Top 10 Cheapest European Countries for Studying Abroad

What are the cheapest European countries for studying abroad? There are many countries where affordable education is prominent, both for foreign and indigenous students. These countries either provide scholarships to students or they just naturally have a low cost of living that also affects education.

Cheap education can be gotten in any continent in the world. This article will however focus on the cheapest European countries for studying abroad. Here’s a top 10 list of countries in Europe that have the cheapest education.

10. Norway

We begin the list of “Cheapest European Countries for Studying Abroad” with North-European country, Norway. Although the country is not as cheap compared to the others on this list, it is a considerable place for students who want to study abroad and want the best education.

Some of the best universities in Norway include:

• University of Oslo
• University of Bergen
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• University of Tromsø
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences

The average cost of living in Norway is 20,000 to 40,000 NOK (2,176–4,352 USD) monthly. In Norway, most public universities do not charge tuition fees. They only pay a student union fee which has to be paid in full. The S.U fee is between 30 – 60 EUR per semester. Private universities, on the other hand, charge tuition fees which vary between 7,000 – 9,000 EUR per year for Bachelor’s programs and 9,000 – 19,000 EUR per year for Master’s programs.

9. France

Asides the many tourism centers in France, the Western European country is also known to be a great study center for international students. For the fourth time in a row, France has been named the number one student city in the world.

Interestingly, tuition fees in France are the same for both indigenous and international students. The price ranges from 180EUR for Bachelor’s, 250EUR for Master’s, and 390EUR for Ph.D. students yearly. The cost of living may be higher for students in the country’s capital, however, they will experience better student life.

Some of the top universities in France are:

• Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)
• Ecole Polytechnique
• Sorbonne University
• CentraleSupélec
• Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon

8. The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, considerations like the institution to study, accommodation, the field of study, and type of degree all contribute to the cost of living. The Netherlands is no doubt a great country to study for international students as it boasts of several scholarship opportunities for both indigenous and foreign students. To cover basic student expenditures, students will need around 800 – 1,200 EUR per month.

University of Amsterdam, Wageningen University and Research, Utrecht University, Leiden University, and Erasmus University Rotterdam are some of the top universities in the Netherlands.

7. Germany

One of the cheapest European countries for studying abroad is Germany. Germany is a Western European country with a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges, and the North Sea beaches.

The country is home to some of the world’s best universities like Technische Universität München, which ranks 50 on the world’s list of top/best universities.

867 EUR is the average living cost for international students in Germany. Some of the top universities in Germany include:

• Technical University of Munich (TUM)
• Heidelberg University
• Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Humboldt University Berlin

6. Poland

Polish flag – national colors of Poland on a flagpole.

In 2016, Poland’s capital city, Warsaw, was ranked the second most affordable city for students. The country in Central Europe is one of the cheapest countries to study in the continent. In Poland, you can get access to free education if you can speak the Polish language.

However, students who want to take English-taught programs will spend around 2,000EUR-3,000EUR to study per year. Since Poland is known for high-quality education, it is often a destination choice for international students who want to study on a budget. International students reportedly spend around 7,800 EUR per year.

Some prominent universities in the country include:

• University of Warsaw
• Jagiellonian University
• Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan
• AGH University of Science & Technology
• Gdansk University of Technology

5. Austria

Next on our list of “Cheap European Countries for Studying Abroad” is Austria. Austria is equally a landlocked country in the southern part of Central Europe, situated in the Eastern Alps. The average cost of living in Austria is 1,000 EUR monthly. The average tuition fee for international students in Austria is $1600.

Some parts of Austria like Wiener Neustadt are relatively lower than the bigger city in its entirety- Vienna. In terms of feeding and rent, Austria is a way Cheaper country to study abroad than some of its other European counterparts like the U.S and the U.K.

Some universities in Austria include:

• University of Vienna
• University of Innsbruck
• University of Graz
• University of Salzburg
• Vienna University of Technology

4. Italy

Italy also has one of the best education offers in the world. In terms of scholarships and the general cost of living for international students, the country definitely has great and enticing offers.

The overall cost of living for international students in Italy ranges from 700 to 1,000 EUR per month. The cost covers accommodation, food, transportation, local travel, and entertainment for those who want a social life. Italy has the most number of least expensive colleges in the world. Their lodging alternatives are at affordable prices also. Their disciplines of study like fashion, history, and liberal arts are some of the most popular in the country, however, they offer a wide variety of courses.

Top institutions in Italy include:

• The Polytechnic University of Milan
• University of Bologna
• University of Rome La Sapienza
• University of Rome Tor Vergata

3. Hungary

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe, most known for its arts and cuisine. The country is quite inexpensive in terms of living costs and even tuition fees. The most attractive thing about studying in Hungary is its major scholarship offers to international students. The scholarship packages available to overseas students are quite prominent in Hungary compared to some other countries in Europe.

The cost of living in Hungary varies from an average of  375 to 700 EUR depending on your spending habit. Tuition fees in the country also range from 2,500 to 3,000 EUR yearly, depending on the institution and course of study. Programmes like Engineering and Medicine or Dentistry can take up to 5,000 to 8,000 EUR yearly.

Some of the best institutions in Hungary include:

• Central European University (CEU)
• Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
• Semmelweis University
• University of Debrecen
• University of Pannonia

2. Portugal

Portugal is a Southern Europe country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain. The country has a relatively low cost of living, depending on where you choose to study or live. Some of its rural areas have the best living costs. Lisbon and Porto are also places in Portugal where you can find the best living offers as an international student.

Since one of the most important concerns for international students is accommodation, this list will cover the average cost of accommodation in each country. For Portugal, the average rent cost for both university-owned and private rooms/apartments is between 300 to 400 EUR per month.

The average tuition fees for undergraduate or postgraduate degree courses in Portugal is between €1,000 — €1,250 a year. Postdoctoral degrees are also common in the country and the average cost for that in Portugal is between €2,500 and €3,000. Private college tuition for both undergraduate and postgraduate students however ranges from €3,000 to €4,000 yearly. Some of the best universities in Portugal include:

• Catholic University of Portugal
• University of Porto
• University of Lisbon
• ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon
• University of Beira Interior

1. Lithuania

Lithuania is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. The country has a very low cost of living with the average international student spending between 300-900 EUR per month.

A survey carried out in 2020 shows that 56% of students in Lithuania spend between 300-500 EUR per month and 38% spend only 300 EUR monthly. However, it all depends on how much they are willing to spend on accommodation, food, and lifestyle. Students who do not want to stay in school dormitories will have to spend more money on rent in the city.

The cost of living in Lithuania for international students can be reduced using school I.D cards for expenses like bus fares. Some higher institutions in the European country include:

• Vilnius University
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
• Kaunas University of Technology
• Vytautas Magnus University

Cheapest European Countries To Study Abroad (Summary)

Here’s a list of the top 10 Cheapest European Countries to study abroad as highlighted in this article.

1. Lithuania
2. Portugal
3. Hungary
4. Italy
5. Austria
6. Poland
7. Germany
8. The Netherlands
9. France
10. Norway