For those of you who want to study abroad with a choice of low-cost countries. Here are our recommendations for you.
Unlike many would think, it is indeed possible to study abroad on a budget! Some of the best places to study abroad are also ones where tuition fees are low, or even non-existent.
Read on to find out more about 10 of the cheapest countries to study abroad, in no particular order.
Top 10 Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad
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Italy
Although private tertiary institutions in Italy can find costs ranging from US $ 17,360 per year, state universities in Italy that are actually cheaper, pay between US $ 920-1,080 per year for undergraduate programs.
EU students are eligible to receive the same funding opportunities as Italian students, including loans, grants, scholarships and fee waivers. The cost of living in Italy is also not as high as you think, around US $ 1,300 per month. This year, Milan is ranked 36th in the QS Best Student Cities.
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Spain
With the same educational rights as Spanish students, EU students are not required to pay higher education fees. International students, meanwhile, can study in Spain for prices between US $ 740-1,500 per year in public institutions. Fees are charged on a ‘per credit’ basis and can be higher at the postgraduate level.
To live in Spain you can spend between US $ 970-1,200 for living expenses. Barcelona and Madrid were both featured in the 2015 QS Best Student Cities ranking, at 19 and 39 respectively.
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Greece
All students from within the European Union or EEA can study abroad for free in Greece at public universities and colleges at all levels, with the exception of several master’s degree programs. And if this doesn’t sound like it’s not enough, you can also get textbooks for free!
International students who also fulfill the requirements get opportunities for education at low prices, around US $ 1,630 per year. Greece offers one of the lowest costs living in the European Union.
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Taiwan
Tuition fees in Taiwan with the nation’s leading universities offer affordable programs. For example, National Taiwan University (NTU), the leading university in the country 76 in the 2014/15 QS World University Rankings, was charged by students last year for only US $ 1,600-2,000 for this year. In the 2015 Best Student Cities QS, Taipei was ranked 25th in the world and the most affordable city for students in 2015.
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Germany
Germany is one of the European countries which is a favorite destination for continuing education abroad. Last year from 16 countries, Germany abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in all German public colleges. This means that both domestic and international undergraduate students at state universities in Germany can study for free, with only a small fee to cover administration and other costs per semester.
Based on official figures from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the average learning cost in Germany is only US $ 10,520 per year, close to US $ 540 for school fees and US $ 9,980 for 12 months of life which includes food, transportation, accommodation, entertainment, course materials and other necessities.
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Austria
Another country where students can study in Europe is free (or at a very low cost) is Austria. EU / EEA students enjoy the same rights as Austria regarding the cost of higher education, and can study for two semesters for free at every level. After this time, students pay a fee of only US $ 390 per semester.
International students from outside the European Union or EEA must pay a fee slightly higher than around US $ 790 per semester. Living costs will set all students back around between US $ 920-1,080 months. Vienna, the capital of Austria, was ranked 20th in the 2015 QS Best Student Cities.
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Czech Republic (Czech Republic)
Students who can speak Czech will have the opportunity to study abroad for free in the Czech Republic at public universities. Students who want to learn English can also study cheaply, around US $ 1,080 per semester. Living costs are more affordable than in many countries in Western Europe, around US $ 350-750 per month. The Czech capital, Prague, is this year 49 ranked in the QS Best Student Cities.
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Skandivania / Nordic Countries ( Denmark , Finland , Norway , Sweden , Iceland )
Known for the high quality of life, stunning nature and liberal politics, Northern European countries (known as Nordic countries) also boast of some of the strongest high education systems in the world. And for many students, it’s possible to study abroad for free in four of the five Nordic countries!
While Iceland does not cost tuition, fellow Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden all offer the opportunity to study for free. However, there are certain conditions that students must fulfill.
In Norway, university studies are available free of charge to all students, regardless of education or nationality. The majority of undergraduate programs are taught only in Norwegian, and international students must show evidence of proficiency in Norway to study at this level.
In both Denmark and Sweden, international fees at undergraduate and master levels vary. In Denmark, university fees range from US $ 6,550- $ 17,500 per year, while in Sweden they fall between US $ 9,400-16,500
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India
In India, international students at the undergraduate level will often pay a combined annual amount of US $ 1,200- $ 5,300 to cover both their tuition fees and their accommodation. While government agencies charge fees quite similar, undergraduate degrees tend to be more expensive and private schools charge significantly more.
The cost of living in India, for most students, might be very interesting. According to many reports, consumer prices are 236% cheaper than in the UK, while rental prices are 471% cheaper.
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France
France may not be as well known as Germany for affordable higher education, but again, 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.
Even though technically university fees do exist in public universities in France, they only pay US $ 250 per year to cover the administration alone.
As in Germany, most programs offer the opportunity to study in France for free taught in the native language. However, there are more opportunities to study in English, especially at the postgraduate level. You can also attend preparatory schools to perfect your French skills before starting your class.
Although it is possible to study in France for free, the cost of living is very large, especially in the popular capital. That said, despite the fame for the high cost of living, Paris is still quite affordable, with a living cost of around US $ 10,430 per year. The comparative affordability of the French capital, combined with a large selection of international university rankings, means continuing to the top of the QS Best Student Cities index.
Highest institution ranking: Paris ENS (24 at 2014/15 QS World University Rankings).
