List of European Countries Offering Free Education to International Students

Germany

When talking about the free education system in the world, Germany comes at the first number. During the past few years, demand for studying Germany has been increasing because almost all the public universities in Germany do not require university fees from German and International students. Moreover, Germany offers full free scholarships which cover the cost of accommodation and stipends for international students through DAAD Germany scholarships. However, if you apply for a private university in Germany, you have to pay an administration fee of around euro 150 – 250. Even though you are no need to pay university fees at most public universities, you must bear in mind that you have to cover up all your living expenses by yourself unless you obtain a full scholarship. 

Norway

Norway is another beautiful study destination where you don’t have to pay a university fee to pursue your higher studies. Since the government finances, the education in the country with taxpayer´s money, Universities in Norway and State Universities in Norway don’t charge any fee from Norwegian students as well as from international students. But if you decide to study in Norway, you must ensure that you have enough money to cover your accommodation and food costs because the country is quite expensive. The most fascinated fact about Norway is country gives scholarships for international students without IELTS and TOEFL. If you are afraid to do these exams you can do the Duolingo English test as an alternative to IELTS.

Austria

Austria offers low-cost university fees for international students. Moreover, Austria offers a favorable environment and an affordable cost of living for international students which makes the country is an ideal study destination for students all over the world. If you are a student among Schengen states Austria provides free education for you. But if you come from a non-EU country you must pay a 500 – 700 Euro fee per semester. 

Czech Republic

If you are fluent in the local language which is used in the Czech Republic, you can pursue your studies completely free of charge from this country. The Czech Republic has a rich cultural heritage and compelling history with prosperous living quality which makes the Czech capital city, Prague ranked joint 35th in the QS best student cities. However, if you are a student who wishes to pursue your studies in English you can also study comparatively cheap at around 4000 – 12000 Euro per year. 

France

Living and studying in a beautiful country like France is a dream of students who wish to pursue their higher studies abroad. But the truth is France is much more expensive to live in than most countries in Europe. However, regardless of your nationality, you have a chance to study and live in France for free or at a very low cost. The French government has increased the number of scholarship opportunities offering for international students to attract more talented students worldwide. Other than that, if you are a European student looking forward to studying in a public institution of higher education in France you need to pay approximately 170 Euro per year for a bachelor’s degree and 243 Euro per year for your master’s degree. 

Finland

The Finnish education system is considered one of the best education systems in the world. When it comes to higher studies, universities offer the best quality free education for students from EU regions. But if you are a student who wants to an English taught program you have to pay tuition fees. The most interesting fact about Finland universities is, they offer scholarships for students outside the EU, especially for postgraduate and doctoral students. However, if you are planning to apply to Finland for your doctoral studies, no matter what country you are coming from you don’t need to pay any tuition fee for your studies. Since you are offered a position as a Ph.D. student in Finland, you will not pay the fee and will receive a monthly salary from your university.

Sweden

The students who wish to pursue their research-based doctoral studies in Sweden do not need to pay any tuition fee regardless of their nationality. Moreover, Ph.D. positions in Sweden are considered paid positions by universities or external funding bodies. That means if you are lucky to get a Ph.D. position in a Swedish university you will get paid from your university or an external funding body. Other than that, for the international students who wish to apply for master’s or bachelor’s level programs in Swedish universities, they may have an opportunity of applying for full and partial scholarships offered by Swedish universities.

Spain

Like most European countries, Spain offers free education for EU students. But non-EU students can study in Spain at a very low cost. Spain also offers a very reasonable cost of living for students. In addition to that, Spanish universities offer scholarships and many grants for international students to attract highly talented students all around the world.