Countries With Free Tuition: Top 10 Tuition-Free Universities

Are you aware that there are countries with free tuition? If you fail to qualify for a fully-funded university scholarship.  Then, consider enrolling in universities that are tuition-free or charge low tuition fees or those offering tuition fee waivers. In countries such as Norway, Austria, Germany, Finland, Sweden, etc, international students may be eligible for free tuition or tuition waivers.

While university fees continue to rise in so many parts of the world. Some of you may believe that obtaining a recognized degree qualification, whether in your home country or abroad, is simply impossible without a scholarship.

However, this is not necessarily the case, as you’ll be glad to hear. Students can study abroad for free or at a very affordable price in many countries. All you have to do is look for them here.

Below are a few countries where you can study for free or at a low cost.

List Of Countries With Free Tuition Or Low Tuition Fee

Some countries around the world offer free tuition for international students. This allows the student to live and study in the country for free or at a very low cost. Here is a list of countries with free tuition or for a very affordable price.

Tuition-Free Universities in Norway

Tuition fees are generally waived at Norwegian state universities and university colleges for all students, including international students. This is true at all levels, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. Students must, however, pay a semester fee of NOK 300-600 each semester.

It should be noted that some state universities and university colleges may charge tuition for a few specialized programs at the Master’s level. More so, tuition fees are charged by the majority of private institutions for all programs and courses.

However, the fees are typically significantly lower than those charged for comparable studies in the majority of other countries. Furthermore, foreign students do not pay higher tuition than Norwegian students.

Cost of Studying in Norway: Keep in mind that living expenses in Norway are higher than in many other countries. Living expenses would be between NOK 90,000 and NOK 100,000 per year.

Tuition-Free Universities in Germany

Germany is a popular study destination for international students, owing primarily to its free education. Tuition fees are not required for international or domestic students attending German public universities. Nonetheless, depending on the university and the program, some universities charge students between €150 and €400 to cover administrative costs.

Furthermore, students who come from a country where a student visa is required must clearly show that they have a living expense budget of €10,236 per year or €850 per month.

In addition to providing free education, German universities are well-known for their educational quality. In the World University Rankings, over 40 German universities were ranked among the best in the world.

Austria Tuition-Free Universities

In Austria, federal/public universities charge non-EU/EEA students about 726.72 Euros per semester for tuition fees, plus 20.20 Euros for the student union membership fee “OH-Beitrag” and the student accident insurance fee.

In certain circumstances, tuition fees are waived or refunded in whole or in part. For instance, holders of certain scholarships, participants in exchange programs and university partnerships, and students from particular countries can enjoy this.

Cost of Studying in Austria: The monthly cost of living for students in Austria is approximately 800 Euros, which includes housing, food, and personal expenses.

Countries With Free Tuition Universities – Finland

The Finnish education system is also regarded as one of the best in the world. Many universities in the country provide free education since they are government-funded.

Students from EU countries can study in Finland for free at any program, whereas non-EU students who want to study in English must pay tuition. Only doctoral studies will be exempt from tuition fees, regardless of nationality. More so, students should only make sure they have enough money to cover their housing, living expenses, books, and other expenses.

Scholarships are available at Finnish universities and UASs for talented non-EU/EEA students admitted to fee-paying Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs. EDUFI Fellowships are available to cover living expenses for up to one academic year of doctoral studies.

The cost of studying in Finland is estimated to be around 700-900 Euros per month for a single student.

Countries With Free Tuition Universities – Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, also known as “the heart of Europe,” is another country that provides free education to international students. All students, regardless of nationality, are entitled to free higher education at the country’s state universities. Students must know the local language in order to benefit from free tuition at any public university.

However, those who wish to study English must pay a tuition fee of €4,000-12,000 per year. According to Czech Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports data for 2020, the number of international students in the Czech Republic increased from 46,351 in 2019 to 50,121 in 2020.

This is a result of the free tuition in most government universities across the country.

Tuition Scholarships in Swedish Universities

Here, application and tuition fees apply for those who are not citizens of an EU/EEA/Nordic country or Switzerland studying at the bachelor’s or master’s level. However, the Swedish Institute and a number of universities in Sweden offer both full and partial scholarships in the form of tuition waivers to international students.

Interestingly, the majority of Ph.D. positions in Sweden are offered by universities or external funding bodies as paid positions. Therefore, if you are offered a position as a Ph.D. candidate, you will not pay fees and will receive a monthly salary.

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Tuition-Free Universities in Greece

With the exception of some master’s programs, EU/EEA students can study for free at public higher education institutions in Greece.

International students from countries other than the European Union can study in the country at a low cost. Greece is also one of the most affordable European Union countries to live in.

Brazil Tuition-free Universities

International students looking to study abroad for free should consider Brazil, the largest country in Latin America and the fifth-largest in the world.

Domestic and international students in Brazil can study for free at most public universities, with only registration fees to pay. In contrast, the amount that students must pay at private higher education institutions is determined by the university and the degree program that they choose.

Students should take an exam to demonstrate their knowledge of the Portuguese language before applying to any university in Brazil. Brazil is also regarded as an affordable country for students due to lower food and transportation costs in comparison to neighboring countries.

Tuition-free Universities In France

Although France may not be as well-known as Germany for affordable higher education. However, international students may be surprised to learn they can also study there for free (or at a very low cost), regardless of their nationality.

Although university fees are basically charged at public universities in France, they are a fraction of those charged in most other countries, amounting to just €170 (US$190) per year at the undergraduate level for EU/EEA/Swiss students.

Online Tuition-Free Universities Around the World

There are now a number of universities that provide free online degrees/courses. The first of these universities is the University of the People, a tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university dedicated to increasing global access to higher education.

The University of the People provides online associate and bachelor’s degrees in business administration, health science, and computer science, as well as an MBA program.

This was followed by an MIT and Harvard initiative called edX. This is a learning platform that allows students from any country to take free online courses. These courses are offered by three premier universities in the United States. They include Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley – as well as 50+ other universities and institutions.

This shows that tuition fee is no longer a barrier to studying abroad. Apply for admission to some of these tuition-free universities today and leave the rest to history.