With many options for travel, education and work, Europe is one of the most popular study abroad destinations.
But that’s not the only reason. Every year international students leave their home countries to study here as there are several tuition-free universities in Europe.
While most tuition-free universities in Europe are catered towards students from European Economic Area (EEA) and European Union (EU) countries, there are a few countries that offer free tuition to all students regardless of their nationality, such as Norway and Germany.
Their tuition-free universities allow students to skip the hefty fees and student loans while still receiving a quality education.
As the name implies, tuition-free universities offer degrees or courses that don’t charge students a dime for enrolment, books, and course materials.
But administrative charges may apply depending on the universities. Even then, it’s considerably cheaper than paying full or partial tuition fees.
Intrigued? Here are the best tuition-free universities in Europe for non-EU and non-EEA students:
Here are the five best tuition-free universities in Europe for international students:
University of Bergen, Norway
The unique thing about Norway is that the country believes that everyone should have access to free education regardless of where they come from.
As such, Norway offers a quality education that is free to EU citizens and international students.
Public universities in Norway are fully funded. This means that students do not have to pay tuition fees.
The University of Bergen is one example of a tuition-free university in the country. One of their main highlights is their two-year master’s programmes.
Students can choose from 25 master’s programmes, which cover the humanities and aesthetic studies, medicine, natural sciences and technical subjects, social sciences and psychology, as well as fine art, music and design.
Don’t worry about not speaking the language, as all the courses are taught in English.
University of Iceland, Iceland
Another country that does not charge tuition fees to international students is Iceland.
However, international students are required to pay an annual admin fee of 75,000 Icelandic króna (approximately US$526.46 at the time of writing).
Ranked one of the best universities in the country for international students is the University of Iceland.
Located in the heart of Reykjavik, the university is renowned for its quality education and efforts in research.
The university offers tuition-free degrees in engineering, computer science and social sciences to all students, no matter their background.
Here, international students are exempted from providing IELTS or TOEFL scores. To replace this, the university accepts a number of other English proficiency tests.
The University of Vienna, Austria
From Kunsthaus Graz to Salzburg, Austria is renowned for its picturesque locations. However, its beautiful scenery is not all the country is known for.
Like other European countries, Austrian students, EU citizens and members of EEA countries are not required to pay tuition fees.
But don’t worry, while students outside these countries are required to pay tuition, the amount is much lower than in many other countries.
Located in the city’s heart is one of the oldest institutions in Europe. The University of Vienna is among the top universities in Austria, according to the QS World University Ranking 2023.
Here, international students outside of EU and EEA countries are required to pay 726.72 euros (roughly US$778.45) per semester.
The university offers many courses of study here with 15 faculties and five centres. Students can choose to study advanced theological studies, law, zoology, and many more.
Studying abroad can be expensive but tuition-free universities in Europe let you earn a quality education without going into huge debt. Source: Thomas Kienzle/AFP
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Germany
In Germany, all domestic and international undergraduate students can study for free at any public university in the country. Students only need to pay a small amount that covers administration fees and other miscellaneous costs per semester.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), ranked in the world’s top 50 universities by Times Higher Education, is one of these tuition-free universities in Germany.
All master’s programmes here are taught in English, so you need not worry about picking up German. International students can expect to pay around US$243 per semester.
Located in Munich, students can enjoy local gems such as the world-class Bavarian State Opera, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and the iconic Oktoberfest.
People visit the marina area of the city of Lappeenranta in Finland on July 28, 2022. Source: Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP
Tampere University, Finland
There are many reasons to study in Finland. The country is known for consistently ranking #1 in the World Happiness Report.
While students from EU and EEA countries do not have to pay tuition fees in Finland, international students are still required to pay a small amount to study here.
As one of the youngest universities in the country, Tampere University is renowned for its programmes that are backed by the latest research and strong industry partnerships.
These programmes span subjects like Engineering, Natural Sciences, Information Technology, Communication Sciences, Management, Business, and more.
International students can expect to pay tuition fees between 10,000 to 12,000 euros for a bachelor’s programme.
