With the constant rise of college costs, a lot of Americans and citizens from other countries are turning to colleges in other countries for their education. Europe is is a well-known place, and a lot of European countries provide free tuition at their universities.
However, when none EU and EEA students are charged fees, they often times tend to be way much lower than those of universities in America. In addition to that, the low cost of living in European countries is also one important reason why a lot of students prefer to get their degrees there.
Who would ever pass on the opportunity to study in a new country, and not just that, but also for free? Of course nobody. Studying and living in a country different from yours is literally the dream of almost every student across the globe.
Therefore, we are here to give a list of European Countries that offer free education to students from different parts of the world.
Oftentimes, we only want to attend schools in UK, USA, and Australia, but we are also quick to forget that there are over 40 countries in the EU that is in existence, and a lot of these countries provide free education for every type of student regardless of your nationality.
European countries provide free education to students from member countries, but some countries like Norway and Germany provide free education to every student regardless of their nationality.
However, when none EU and EEA students are charged fees, they often times tend to be way much lower than those of universities in America. In addition to that, the low cost of living in European countries is also one important reason why a lot of students prefer to get their degrees there.
This simply means that there are countries that offer free tuition fees. If you aspire to school abroad for a while now but have no idea of how to go about it, then you are one step away from attending your dream school. We have been able to collect information on European countries that offers free education to students.
A lot of these universities also give out scholarships, so it will be lovely to apply to these schools and make your future brighter.
European Countries That Offers Free Education
If you have plans of studying in Europe, then your guardian’s income may most likely not be the important factor in the type and quality of education you are bound to receive.
There are a whole lot of world-class free universities both for locales and international students in European countries like Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and so on.
You are most likely going to have to pay an administrative fee, therefore, if you plan on studying abroad this might be the only cheapest option to get a degree from big and well-known universities in Europe
It is worthy to note that health insurance and cost of living will not be included. But you are still capable of getting a scholarship on the basis of availability.
Germany
This country is a well know destination for students from America and other parts of the world because it is one of the few countries that provide free university education to every student who enrolled and was able to get an admission irrespective of the student’s nationality.
An exception is Baden Wurttemberg, a federal state, that began to charge none European citizens a tuition fee of about 1,500 euros each semester, since the beginning of the 2017/2018 semester.
So now, all students are expected to pay a total amount of 250 euros per semester, and this basically includes a public transportation pass and also a semester ticket. Another main reason why some international students have decided to study in Germany is because of the number of programs that are provided in English.
The country has tried its possibly best to put in extra effort in ensuring that there is an increase in its course that is been taught in English, and also, admission to study in most universities barely requires proof of certain German skills.
The total cost of living as a student studying in Germany amounts to about 850 euros every month, and as of the year 2020, students from other countries who wish to study in Germany are expected to deposit some 10236 euros into an account that they can gain access to ever month.
Norway
In a country like Norway, public universities make up most of the universities and colleges, and they do not charge for tuition. This free tuition policy is applicable to every student just like in Germany, irrespective of their nationality.
Of course, their private universities charge for tuition, but oftentimes it is lower than that of other countries, and the good part is that an international student pays the exact amount of money that a local student pay. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that studying in a country such as Norway is very cheap.
This is said because the cost of living in a country like Norway is about 11,640 NOK every month, which amounts to about $1,300, which is highly comparable to that of other European countries.
Students from different parts of the world rush down to this country to study because they offer high-quality education, thereby giving them value for the money spent living in the country.
The government ruling the country funds the student’s education with the use of the taxpayer’s money so that international students can also enjoy the benefits of free transportation within the university premises. One of the difficulties of studying in this country is it’s the high cost of living that is important in sustaining a student.
The initial amount spent covers clothing, health insurance, transportation, room and board, and other expenses that may come up.
There are about eight universities in Norway, 20 state university colleges, and about 16 private institutions. Some universities the country boasts of are; the University of Oslo, University of Stavanger, University of Nordland, University of Life Sciences, University of Agder, and the University of Bergan.
Sweden
Up until the year 2010, the country Sweden has been among the European nation countries that had less or no tuition fee. Your nationality barely mattered because the Swedish taxpayers will gladly foot your bill.
But as they all say, some good things usually come to an end. And in 2010, the Swedish parliament passed a bill into law to begin to charge tuition fees for none European union and EEA students.
But at the same time, they also provide scholarship programs, and even though there is no free education anymore in Sweden for international students, a huge number of these universities provide full scholarships for students that are not citizens of the country.
Below are some top free Swedish universities; Lund University, Uppsala University, Stockholm University, Jonkoping University, and Stockholm school of economics.
The University of Uppsala is one of the oldest schools in the country and was established in the year 1477. It is categorized as one of the best universities in Northern Europe, and so far, the university has become globally recognized during the uprising of the Swedish empire at the climax of the 16th century.
Iceland
Public universities in Iceland provide free education, and this is applicable to both national and international students. But one thing to be bothered about is the high cost of living. It is totaled at 189,875 ISK, which is equivalent to $1,500 every month for an average person living in the country.
In addition to this, it is most likely going to be difficult to discover courses that are provided in English at the Bachelor’s degree status, and although a lot of universities provide programs and courses in English, they tend to be Ph.D. and master’s programs.
If by para venture you do not know how to speak their language, it is highly recommended that you contact the school you wish to apply for, to ensure that there will be a lot of options to pick from.
Austria
This country provides free university education for students that belong to member the European Union and EEA member countries for about 2 semesters. After this, the students are expected to pay a compulsory fee of 363.36 euros each semester.
But their international students are expected to pay 726.72 euros each semester. Every student both nationals and international students are expected to pay a membership fee, and an accident insurance fee, which costs about 19.20 euros every semester.
It is worthy to note that the tuition policy is applicable to just public universities. Other universities like the university of arts, the University of applied sciences, and some other private universities are expected to pay the tuition fee. The cost of living in the country is about 950 euros every month.
Poland
In a country like Poland, their nationalities, and students that belong to the European Union and member countries that study full time at a higher education institution don’t pay fees.
Other students from different countries pay a total amount of 2,000 euros every year. One important reason why Poland has become a well-known country for education is that the cost of living is very low, and it is totaled at 550 euros every month, which is a little amount compared to what is been paid in other universities in European countries. They provide over 800 programs in English which are preferable.
Greece
The public universities in Greece provide free education to students who plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree, but this is only available to students from European Union, member countries.
Students that do not belong to the EU pay an average amount of 1,500 euros every year, and this generally includes the course handouts and textbooks. In addition to this, the cost of living in Greece is very low and has estimated at 700 euros every month.
But unlike in other European countries, one of the top requirements to be a student in Greece is that you must be very fluent in speaking the Greek language. Students who do not have a certificate in Greece language will not be able to apply.
Hungary
Out of all the top European countries to study at, Hungary is fast becoming one of the well-known study destinations for students across the country and from outside the country.
And although they do not offer free education for international students, they are allowed to pay lesser amounts for tuition unlike in other universities around the world.
Depending on your choice, of course, the tuition fee for international students varies from about 600- 4000 euros each semester.
To add to this, the cost of living in the country is relatively low, and it is measured at $300 every month. The university’s focus is mainly on internalization, and they provide a wide range of programs in French, Russian, German, and most importantly, English.
Slovenia
This school is located in Central Europe, the university provides free education to its citizens, other EU members, and also citizens of Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, and Bosnia. Students from other parts of the world pay an estimated amount of 2,000 to 5,000 euros every year.
Although a lot of projects in English are mostly related to tourism and business and also included is some science courses like physics, computer science, and maths, the cost of living in the country is measured at 500 euros every month.
Czech Republic
In this country, University education in the state and public institutions are free for every student as long as you can study in the Czech language. To study in another language, students will have to pay a stipulated amount every year ranging from 22,350 USD.
Normally, the amount paid depends solely on the university of your choice, and the program you wish to study. One advantage of studying in this country is the fact that the cost of living is very low, and it ranges from 400- 750 USD every month.
An additional bonus of studying in the country is the ability to travel to different nearby countries for vacation or sightseeing.
Denmark
The majority of the universities in Denmark provide free education for nationals, people with a particular visa type, and member countries. Universities like the University of Copenhagen and the University of Kiel offer quality education.
Conclusion
We hope that the information stated above serves as an important beginning for your search for a university in Europe that offers free education. It is also important to note that there are a whole lot of other things to consider other than the cost of tuition when planning to school in a country in Europe.
You should also be prepared to adapt to the cultural barriers, language issues, and also their means of teaching. Also, you must put into consideration the reputation of the university and the program you wish to apply for.
