Etudes Non Stop Study Non Stop
Related Articles
If you’re unable to secure fully-funded scholarships, consider enrolling in universities that offer either free or low-cost tuition or provide exemptions. Countries such as Norway, Austria, Germany, Finland, and Sweden offer various forms of free or low-cost tuition programs and tuition waivers for international students.
Norway’s Tuition-Free Universities
According to Studyinnorway.no:
As a general rule, Norwegian state universities and university colleges do not charge tuition fees for all students, including international students. This applies to all levels, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. However, students will need to pay semester fees ranging from 300 to 600 NOK per semester.
Note that some public universities and university colleges may charge tuition fees for a few specialized programs, usually at the master’s level. Most private institutions charge tuition fees for all their programs and courses, but these fees are generally much lower than comparable studies in most other countries. Additionally, international students do not pay higher tuition fees than Norwegian students.
Cost of Living in Norway: Keep in mind that the cost of living in Norway is higher than in many other countries. Living expenses would amount to 90,000-100,000 NOK per year.
View the list of universities and colleges in Norway.
Austria’s Tuition-Free Universities
According to Studyinaustria.at:
For non-EU/EEA students, public universities in Austria charge approximately 726.72 euros per semester for tuition, plus 20.20 euros per semester for the student union fee (“ÖH-Beitrag”) and student accident insurance.
Full or partial exemption from tuition fees is possible in specific cases (e.g., for recipients of certain scholarships, participants in exchange and university partnership programs, and students from certain countries). Further information is available directly on the university’s website.
Cost of Living in Austria: The cost of living for students in Austria is approximately 800 euros per month, covering accommodation, food, and personal expenses.
View the list of higher education institutions in Austria.
Germany’s Tuition-Free Universities
According to internationale-studierende.de and study-in.de:
Since October 2014, all German universities, except in Baden-Württemberg*, do not charge any tuition fees for consecutive bachelor’s and master’s programs for all students, including international students. In some states (“Länder”), universities charge a semester contribution (around 50 euros) and/or administrative fees (around 50 euros). This fee structure may change in the future, so you should check this page for updated information on tuition fees in the various German states. Currently, Baden-Württemberg charges tuition fees (for bachelor’s, master’s, diploma, and state examination programs) of 1,500 € per semester for non-European citizens.
Unlike undergraduate studies, most master’s programs in Germany do have tuition fees, but they are not as high as in other countries.
On the other hand, doctoral studies in German universities are generally free. Doctoral candidates only pay tuition fees after completing their first six semesters, but they are required to pay a semester contribution of approximately 150 to 200 euros per semester. Doctoral candidates typically work on a research project (paid doctoral position) or receive a scholarship.
Cost of Studies in Germany: On average, German students spend about 500 to 800 euros for housing, transportation, food, and various expenses.
Check the list of German universities and colleges.
Finland’s Tuition-Free Universities and Scholarships
According to Studyinfinland.fi:
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students were introduced from autumn 2017 for English-taught bachelor’s or master’s programs. Only doctoral-level studies remain exempt from tuition fees, regardless of your nationality.
Finnish universities and UASs offer scholarship options for talented non-EU/EEA students admitted to their fee-charging bachelor’s and master’s programs. EDUFI scholarships are available to cover the living costs of doctoral studies for one academic year.
Cost of Studies in Finland: Estimated living costs for a single student in Finland are on average about 700 to 900 euros per month.
View the list of all Finnish higher education institutions.
View the list of scholarships in Finland.
Scholarships in Swedish Universities
According to studyinsweden.se:
Application and tuition fees apply to those who are not citizens of an EU/EEA/Nordic country or Switzerland and are 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 fee waivers for international students.
PhD positions in Sweden are typically offered as paid positions by universities or external funding agencies. This means that if you are offered a PhD position, you will not pay tuition fees and will receive a monthly salary.
Find the list of universities in Sweden offering scholarships/tuition fee waivers.
Online Universities with No Tuition Fees
There are now a number of universities offering degrees/courses online for free. The first of these universities is the University of the People, an accredited, non-profit online university dedicated to expanding access to higher education globally. The University of the People offers associate and bachelor’s degrees online in business administration, health science, and computer science, as well as an MBA program.
This was followed by an initiative from MIT and Harvard called edX, a learning platform that gives students from any country the opportunity to take free online courses offered by three leading universities in the United States: Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley, along with approximately 50+ universities and institutions.
