One of the most common obstacles to studying abroad for students comes in the form of funding: tuition and living expenses. Often, countries with lower tuition may have a higher cost of living, whereas countries with cheaper living costs may have higher tuition. The key here becomes the scholarships, but what if a student’s unable to secure a scholarship or the available scholarships come with limited seats? Then, choosing a country according to your finances becomes important. Here are some of the cheapest countries for students wanting to study abroad.
Top 5 Affordable Study Abroad Destinations
Below is a list of the top 5 countries that are genuinely pocket-friendly, with additional details about the post-study work visa and the specific language requirements.
Germany
Quality: 5 German universities were ranked in the top 100 globally.
Tuition: EUR 0
Living Expenses: EUR 850 – 1200/month
Top Universities: University of Berlin, University of Munich, RWTH Aachen University, Heidelberg University, TU Dortmund, etc. – free tuition for all degree courses.
Cheap cities: Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, Magdeburg, etc.
Scholarships: DAAD Scholarships, Erasmus Mundus, and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
Best For: Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Science, Automotive Engineering, etc.
Work Rights: 120 full days or 240 half-days of work per year.
Language Requirements: STEM programs require English language proficiency, whereas humanities courses may require German proficiency (B1).
Post-Study Work Visa: 18 months.
Italy
Quality: Average rankings between 160 and 300 globally.
Tuition: EUR 1,000 – EUR 3500/year (public universities)
Living Expenses: EUR 600 – EUR 850 per month
Top Universities: Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Milan, University of Bologna, etc.
Cheap cities: Pisa, Padua, Bologna, Turin, etc.
Scholarships: Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI), Erasmus+, and university-specific funding.
Best For: Fashion and Design, Architecture, MBA, and Medicine.
Work Rights: 20 hours/week, 12 EUR/hr.
Language Requirements: English-taught programs are available, but mostly Italian language is necessary.
Post-Study Work Visa: 6 to 12 months (18 in special cases).
Poland
Quality: Average rank of 300 – 400 globally.
Tuition: EUR 2,000 – EUR 4500/yr
Living Expenses: EUR 600 – EUR 800/month
Top Universities: University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology, WSB University, etc.
Cheap cities: Lublin, Lodz, and Bialystok.
Scholarships: Polish government scholarships, Erasmus+, Stefan Banach Scholarship Programme.
Best For: Technology, Finance, business, and other STEM programs.
Work Rights: 120 hours/month during studies. Around EUR 12/hr.
Language Requirements: Many English-taught programs are available without the requirement of Polish.
Post-Study Work Visa: 9 months.
Norway
Quality: 300 – 350 on QS
Tuition: NOK 0
Living Expenses: NOK 1200 – 1600/month
Top Universities: University of Oslo, University of Bergen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, etc.
Cheap cities: Drammen, Skien, Sarpsborg, Bodo.
Scholarships: Erasmus+/Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, BI Norwegian Business School, High North Scholarships.
Best For: Renewable energy, marine sciences, engineering, and environmental sciences.
Work Rights: 20 hours per week. NOK 150 – 200/hr.
Language Requirements: No need for Norwegian if the program is English-taught.
Post-Study Work Visa: Can apply for a Residence Permit as a Job Seeker for up to 1 year.
Hungary
Quality: 400 – 500 QS
Tuition: EUR 2000 – EUR 5000/year.
Living Expenses: EUR 650 – EUR 900/month (INR 5.5 – 7.5 Lakhs/yr)
Top Universities: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Semmelweis University, University of Debrecen, and Corvinus University of Budapest.
Cheap cities: Miskolc, Szeged, Pécs, and Debrecen.
Scholarships: Stipendium Hungaricum offers fully-funded grants that cover even medical insurance for all degree level programs.
Best For: Medical, Engineering, and other STEM courses.
Work Rights: 20 hours/week. EUR 12/hr.
Language Requirements: Hungarian is not required for English-taught programs.
Post-Study Work Visa: 9 months.
Factors to Consider while Choosing the Right Country
If you’re planning to study abroad and are concerned about your finances, you must assess your options according to certain parameters. It is not necessary that the university/country you choose might be cheap just because the tuition is low or negligible. You should assess your requirements thoroughly. For example, although Norway’s fee is nil, the part-time work does not pay you enough to meet your living expenses.
- Budget
- Career Goals
- Lifestyle Standards
- Immigration Plans
- Academic Quality
Conclusion
Still struggling with your finances, and which country would be more feasible? Don’t worry! Have a discussion with one of our experts at Global Opportunities and solve your queries in a jiffy. Whether it’s which country and city to target, which university gives the better ROI, or how to manage your finances, we have got you covered completely.
FAQs:
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Which country has the lowest living costs?
- Malaysia and Poland have cheap living costs.
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Which country is best to study in after the 12th?
- While there’s no single best country for studies, you may choose one according to your preferences and requirements. The USA/UK offer strong courses with high-ranked universities, while Germany and Norway are much easier to manage from a finance perspective. Germany also leads in engineering programs.
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How to study abroad cheaply?
- You can target low-tuition or tuition-free universities or fully-funded or partially-funded scholarships that can fund your education and living expenses. You can also target Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant roles as well.