Wish to go abroad for a Masters, PhD or MBA? Studying in a foreign country is everyone’s dream and while some manage to fulfil the dream, other’s are unable to, primarily due to the exorbitant cost of education in these countries.
An average, middle-class family cannot afford to send their children abroad to pursue education. However, not every country exploits something as basic as education. Let’s take a look at six countries that provide education for free not only to their own countrymen but even international students.
1. Germany
Germany, the fourth-largest economy in the world, is located at the heart of Europe. The public universities in Germany charge no tuition fees for both domestic and international students. Apart from the basic €150-250 processing and administration fees, one can study at public German Universities free of cost.
However, like every major western country, the cost of living in Germany is extremely high. For an international student, monthly expenses for food, accommodation, travel, etc. are usually around $1,000 (₹70,000-75,000). Moreover, to be able to obtain a German visa, one will have to prove they have somewhere around $11,500 (₹8,50,000) to pay for their annual expenses.
2. France
Students may be surprised to hear they can also study in France for free (or, at a very low cost), regardless of their nationality. The smell of freshly baked croissants, the Eiffel tower, wines and cheese is already a tempting sight for many. Living costs in France are also relatively affordable, amounting to around €9,600 (~US$10,620) per year, though you should expect to pay more if you choose to live in the capital city.
3. Norway
In Norway, university study is available free of charge to all students, regardless of study level or nationality. Like Germany, you will only need to pay a semester fee, in this case around NOK 300-600 (₹2,000-3,000). However, most of the programs at public universities are taught in Norwegian, which may be difficult for one to learn. English oriented programs are becoming popular across the country.
4. Austria
Students outside the European Union will have to pay a basic fee of €730 (₹60,000) per semester for universities in Austria. Despite having free or low-cost education across its universities, Austria is not a popular choice for students due to the language of the programs, Austrian, and since it is not that big an economy, one may find it difficult to find a job.
5. Belgium
Missing waffles yet? Education in Belgium is provided at highly subsidised costs for international students. Belgium is a popular destination for international students due to the rich lifestyle the country provides. Fees are still fairly affordable for non-EU international students, at around €4,175 (₹30,000-40,000) per year. You can live in Belgium with a budget of around €11,400 (₹7,00,000-8,00,000) a year.