Studying abroad is one of the most exciting things any student could wish for. Not only will you have a wonderful study experience, but you will also be able to learn about the diversity of cultures in addition to your culture.
Unfortunately, the cost of studying abroad as an international student at most prestigious universities is always expensive and can put you off. But the good news is that there are places where you can still study for free.
Many countries around the world allow students to study abroad for free or for a very affordable amount; all you have to do is know where to look.
So if you are wondering if it is possible for you to study abroad without paying too much, and if ‘YES’ were, then this article will give you the answer.
This article will provide information on countries where you can study abroad for free as an international student.
How can I study abroad for free?
There are different opportunity options available so that you can earn the degree of your choice as an international student abroad without breaking the bank. Some of the options include:
- Having a scholarship: Both forms are covered: one for the dispensation of fines and the other for living expenses.
- Scholarships offered by individual institutions may be offered to anyone who already has more than 50 percent of the profile of the other student candidates in the league.
- You can also go for educational exchange programs which are very helpful. This is due to the numerous MoUs signed by the Indian government with various foreign countries.
- Get an assistant for doctoral and master’s fellows, including doctoral assistant, professor’s assistant, thesis assistant, and doctoral research assistant.
- Indian students can use a scholarship, a monetary award not based on merit but rather on finances.
- Part-time work can help students achieve 20 hours of work a week, giving them a job for at least $10-12 an hour.
- Paid: Internships can help gain structured work experience for prospective employees over time and help raise a candidate’s profile and have a successful scholarship opportunity.
- Achieving an ACT, SAT, GRE, or GMAT score are several solid options that help access scholarships of up to 100 percent from various IVY league universities worldwide. Choosing alternatives such as Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway is a reasonable option for a partial or full fee waiver.
Countries where you can study abroad for free
Below you’ll find a selection of countries that offer free or low-cost tuition, with details on eligibility and what current (low) university fees you can expect.
#1 Study in Germany for free
Interest in studying abroad in Germany seems to continue to grow. This is largely due to the fact that there are no undergraduate tuition fees at public universities in Germany. This applies to both German and international students, regardless of their nationality.
At German public universities, only a small nominal university fee, around $177.18-250 (~US$160-265) is charged to cover administration costs.
However, these low study costs combined with Germany’s strong economy and excellent higher education system, make the prospect of studying in Germany for free extremely attractive to both students and parents around the world. .
More than 40 German universities are among the world leaders in the QS World University Rankings – again, beaten only by the US and UK, with the highest place held by the Technical University of Munich.
If you are successful in finding a university to study in Germany for free, you will of course still need to budget for living costs. If you need a German student visa, you will need to show that you have around $10,276.44 (~US$9,230) per year for living expenses.
Two of the top study destinations in Germany, Munich, and Berlin, also ranked in the top 20 most affordable cities to study in QS Best Student Cities.
#2 Study in France for free (or at a low cost)
France may not be as well known as Germany for affordable higher education. But international students may be surprised to hear that they can also study in France for free (or, at a very low cost), regardless of their nationality.
Although technically, university fees exist at public universities in France, they are only a fraction of those charged in most countries, amounting to just $217.34 (~US$195) per year at the undergraduate level to cover course administration.
Additional fees can drive this price up, particularly for more specialized programs like medicine and engineering, but not dramatically.
If you are looking to study in one of the main great schools however expect fees to vary widely. As is the case in Germany, most of the programs that offer the chance to study in France for free are taught in the mother tongue.
Alternatively, you can also attend a preparatory school to hone your French skills before starting your degree, but you will have to pay for this.
Keep in mind that living costs in France are also relatively affordable, coming in at around $11,339.52 (~US$10,180) per year, though you should expect to pay more if you choose to live in the capital city, Paris.
#3 Study for free in the Nordic countries
Known for their high quality of life, stunning nature, and liberal politics, the northern European nations (known as the Nordic countries) also boast some of the strongest higher education systems in the world.
The Nordic nations including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden offer opportunities to study for free or at low cost:
In Norway, university studies are available free of charge to all students, regardless of their level of studies or nationality. Most undergraduate programs are taught in Norwegian only, and international students must demonstrate proof of proficiency in Norwegian in order to study at this level.
In masters and doctorate. On a level, English language programs are much more common and free tuition still applies.
On the other hand, Denmark and Sweden only extend their free higher education benefits to students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, which means that students from outside these regions must pay tuition fees for bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Ph.D. in Philosophy. programs in both countries are fully funded, offering exceptional Ph.D. candidates the opportunity to earn their degree without paying fees, and earning a salary.
In Denmark, university fees range from DKK 45,000 to DKK 120,000 (~US$6,420-17,115) annually, while in Sweden they range from SEK 80,000 to SEK 140,000 (~US$8,730-15,270).
In Iceland, there are no tuition fees charged at the country’s four public universities, with only a registration fee of around $472.48 a year (~US$425).
But what about the costs of living? Well, here’s the trick, the costs of living in Northern Europe are among the highest in all of Europe.
This is largely due to the region’s overall healthy economy and strong Nordic currencies, so paying more to live when the streets are clean and the people are happy might not be such a bad thing! Four Nordic capitals have been ranked among the world’s top student cities: Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, and Stockholm.
Other places to study in Europe for free (or at low cost)
What about other places to study in Europe for free or at a low cost? There are a number of European countries that offer affordable or free universities, without sacrificing 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 $428.78 (~US$385) per semester.
International students from outside the EU/EEA should expect slightly higher fees of around $857.55 (~US$770) per semester. Living costs will cost all students approximately $12,048.24-12,000 (~US$10,820-12,730) a year.
Vienna, the capital of Austria, ranks 16th in the QS Best Student Cities 2019.
Belgium
There are two main language communities in Belgium, each with its own stance on university fees. However, EU students will pay a maximum of just $986.3 (~US$890) a year.
And while only EU students get the main benefits of being able to study in Europe for free, the fees are still very affordable for international students, ranging from $1,051.27 to as high as $4,931.51 (~US$940-4,430). ) by year.
You can live in Belgium on a budget of around $13,465.68 (~US$12,100) a year. Brussels, the capital, was ranked 45th in this year’s QS Best Student Cities.
Czech Republic
Czech-speaking students can study abroad for free in the Czech Republic at any public university. Students wishing to study in English can also do so at a fairly low price, around 108,334 CZK (~US$4,260) per year.
Living costs are more affordable than in many Western European countries, around CRK 106,900-229,070 (~US$4,200-9000) per year.
The Czech capital, Prague, ranks 30th in QS’s Best Student Cities.
Greece
All EU/EEA students can study abroad for free in Greece at public universities and colleges, with the exception of some Master’s programs.
And if that doesn’t seem like enough, you can also get the course textbooks for free! International students from outside the EU are also eligible for low-cost higher education, at approximately $1,771.8 (~US$1,600) per year.
Greece offers one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.
Italy
While it may be known that private universities in Italy charge quite high tuition fees, public universities in Italy are markedly cheaper, charging between $1,004.02 and $1,181.2 (~US$900-1,060) per year for undergraduate programs. undergraduate.
EU students are eligible for the same funding opportunities as Italian students, including loans, grants, scholarships, and fee waivers. Living costs in Italy are also not as high as one might expect, around $14,174.4-18,000 (~US$12,760-19,145) per year.
Milan is ranked 33rd in the most recent QS Best Student Cities, while the capital Rome is 65th.
Spain
With the same education rights as Spanish students, EU students are not required to pay high education fees.
Meanwhile, international students can study in Spain for between $803.22 and $1,653.68 (~US$720-1,500) per year at public institutions. Fees are charged per credit and may be higher at the graduate level.
To live in Spain, you should expect to spend between $12,756.96 and $15,591.84 (~US$11,500-14,050) a year on living costs.
Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia are featured in the QS Best Student Cities 2017, with Barcelona the best ranked 23rd.
Other places to study abroad for free (or at low cost)
Argentina
While Argentine students enjoy access to free universities, international students are expected to pay a small nominal fee to enroll in the country’s public universities.
Private institutions in Argentina, on the other hand, can charge more than US$5,000 a year. In the QS Best Student Cities 2017, the Argentine capital Buenos Aires has 42nd.
India
In India, international students generally pay tuition fees no higher than US$7,300 per year, although private and postgraduate university fees tend to be more expensive.
Living costs in India are for most students. According to Number, consumer prices are 187% cheaper than in the UK, while rental prices are up to 373% cheaper.
In general, you should be able to live comfortably on as little as US$5,000 per year.
Taiwan
Tuition fees in Taiwan offer great value, and the best universities in the country offer affordable programs. For example, National Taiwan University (NTU), the country’s joint 68th leading university in the QS World University Rankings, last year charged undergraduate students just TW$100,920-124,200 (~US$3,175- 3,900) per year. In QS Best Student Cities, Taipei was ranked 16th in the world and 16th for affordability.
This is great and ido not know how to access these scholarships