Studying in Europe is a dream that many international students have but oftentimes, the cost is a big concern.
In many European countries, you need to pay thousands of dollars if you want to study there.
Not many students can afford that much, therefore, their dreams don’t get realized.
This has been the situation for most students until some European universities started offering education at a reduced price.
Now, many students can afford to study in different countries in Europe without breaking the bank.
If you’re an international student with a desire to study in Europe, here are the cheapest universities in Europe for international students.
You can consider any for your studies.
Why study in Europe?
Europe is home to some of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities.
Studying on this continent is an opportunity not many get to enjoy.
As a student in Europe, you’ll enjoy:
✔ Affordable tuition fees – Currently, many public universities charge low fees for tuition and other expenses.
✔ Quality education – The evidence is there, many European universities consistently rank among the best in the world.
✔ Diverse culture – Studying in Europe will expose you to different languages, cultures, and traditions. It is a rare opportunity you’ll always appreciate.
✔ Work opportunities – Many European countries allow international students to work part-time while studying.
✔ Post-study options – In many European countries, if you want to stay back after your studies, you just need to apply for a post-study work visa. This is the rule in countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
If you want to get started with your study in Europe dream, consider the following cheap universities.
Cheapest universities in Europe for international students
Cheap universities in Europe include:
1. University of Vienna (Austria)
The University of Vienna is one of the oldest, yet respected universities in Europe.
Established in 1365 by Duke Rudolph IV, it has a long tradition of academic excellence.
With nearly 90,000 students, it is the largest university in Austria and one of the largest in Europe.
The university has produced 15 Nobel Prize winners, including physicist Erwin Schrödinger.
It is particularly well-known for its strengths in philosophy, humanities, and social sciences.
The university’s location in Vienna, a city ranked among the most livable in the world, adds to its appeal.
🌍 Country: Austria
📅 Founded: 1365
🎓 Student Population: Over 89,000
🏆 Ranking: #137 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: €726 per semester (Non-EU students)
📖 Popular Courses: Humanities, Social Sciences, Business
2. University of Warsaw (Poland)
The University of Warsaw is Poland’s leading research institution and the largest university in the country.
Founded in 1816, it has consistently ranked among the top 3 universities in Central and Eastern Europe.
With a student body of over 40,000, the university has more than 100 programs, including 40+ in English.
The cost of living in Warsaw is among the lowest for European capitals, making studying in a university there a great option for budget-conscious students.
The university is particularly strong in engineering, economics, and international relations.
🌍 Country: Poland
📅 Founded: 1816
🎓 Student Population: 40,000+
🏆 Ranking: #262 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: From €2,000 per year
📖 Popular Courses: Engineering, Business, Medicine
3. University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
The University of Ljubljana is Slovenia’s largest and oldest higher education institution.
It was established in 1919, and has a student population of over 38,000, with around 10% international students.
They have over 150 bachelor’s and master’s programs and is known for its expertise in engineering, law, and social sciences.
Ljubljana is a small but vibrant capital city, ranked among Europe’s most livable and greenest cities, which makes it a good place for international students.
🌍 Country: Slovenia
📅 Founded: 1919
🎓 Student Population: 38,000+
🏆 Ranking: #611-620 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: From €1,500 per year
📖 Popular Courses: Engineering, Law, Social Sciences
4. Free University of Berlin (Germany)
The Free University of Berlin (FU Berlin) was founded in 1948 during the Cold War as a response to Soviet control over higher education in East Berlin.
It remains one of Germany’s top universities and is internationally recognized for humanities, natural sciences, and political science.
FU Berlin is a member of the German Excellence Initiative, meaning it receives extra funding for research.
Germany’s policy of tuition-free education applies to both domestic and international students, making FU Berlin a top destination for affordable yet high-quality education.
🌍 Country: Germany
📅 Founded: 1948
🎓 Student Population: 33,000+
🏆 Ranking: #98 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: FREE (Only administrative fee of €300 per semester)
📖 Popular Courses: Computer Science, Humanities, Natural Sciences.
5. University of Paris-Saclay (France)
The University of Paris-Saclay is one of France’s leading research universities.
Although officially founded in 2019, it brings together prestigious institutions such as École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay and CentraleSupélec.
The university specializes in STEM fields, ranking among the top 15 in the world for physics and engineering.
Located near Paris, it gives students access to France’s capital while keeping lower tuition fees compared to other elite French universities like Sorbonne or École Polytechnique.
🌍 Country: France
📅 Founded: 2019 (from the merger of top institutions)
🎓 Student Population: 48,000+
🏆 Ranking: #71 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: €2,770 per year (Bachelor’s), €3,770 per year (Master’s)
📖 Popular Courses: Physics, Engineering, Business.
6. University of Belgrade (Serbia)
The University of Belgrade is the largest and oldest university in the Balkans, founded in 1808.
With a massive student population of over 90,000, it is one of the largest universities in Southeast Europe.
The university is particularly well known for medicine, engineering, and law and is home to one of the best medical schools in the region.
In terms of cost of living, Serbia is one of the most affordable countries in Europe, with a low cost of living and a rich cultural scene.
🌍 Country: Serbia
📅 Founded: 1808
🎓 Student Population: 90,000+
🏆 Ranking: #801-1000 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: From €1,000 per year
📖 Popular Courses: Medicine, Engineering, Law.
7. University of Porto (Portugal)
The University of Porto is Portugal’s second-largest university and one of its most respected institutions.
Known for architecture and engineering, it has produced multiple Pritzker Prize-winning architects.
The city of Porto is famous for its great architecture, affordable living, and vibrant cultural scene.
🌍 Country: Portugal
📅 Founded: 1911
🎓 Student Population: 32,000+
🏆 Ranking: #274 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: Around €3,000 per year
📖 Popular Courses: Architecture, Business, Computer Science.
8. Charles University (Czech Republic)
Charles University is one of the oldest and most popular universities in Europe.
It was founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV, making it the oldest university in Central Europe.
The university has 17 faculties and lots of English-taught programs, particularly in medicine, humanities, and IT.
🌍 Country: Czech Republic
📅 Founded: 1348
🎓 Student Population: 50,000+
🏆 Ranking: #248 in QS World University Rankings (2024)
💰 Tuition Fees: From €2,000 per year
📖 Popular Courses: Medicine, Social Sciences, IT.
Other cheap universities include:
8. University of Debrecen (Hungary)
- 🌍 Country: Hungary
- 💰 Tuition Fees: From €2,500 per year
- 📖 Popular Courses: Medicine, Engineering, Arts
- 🏆 Why Choose It? Affordable education and low cost of living.
9. Charles University (Czech Republic)
- 🌍 Country: Czech Republic
- 💰 Tuition Fees: From €2,000 per year
- 📖 Popular Courses: Medicine, Social Sciences, IT
- 🏆 Why Choose It? One of the best universities in Central Europe.
10. University of Athens (Greece)
- 🌍 Country: Greece
- 💰 Tuition Fees: Around €1,500 per year
- 📖 Popular Courses: History, Law, Medicine
- 🏆 Why Choose It? One of the oldest universities in Europe with a rich cultural heritage.
Countries in Europe where you can study for free
Education is free (or cost little) in many European countries even for international students.
Some of these countries (where education is free) include:
🇩🇪 Germany – Public universities are tuition-free for all students (only a small semester fee applies).
🇳🇴 Norway – Tuition is free for all students, but living costs are high.
🇸🇪 Sweden – Free tuition for EU/EEA students, but non-EU students pay fees.
🇫🇮 Finland – Free for EU students, but affordable fees for non-EU students.
🇦🇹 Austria – Low tuition fees (about €726 per semester).
Estimated cost of living for international students in Europe
While tuition fees in some of these European countries are low, your cost of living depends on the country you choose.
Here’s an estimate of monthly expenses for students by country:
| Country | Living Costs (Per Month) |
|---|---|
| Germany | €700 – €1,200 |
| France | €800 – €1,500 |
| Poland | €400 – €800 |
| Hungary | €500 – €900 |
| Portugal | €600 – €1,000 |
| Czech Republic | €500 – €1,000 |
| Norway | €1,000 – €2,000 |
💡 Tip: Countries like Poland, Hungary, and Serbia have the lowest cost of living, which makes them great budget-friendly options.
If you’re a student on a budget, check these cheap universities across Europe, they offer quality education, yet tuition fees and other costs are low.
Look out for countries like Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Austria.
