Where can you study abroad for free?

France may not be quite as widely known as Germany for affordable higher education, but international students may be surprised to hear they can also study in France for free (or, at a very low cost), regardless of their nationality.

Although technically university fees do exist at public universities in France, they’re just a fraction of those charged in most countries, amounting to just €170 (~US$190) per year at undergraduate level for EU/EEA/Swiss students.

Additional charges can bring the price of your studies up, particularly for more specialised programmes such as medicine and engineering, but not dramatically. If you’re looking to study at a leading grande école, however, expect fees to vary widely.

As is the case in Germany, the majority of programmes offering the chance to study in France for free are taught in the native language. However, there are a growing number of opportunities to study in English, particularly at graduate level. Alternatively, you can also attend a preparatory school to perfect your French skills before beginning your degree, but you’ll have to pay for this.

Living costs in France are also relatively affordable, though you should expect to pay more if you choose to live in capital city Paris.

Find out more:

• Scholarships to Study Abroad in the World’s Best Student Cities
• Scholarships to Study in Europe
• 9 of the Best Places to Study Abroad in Europe
• Top 10 Universities in Paris
• Top Universities in France

Known for their high quality of life, stunning nature and liberal politics, northern European nations (known as the Nordic countries) also boast some of the strongest higher education systems in the world. Nordic nations Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden all offer opportunities to study free or at low cost:

In Norway, university study is available free of charge to all students, regardless of study level or nationality. Like Germany, you will only need to pay a semester fee, in this case around NOK 300-600 (~US$33-66). The majority of undergraduate programmes are taught only in Norwegian, and international students need to demonstrate proof of proficiency in Norwegian in order to study at this level. At master’s and PhD level, English language programmes are far more common and free tuition still applies.

In Iceland, there are no tuition fees charged at the country’s four public universities, with only a registration fee of around ISK 75,000 (~US$600) a year.

Denmark, Sweden and most recently Finland only extend their free higher education perks to students from within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, meaning that students from outside these regions must pay tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s programmes. However, PhD programmes in these countries are fully funded, offering exceptional PhD candidates the chance to gain their degree without paying fees, and earn a salary. Non-EU/EEA students can also still study in Finland for free if they study in either Swedish or Finnish.

International fees at bachelor and master levels in Denmark, Sweden and Finland vary. In Denmark, university fees range from between DKK 45,000 and DKK 120,000 (~US$6,670-17,800) annually, while in Sweden they fall between SEK 80,000 and SEK 145,000 (~US$8,200-14,870) for most courses. In Finland, the recently introduced tuition fees currently amount to at least €1,500 (~US$1,700) per year, although most students will pay between €6,000 - 18,000 (~US$6,640-19,900) per year.

But what about living costs? Well, this is the catch, as the costs of living in northern Europe are among some of the highest on the continent. This is largely due to the healthy economy of the region and the strength of the Nordic currencies, so paying more for living when the streets are clean and the people are happy perhaps isn’t so bad. Four Nordic capitals have been ranked among the world’s top student cities: Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm.

Find out more:

• Universities in Scandinavia With the Lowest Tuition Fees
• International Scholarships for Europe’s Nordic Countries

What about other places to study in Europe for free or at a low cost? There are a number of European countries which offer affordable or free universities, without any need to sacrifice on quality. See below for more examples.

Austria

Another country where students can study in Europe for free (or at a very low cost) is Austria. EU/EEA students enjoy the same rights as Austrians when it comes to the cost of higher education, and can study for free at any degree level. After this time, students pay a fee of just €363 per semester.

International students from outside of the EU/EEA should expect slightly higher fees of around €726 (~US$803) per semester. Living costs will set all students back approximately €11,400 (~US$12,600) a year. 

Belgium

There are two main language communities in Belgium, each with their own stance on university fees. However, EU students will pay a maximum of only €906 a year. And while it’s just EU students who get the major benefits of being able to study in Europe for free, fees are still fairly affordable for non-EU international students, at around €4,175 (~US$4,620) per year.

You can live in Belgium with a budget of around €11,400 (~US$12,600) a year. 

Czech Republic

Students who speak Czech are able to study abroad for free in the Czech Republic at any public university. Students who wish to study in English can also study fairly cheaply, at around €4,000-12,000 (~US$4,425-13,275) per year. Living costs are more affordable than in many countries in western Europe, at around US$9,000 per year. 

Greece

All students from within the EU/EEA are able to study abroad for free in Greece at public universities and colleges, with the exception of some master’s programmes. International students from outside of the EU are also eligible for low-cost higher education, at approximately €1,500 (~US$1,660) per year. Greece offers one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.

Italy

Although private universities in Italy can be known to charge fairly high tuition fees, public universities in Italy are markedly cheaper, charging between €900 and €4,000 (~US$995-4,420) per year for undergraduate programmes. EU students are eligible for the same funding opportunities as Italian students, including loans, grants, scholarships and fee waivers. 

Spain

EU students aren’t required to pay high education fees in Spain, while international students are able to study for between €750 and €2,500 (~US$830-2,760) per year at public institutions. Fees are charged on a per-credit basis and can be higher at graduate level. To live in Spain, you should expect to spend between €10,800 and €13,200 (~US$11,940 – 14,600) a year in living costs.

Argentina

While Argentinian students all enjoy access to free universities, international students should expect to pay a small, nominal fee to enroll at public universities in the country. Private institutions in Argentina, on the other hand, can charge upwards US$5,000 a year. 

India

In India, international students will typically pay tuition fees of no higher than US$7,300 a year, though private university and graduate fees tend to be more expensive. Living costs in India are, for most students, likely to be very appealing – according to Numbeo, consumer prices are 163 percent cheaper than in the UK, while rental prices are as much as 391 percent cheaper.

Overall, you should be able to live comfortably on as little as US$4,300 a year. However, it’s worth noting that international students aren’t allowed to work in India during their studies.

Taiwan

Tuition fees in Taiwan offer great value, with its top universities offering affordable programmes. For example, National Taiwan University (NTU) Taipei often scores well for affordability in the QS Best Student Cities ranking.