Have you ever wondered what the top cheapest universities in Europe are? This article lists the 20 cheapest universities in Europe, the cost of living, and everything you need to know to study in Europe.
It is a known fact internationally that Europe provides world-class education. As such, its universities are one of the best in the world.
But can one find a cheap university to study in Europe? If this is your question, you don’t need to bother, as I present the 20 top cheapest universities in Europe.
Table of contents
- Is Studying in Europe a Wise Choice?
- Can I Get a Scholarship While Studying in Europe?
- Can I Study Abroad in Europe for Free?
- The Cost Of Living In Europe For International Students
- Which Countries in Europe Provide the Cheapest Universities?
- 20 Top Cheapest Universities in Europe.
- 1. Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano)
- 2. Free University of Berlin – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
- 3. University of Pisa – Best Cheapest Universities in Europe
- 4. Heidelberg University – Best Cheapest Universities in Europe
- 5. Novosibirsk State University – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
- 6. Royal University College of Fine Arts
- 7. Fontys University of Applied Sciences
- 8. University of Göttingen – Best Cheapest Universities in Europe
- 9. Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE)
- 10. RWTH Aachen University – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
- 11. The University of Vienna – Top Cheapest Universities to Study in Europe
- 12. Nord University – Best Cheapest Universities to Study in Europe
- 13. Nantes University
- 14. Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
- 15. University of Paris-Sud
- 16. University of Mannheim
- 17. University of Basel
- 18. University of Würzburg
- 19. University of Crete, Greece
- 20. University of Athens
- FAQs – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
- Conclusion
- Recommendations
Is Studying in Europe a Wise Choice?
Studying in Europe isn’t only a wise choice but one of the best choices.
Europe accommodates one of the largest diversities of students in the world.
So, studying in Europe exposes and connects you to people of different races.
Additionally, it presents many incredible opportunities to advance your career practically.
Can I Get a Scholarship While Studying in Europe?
Scholarships are available, making the financial strain a little less burden for you as a student.
Although scholarships are sometimes difficult, they are only reserved for exceptional students.
Can I Study Abroad in Europe for Free?
The truth is that you can’t study totally or be free in Europe. Only a full scholarship can enable you to do so.
This means that only a full scholarship will enable you to study totally for free.
However, most universities are free of tuition fees for all EU citizens.
But, this is not the same for none EU citizens.
The Cost Of Living In Europe For International Students
Apart from flights, tuition, and living expenses, studying in Europe isn’t as expensive as you think.
The cost of living in some European countries (they will be listed in the next section) is low. It falls within the $7,000 – $10,000 annually, which sounds pretty cool for any international student looking to further their studies in Europe.
Which Countries in Europe Provide the Cheapest Universities?
As stated earlier, Europe offers plenty of study options for international students, and education is free for European students in many countries.
Some of the top countries that offer cheap university education for international students are:
- Denmark
- Finland
- Argentina
- Germany
- France
- Austria
- Sweden
- Norway
- Spain
- Netherland
- Portugal
- Greece
Let’s go straight into the 20 best European universities that offer qualitative and cheap education without wasting much time.
20 Top Cheapest Universities in Europe.
1. Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano)
The Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) is the largest technical university in Italy, with a capacity of about 42 000 students.
Established in 1863, it is regarded as the oldest university in Milan.
The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and higher education engineering, architecture, and design courses.
Undergraduate tuition- 1,846 USD annually
- Undergrads tuition – 4, 585 USD annually
- Graduate tuition- 1,499 USD annually
The Cost-of-living falls between 743-1,524 USD per month (cost for international students only)
2. Free University of Berlin – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
The Free University of Berlin has been one of Germany’s top ten overall best universities since 2007.
It is also one of the leading universities in Germany in terms of modern research and teaching.
In addition, it is well-recognized internationally.
- Undergraduate tuition- 684 USD annually
- Graduate tuition- 1,000 USD annually
The cost of living- falls between 652-1,237 USD monthly
3. University of Pisa – Best Cheapest Universities in Europe
The University of Pisa is a public research university established in the year 1343 in Italy.
UniPi tuition fee is very affordable, so it has made it to the list.
The university runs bachelor’s degree programs that cost approximately $2,500 per annum for international students.
Also, its master’s degree program costs about $2,307 annually for international students.
For a university of its standard, this is very cheap and affordable
The cost of living is between 666-1,272 USD per month
4. Heidelberg University – Best Cheapest Universities in Europe
The Heidelberg University is an internationally networked public university dedicated to research-oriented teaching.
Established in 1386, it is regarded as Germany’s oldest university and one of the world’s oldest universities.
As a European Union and European Economic Area student, you are to pay only a fee of just €171.75, which covers the administrative costs, transit pass, the social contribution for student services, student union, etc.
While as a student from a non-European Union and non-European Economic Area country, you must pay €1,500 every semester.
- Undergraduate- 328 USD / year
- International students(EU)- €171.75
- International students- €1,500
The cost of living falls between 731-1,372 USD monthly
5. Novosibirsk State University – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
Novosibirsk State University (NSU) is one of Russia’s top institutions highly dedicated to research, scientific, and educational activities.
Established in the year 1958, it has since produced various notable scientists in the world.
Equally, they offer numerous undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Undergraduate tuition- 3,000 USD annually
- Graduate tuition- 3,000 USD annually
The cost of living falls between 250-534 USD monthly
6. Royal University College of Fine Arts
The Royal College of Fine Art is the world’s most respected postgraduate institution of arts and design. It is situated in Stockholm.
Here, the major focus of the school is on art. The Institute offers fully equipped workshops, student studios, lecture halls, and exhibition spaces.
The university also hosts different and internationally acclaimed development projects and artistic research.
- Undergraduate tuition: 5,000 USD annually
- Graduate tuition: 5,000 USD annually (for international students)
The cost of living falls between 774-1,527 USD monthly
7. Fontys University of Applied Sciences
The Fontys University of Applied Science is one of the largest Dutch universities of applied sciences in the southern Netherlands.
It is one of the best institutions to study if you are interested in entrepreneurship, technology, and creativity.
They offer a wide range of Bachelors’s, Master’s, and Exchange programs in the English Language.
- Undergraduate tuition: 5,000 USD per year
- Graduate tuition: 5,000 USD per year
The cost of living falls between 633-1,242 USD monthly
8. University of Göttingen – Best Cheapest Universities in Europe
As stated above, Germany is one of the top countries that offer quality cheap education.
In the same light, the University of Göttingen is one of the few tuition-free universities in the country.
The University of Göttingen offers courses in law, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The good thing is that some of the courses are offered in the English language.
In addition, they also have one of the largest libraries in Germany.
The only study cost here is a small administrative fee of around 300 Euros each semester.
- Tuition fee- 350 USD per semester (for international students)
The cost of living falls between 800 USD per month
9. Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE)
Moscow State University of Psychology and Education is a non-profit state budgetary institution established in 1996 in Moscow.
MSUPE offers courses and programs leading to internationally recognized and respected degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees, master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and doctorate degrees in various areas of study.
- Undergraduate tuition: 2,500 USD per year
- Graduate tuition: 2,500 USD per year
The cost of living falls between 434-967 USD per month
10. RWTH Aachen University – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
RWTH Aachen University is the largest technical university in Germany and one of Europe’s leading institutions for science and research.
It specializes in materials engineering, architecture, and resources.
The limitation here is that as an international student, you’ll need a certain amount of fluency in German to attend school, as all bachelor courses are taught in German.
- Tuition Cost: 260 euros
The cost of living is approximately 900 USD monthly.
11. The University of Vienna – Top Cheapest Universities to Study in Europe
The University of Vienna is one of the oldest institutions in the world, founded in the year 1365, yet it still maintains a modern learning environment.
It is tuition-free but has only a small processing fee of $815 per semester.
Many of their nearly 200 different programs are taught in English.
Equally, Vienna is a perfect place to study abroad, as it is famous for its culture and nightlife.
- Tuition Cost: $815 per semester
12. Nord University – Best Cheapest Universities to Study in Europe
Nord University doesn’t charge tuition fees because it is publicly funded.
As a non-EU student, you must prove you have the funds to support yourself for a year in Norway to get a visa.
- Tuition Cost: $800 per semester
The cost of living is approximately $13,000 per year
13. Nantes University
Nantes University is a higher education and research institution located in the city of Nantes in southern France.
The institution charges only a small processing fee of $200 per semester!
The cost of living is fairly low here. A wide range of programs is taught in English here, including literature, earth science and biology, civilizations, foreign languages, and international and European studies.
- Tuition fee: $200 per semester
The cost of living here is approximately $670 per month.
14. Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is a special-statute public research institution in Pisa, Italy.
It focuses majorly on applied sciences.
Sant’Anna School of advanced studies offers international students zero tuition fees for undergraduate programs, while the graduate student’s tuition fees range from €7,000 / €10,000 (Masters/Ph.D.)
15. University of Paris-Sud
The University of Paris-Sud is one of the cheapest universities in Europe.
The tuition fee here is free, but they charge a small processing fee of about $190 per semester.
Some courses are taught in English, including sciences and languages, economics, physics, and management.
Although the cost of living in Paris might be a little bit high, still, the university is cheap
- Tuition fee: $190 per semester (for international students)
16. University of Mannheim
The University of Mannheim is a public research university in Germany. It was established in the year 1967.
Equally, they offer a variety of part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
While some tuition fees are to be settled in school, some exceptions exist.
If an international student with a residence permit in Germany is attending the school, you won’t have to pay any tuition fees.
- Tuition fee: €3,000 per year
17. University of Basel
The University of Basel is the oldest in Switzerland, established in 1460.
It is one of the oldest surviving universities in the world.
Additionally, it possesses the largest library in the country.
The university offers a range of diverse programs, including law, medicine, theology, business and economics, humanities and social sciences, science, and psychology.
The limitation here is that most of their programs are taught in a mix of English and German
- The tuition fee is about $800 price per semester
18. University of Würzburg
The University of Wurzburg is one of the cheap leading institutions in Germany that offers education in English for international students.
Their major programs include politics, molecular and computational biology, astronomy, and cultural and music studies.
They charge a small processing fee of about $145 per semester, making it affordable for international students.
- Tuition Cost: 130 euros, or $145 per semester
19. University of Crete, Greece
Established in 1973, the University of Crete is a public educational citadel offering various undergraduate, doctoral, and master’s degree programs.
This is another cheap university you will find in Europe for international students, and they do not charge tuition fees for EU nationals or residents enrolling in their undergraduate programs.
- The tuition fee for the master’s is approximately $2000.
20. University of Athens
The University of Athens is the oldest in all of Greece!
They offer undergraduate programs which range from dentistry to music studies, as well as social theology, nursing, and theatre studies.
Being an ancient university, it provides you with a lot of sightseeing experience.
You’ll have many places to explore and see while studying there.
The cost of living in Athens is $800/month but can also be as little as $500.
- The tuition fee is about $400 per semester.
FAQs – Top Cheapest Universities in Europe
The country with the cheapest university in Europe can vary depending on factors such as the degree program, language of instruction, and student nationality. However, some countries with low tuition fees for international students include Germany, France, and Finland.
As a student, the cheapest place to live in Europe can vary depending on the city, country, and lifestyle choices. However, some cities with low living costs for students include Budapest (Hungary), Krakow (Poland), and Braga (Portugal).
The best course to study in Europe depends on a person’s interests, career goals, and circumstances. However, some popular fields of study in Europe include engineering, business and management, computer science, medicine, and social sciences such as political science and international relations.
Conclusion
Kindly go through each school carefully and choose one that suits your interest. Remember to do enough research before making any final choice on where to study in Europe.
