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If you do not qualify for fully-funded university scholarships, you can look at universities that are tuition free, charge low tuition fees, or offer tuition fee waivers. Countries such as Norway, Austria, Germany, Finland, and Sweden run different free or low tuition schemes and tuition waivers for international students.
Below is what each country charges, who pays, and what living costs to expect.
Tuition Free Universities in Norway »
According to Studyinnorway.no:
Norwegian state universities and university colleges as a rule do not charge tuition fees to all students including international students. This covers all levels, including undergraduate studies, Masters programmes and Ph.D. programmes. Students still pay a semester fee of NOK 300-600 each semester.
Some state universities and university colleges may charge tuition for a few specialized programmes, usually at the Masters level. Most private institutions charge tuition for all programmes and courses, but the fees are usually much lower than comparable studies in most other countries. Foreign students do not pay higher tuition than Norwegian students.
Cost of Studying in Norway: Living expenses in Norway are higher than in many other countries. They amount to NOK 90,000-100,000 per year.
- See the list of Universities and Colleges in Norway
- See also the list of Scholarships in Norway for International Students
Tuition Free Universities in Austria »
According to studyinaustria.at:
If you are a non-EU/EEA student, federal/public universities in Austria only charge about 726.72 Euros per semester for tuition fees plus 20.20 Euros per semester for the student union membership fee “ÖH-Beitrag” and the student accident insurance fee.
An exemption from paying tuition fees or a full/partial refund is possible in special cases, for example for holders of certain scholarships, for participants in exchange programmes and university partnerships, and for students from certain countries. Further information is available at the website of the university directly.
Cost of Studying in Austria: The cost of living for students in Austria is approximately 800 Euros per month, covering accommodation, food, and personal expenses.
- See the list of Higher Education Institutions in Austria
Tuition Free Universities in Germany »
According to internationale-studierende.de and study-in.de:
As of October 2014, all Universities in Germany except Baden-Württemberg will not charge any tuition fees for bachelor’s and consecutive master’s degree programs for all students including international students. In some Federal States, universities charge a semester contribution (about 50 euros) and/or administration fees (about 50 euros). This tuition fee structure can change in the future, so check this page for updated information on tuition fees in different federal states in Germany. Currently, the federal state of Baden-Württemberg charges tuition fees (for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom and state examination degree programmes) of €1,500 per semester for non-EU citizens.
Unlike undergraduate studies, most Master’s studies in Germany come with tuition fees, but they are not as high as in other countries.
Doctoral studies at German universities are in principle free. PhD students are charged tuition only after completing their first six semesters, but they must pay a semester contribution of approximately 150-200 euros per semester. Doctoral students usually work on a research project (paid PhD position) or receive a scholarship.
Cost of Studying in Germany: On average, German students spend about 500-800 Euros for accommodation, transport, food, and miscellaneous expenses.
- See the list of German Universities and Colleges.
- Also see the list of Scholarships in Germany for International Students
Tuition Free Universities and Scholarships in Finland »
According to studyinfinland.fi:
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students have been introduced from autumn 2017 onwards for English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes. Only Doctoral level studies remain free of tuition fees, regardless of your nationality.
Finnish universities and UAS’s offer scholarship options for gifted non-EU/EEA students admitted to their fee-charging Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. EDUFI Fellowships are available to cover living expenses for Doctoral studies for up to one academic year.
Cost of Studying in Finland: Estimated living expenses of a single student in Finland average around 700-900 Euros per month.
- See the list of all Finnish institutions of higher education
- See the list of Scholarships in Finland
Tuition Scholarships in Swedish Universities »
According to studyinsweden.se:
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 significant number of Universities offer full and partial scholarships in the form of tuition waivers for international students.
PhD positions in Sweden are usually offered as paid positions by universities or external funding bodies. This means that if you are offered a position as a PhD candidate, you will not pay fees and will receive a monthly salary.
- Find the list of Universities in Sweden that offers scholarships/tuition waivers
- See the list of Scholarships in Sweden for International Students
Online Tuition-Free Universities »
There are now a number of universities offering online degrees and courses for free. The first such university is University of the People, which is a tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university dedicated to opening access to higher education globally. University of the People offers online Associates and Bachelors Degrees in Business Administration, Health Science, and Computer Science, as well as an MBA program.
This was followed by an initiative of MIT and Harvard called edX, which is a learning platform that gives students from any country the opportunity to take free online courses offered by three premier Universities in the US – Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley and about 50+ Universities and institutions.
- See the list of Free online courses and scholarships