Did you know that there are universities in certain countries offering FREE tuition admission to international students in 2024? There are also universities whose tuition fees are relatively affordable.
Surprisingly, many of these schools still offer scholarships to complement the income of their students.
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While university fees continue to rise in many parts of the world, discouraged students might be thinking that getting a recognized degree or qualification abroad is impossible without a loaded dollar/euro bank account at their disposal or without obtaining a scholarship.
Some countries offering free tuition simply believe the education of a student should not depend on the financial capacity of the parents. Countries like Germany, Norway, Finland, Austria, and Iceland offer various free/low tuition schemes to international students. AfterSchoolAfrica has compiled information about these countries offering free tuition and possibly scholarships.
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Table of Contents
1. Germany
Interest in a foreign study in Germany is growing. This is largely because there are no undergraduate tuition fees at public universities in Germany, and this applies to both German students and international students, regardless of nationality. Germany notably also hosts many online universities that are tuition-free.
For both undergraduate and graduate degrees, you can study for free in public German universities. This is generally true for international students worldwide, inside or outside the EU/EEA zone. The only fees required are called “administrative fees,” which cost around 100–200 EUR/year, and they are dedicated to student services, covering costs for bus tickets to the university, student cafeterias, and more.
Every year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD: Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) provides financial support to over 120,000 highly qualified German and international students to live and study in Germany for free or at a more affordable cost. The scholarships to study in Germany are offered to domestic and international students of all levels, as well as academics and researchers.
2. Norway
According to Studyinnorway.no, students at state universities and university colleges in Norway do not pay tuition fees (private universities may have a different standard). This is true for all levels, including undergraduate studies, master’s programs, and Ph.D. programs. However, students will have to pay a semester fee of NOK 300-600 each semester. To take an exam, this fee will have to be paid in full. But the fee also grants you membership in the local student welfare organization, which in turn entitles you to several benefits. These benefits may include on-campus health services, counseling, access to sports facilities, and cultural activities.
Payment of the semester fee is also necessary to get an official student card that, among other things, gives you reduced fares on most forms of public transport and lower ticket prices to various cultural events.
The majority of undergraduate programs are taught only in Norwegian, and international students need to demonstrate proof of proficiency in Norwegian to study at this level. At master’s and PhD levels, English language programs are far more common, and free tuition still applies.
3. Finland
Generally, Northern European nations (known as the Nordic countries), Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden all offer opportunities to study for free or at a low cost. For the sake of specificity, only two (2) of these countries will be mentioned in this article.
Formerly, tuition fees in Finland were completely free. However, starting from autumn 2017, tuition fees, which will be a minimum of €1,500 (~US$1,600) per year, are now charged to non-EU students. Only doctoral-level studies will remain free of tuition fees, regardless of your nationality. The extent of the fee depends on the degree program.
4. Austria
For Austrian students and students who have the same status as Austrians (i.e., nationals of all EU and EEA member countries) and who have not exceeded the minimum duration of their study program plus two semesters, no fee is payable. After the two semesters of tolerance, you have to pay € 363.36 each semester.
For all other students from third countries (who have a residence permit for students), € 726.72 per semester is required. For all other degree program students from third countries (especially those who have a residence title other than a “residence permit student or belong to a specific group of persons), € 363.36 per semester is usually paid after the tuition fee-free period. An exemption from paying tuition fees is possible in special cases (e.g., for participants in exchange programs and university partnerships and students from the least developed countries).
5. Iceland
In Iceland, tuition fees are not paid at public universities. However, students have to pay a non-refundable ‘application fee’. The cost of the application fee is often between 250 and 650 euros.
For students who choose to study at private higher education institutions, they will need to pay both tuition and registration fees. Private higher education institutions charge tuition fees, but the fees charged are low when compared to other European institutions.
The fees charged by private higher education institutions in Iceland vary but usually range between 4500 and 8000 pounds depending on the courses chosen by students.
