Contrary to what you could expect, studying abroad can save you money. Here is a list of fully funded European countries you can study for free.
The cost of the college continuing to increase, many Americans turn to universities outside the United States for their education. Europe remains a popular destination because many European countries offer free tuition fees in their public higher education establishments. These countries generally only offer free tuition fees to students from EU and EEA member countries; However, some, like Germany and Norway, offer free tuition fees to all students, regardless of nationality. In addition, when students are not billed for tuition fees and costs, they always tend to be much lower than those of colleges and universities in the United States. Add to that the low cost of living in many European countries, and it is easy to understand why so many Americans choose to obtain their diplomas abroad. Here are 10 countries that offer free or practically free tuition fees.
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Germany
Germany is a popular destination for American students, because it is one of the few countries to offer free tuition fees to all students registered in state higher education establishments, regardless of the nationality. An exception is the federal state of Baden-Würtemberg, which began to charge for tuition fees of non-European citizens of 1,500 euros per semester since the winter semester 2017-2018. All students must pay a semester contribution, which on average 250 euros per semester, and this often includes the cost of a “semester ticket” or a public transport pass. Another reason why so many Americans choose to study in Germany is the number of programs offered in English. Germany has made an effort to increase its courses given in English, and admission to many universities does not require proof of German skills. The cost of living is on average 850 euros per month. In addition, from 2020, international students seeking to study in Germany must deposit 10,236 euros in a blocked account that they can withdraw on a monthly basis.
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Norway
In Norway, public institutions, which constitute the majority of Norwegian universities and colleges of state universities, do not charge tuition fees. This policy applies to all students, whatever nationality. Private establishments charge tuition fees, but they tend to be lower than tuition fees in other countries, and international students pay the same rate as Norwegian students. However, this does not mean that the study in Norway will be cheap: the cost of living in Norway, estimated at 11,640 Nok (around 1,300 USD) per month, is high compared to other European countries.
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Iceland
Public universities in Iceland do not charge tuition fees, and this applies to all students, whatever nationality. However, the cost of living is relatively high, estimated at 189,875 ISK (around 1,500 USD) per month for an individual living in Reykjavík. In addition, it can be difficult to find courses fully offered in English at the baccalaureate level: although many universities offer programs in English, these are master’s degree and doctoral programs. If you are not talking about Icelandic, it is recommended to contact the university in question to make sure that there will be a lot of lessons from which you can choose.
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Austria
Austria offers free tuition fees for students from EU / EEE member countries for two semesters, after which students have to pay 363.36 euros per semester. Other international students generally pay 726.72 euros per semester. All students must pay the membership fees of the student union “Öh-Beitrag” and insurance costs against students’ accidents, which represent 19.20 euros per semester. Note that these tuition policies only apply to public universities and arts universities – universities of applied sciences and private institutions have the right to charge for tuition fees. The cost of living in Austria is estimated at 950 euros per month.
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France
Because the French government subsidizes higher education, education rates in public establishments are very low. European students pay 170 euros per year for a baccalaureate (bachelor’s degree) and 243 euros per year for a master’s degree while non-European people pay 2,770 euros per year for a baccalaureate and 3,770 euros per year for a master’s degree. Some non -European students, including Quebec residents and international students registered with a doctoral program, are eligible for paying identical costs to those paid by French and European students (tuition fees for a doctorate are 380 euros per year). The cost of living in France is estimated from 600 to 800 euros per month to cover the costs of food, transport and housing.
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Poland
In Poland, students from EU / EEE member countries who study full -time in higher education establishments (EIS) do not pay for tuition fees. Other international students pay an average of 2,000 euros per year. One of the reasons why Poland becomes a popular destination among international students is that the cost of living is relatively low, estimated at 350 to 550 euros per month, a price fraction that you may pay in other countries Europeans. Poland houses 118 EIS and offers more than 800 programs in English.
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Greece
In Greece, public higher education establishments offer free tuition fees to undergraduate students (baccalaureate) of EU / EEE member countries. Non -EU students pay average tuition fees of 1,500 euros per year, which include lesson manuals. In addition, the cost of living is relatively low, estimated at 450 to 700 euros per month. There is a drawback: unlike other countries on this list, Greece requires that its candidates be competent in the Greek language to register for its universities. Students who do not have a linguistic certificate will not be able to register.
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Hungary
Among the best tourist destinations in Europe, Hungary becomes a popular study destination among foreign students. Although Hungary does not offer free tuition fees, tuition fees tend to be much more affordable than those of other parties of Europe and the United States. According to the institution and the program, tuition fees can vary from 600 euros to 4,000 euros per semester in the baccalaureate. In addition, the cost of living in Hungary is very low, estimated at 300 USD per month. By emphasizing internationalization, universities in Hungary offer a wide variety of programs in English, as well as in French, German and Russian.
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Slovenia
Located in central Europe, Slovenia offers free tuition fees to citizens of EU member states, as well as citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and the Republics of Macedonia and Serbia. Other students pay between 2,000 and 5,000 euros per year in the baccalaureate. Although many programs in English are linked to business and tourism, they also include fields of science such as physics, IT and mathematics. The cost of living in Slovenia is estimated at 600 euros per month.
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Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, higher education in public and public establishments is free for all students as long as they study in the Czech language. To study in another language, the costs vary from 0 to 22,350 USD per year, although the exact amount will depend on your institution and your program. The good thing about the study in the Czech Republic is that the cost of living is relatively low, ranging from 350 to 750 USD per month. As a bonus, the country is located in the heart of Europe, allowing easy trips to neighboring countries and places.