders.
International students from the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries pay a statutory tuition fee of €2,143 while students from none of these countries pay the tuition fee of €7,920. These fees may look a bit high considering other schools on this list but when you compare them with some other international universities out there you will agree with me that they are very very affordable.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students(EU): €2,143
- International students(others): €7,920
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Italy
Established in 1987, this public research institution specializes in applied sciences and is a center for teaching quality and world-class education in a variety of masters, undergraduate, and doctoral programs.
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is one of Europe’s cheapest universities for overseas students, with free tuition costs for undergraduate programs and tuition fees ranging from €7,000 to €10,000 for graduate students.
Tuition Fees
- Masters/PhD: €7,000 – €10,000.
- Undergraduate:
- International students:
- Other fees:
University of Mannheim, Germany
Founded in 1967, this is a public research-intensive institution that offers a variety of full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate programs.
With tuition costs of €1,500 per semester, international students will pay a total of €3,000 per year at the University of Mannheim, making it one of Europe’s most affordable universities for international students to pursue their academic aspirations.
There are exceptions to the tuition costs that must be paid at this school. If you are an international student with a residence visa in Germany under certain conditions that may be found on the university’s website, you will not be required to pay any tuition fees.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate: €1,500
- International students: €1,500
- Other fees:
RWTH Aachen University, Germany
This is Germany’s largest technical university, including undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs to help you develop and improve your talents in your chosen sector and level of study.
It should come as no surprise that an institution of this stature is among the most affordable in Europe for overseas students.
However, certain overseas students are subject to conditional tuition costs at RWTH Aachen University. In general, students are expected to contribute €299.38 per semester as a semester student contribution.
Tuition Fees
- Masters:
- Undergraduate:
- International students:
- Other fees: €299.38
The University of Vienna, Austria
This is one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious institutions, and it is home to a number of distinguished historical experts whose achievements have been recognized. The University of Vienna may not appear to be one, yet it is one of Europe’s most affordable universities for international students.
The institution provides a variety of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, all with different tuition fees.
You will not have to pay tuition costs as an international student from an EU/EEA country for the usual duration of your degree program plus two tolerance semesters, but you will have to pay the €20.20 students’ union fee.
For international students from countries outside the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), the annual tuition price will be €726.72 plus a semester-by-semester student union charge of €20.20.
Tuition Fees
- International students(EU/EEA): NA
- Other fees: €20.20
- International students(others): €726.72
- Other fees: €20.20
Nord University, Norway
Nord University is the newest university on this list, having been founded in 2016. It offers a variety of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs to help you improve and grow your talents. It is also one of the most affordable universities in Europe for international students.
Nord does not charge tuition, but students must pay a semester fee of NOK725 (about $77), which covers administrative costs and helps to fund student welfare services.
Tuition Fees
- Masters: NA
- Undergraduate: NA
- International students: NA
- Other fees: $77
University of Crete, Greece
The University of Crete, which was founded in 1973 and is dedicated to excellence in research and teaching, offers a variety of undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degree programs for students to participate in, gain information, and develop their abilities.
The University of Crete is also one of Europe’s most affordable universities for overseas students, with no tuition fees for EU nationals enrolled in her undergraduate programs.
Tuition fees apply to only 11 of the University of Crete’s 52 postgraduate study programs, although there are no tuition fees for Ph.D. students.
Tuition Fees
- Masters: Approx $2000
- Undergraduate: NA
- International students: NA
- Other fees: NA
There you have it, the list of Europe’s cheapest universities for international students; isn’t that a fun read? I had a lot of fun composing it, and I’m glad I was able to find these institutions for you.
Conclusion
What do you do now that you know these specifics? As I previously stated, you have been given every important detail about the cheapest institutions in Europe for foreign and domestic students.
These are prestigious schools that will provide you with whatever academic degree you choose, whether it is a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. These universities are delivering it to you on a gold platter, but it is up to you to stretch out your hands and seize the opportunity.
Even if I crossed the line by naming certain tuition-free universities in Europe, I think it was worth it.
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