Cheap Education Abroad: 18 Countries with Inexpensive Education

Education abroad is becoming more and more accessible every year, new scholarships and international programs are appearing, the admission process is getting easier, and countries all over the world are becoming more and more loyal to international students. However, for many people, education abroad still seems to be unaffordable and complicated, and most importantly, expensive.
We have already written about the countries where education is free. Today we will tell you where to study abroad cheaply, so that education in universities will not be more expensive than in Russia and the CIS. Of course, there are still living expenses, so we also decided to tell you approximately how much a student should expect to pay per month in a particular country.
We chose the places with the availability of English-language programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels first of all. However most subjects are still taught in the official language of the country, so knowing the language of the country you wish to study in is a big plus.

Europe

Europe has long been famous for its quality education, and a European degree is recognized worldwide. At the same time in many European countries it is possible to study quite cheaply.

France

France is a country of romance, wine and croissants, attracts not only tourists but also students from all over the world, because it is also a major economic center of Europe. Since 2020, education in France has become fee-paying for non-residents of EC, but is still affordable. The cost of education in universities reaches an average of 3,000 EUR per year. However, the French government plans to triple the number of scholarships for foreign students.
It is easier to go to university here than in many other countries. Despite the fact that French school education lasts 12 years, school leavers from CIS countries have the right to enter immediately after receiving their diplomas. There is no entrance examination, the average mark and language knowledge are taken into account.
The cost of living in France is comparable with other European countries; on the average a student spends about 800-900 EUR per month on all expenses except tuition. The level of expenses also depends on the city, in Paris and in the south prices can be higher.

Spain

Spain is famous for its friendliness and openness. People here are very friendly, the climate is mild and warm, and education deservedly enjoys a high reputation worldwide. Studying in Spain is inexpensive in comparison with the United States or Britain. The cost of programs in public universities ranges from 750 to 6,000 EUR per year. Bachelor's programs are mostly taught in Spanish, but there are also English-language programs, but they are few. At the master's programs in English there are many more. It is possible to enter Spain after school on the basis of the certificate, since 2014 foreign citizens do not need to pass entrance exams! In order to enter a master's program, a Bachelor's degree will also be required.

The cost of living in Spain compared to other European countries is quite low, a student will need 600-900 EUR per month depending on the city.

Greece 

Greece   is a country famous for its legends, architecture and rich historical legacy. In addition, the country has long been famous for quality education, so it still attracts many students from all over the world. In addition, the cost of education and living here is quite low. A year at a university in Greece will cost 1300-5000 euros depending on the program. Most courses are taught in Greek, but there are a few English-language programs at both undergraduate and graduate level.

Entrance to local universities is quite simple, requiring only a language certificate and a bachelor's diploma (master's) or a school diploma (bachelor's), there are no entrance exams, admission to universities is based on the average score. 

In order to study in Greek you need to provide a language certificate, officially this is handled by Greek Language Center  in Thessaloniki and Athens, but exams can be taken around the world. There is also an option to enter a university without knowing the language and go to Greece for a year to learn the language at the university, and at the end of the course to switch to the training program. Such course lasts 8-9 months and implies learning Greek from scratch to B2.

The cost of living in Greece is quite low compared to other countries. On average, a student will need 400-700 euros per month, depending on the city and lifestyle.

Italy

Italy  is a fashion country with a rich history, famous for its architecture, as well as great coffee and the best ice cream. In addition, Italian universities are famous all over the world, especially in the fields of fashion, history and creativity! In addition, you can study here cheap. Education for foreign students will cost about 1,000-4,000 euros a year, depending on the university.
It is not possible to obtain a bachelor's degree immediately after high school, it is an obligatory requirement to have 12 years of education behind you when entering the university. To be able to catch up with the missing year a student may study at the university in his homeland, or may go to a special preparatory year in Italy where he can learn the language and learn the culture of the country closer, such a program will cost about 5500 euros.
The student will need 500-700 euros a month to live in Italy, which is not so much compared with the neighboring European countries.

Slovene

Slovene is right next to Austria and can please you with amazing landscapes and culture. Education for foreign students is rather cheap here and costs 2800-5000 euros per year in state universities, and here you can find both programs in English (the bachelor programs are much less, but they are available) and in Slovene. For entering the university you do not need to pass additional exams, the only requirement is a certificate of language knowledge (Slovene or English) and a certificate or diploma of BA.
The cost of living for students in Slovenia is rather low, you can count on 400-600 euros per month.

Estonia

Estonia is a small country with old streets and pretty houses, but there are many opportunities to get a quality higher education. In most cases, candidates do not even have to learn the local language, because many programs, both undergraduate and graduate, here are taught in English. Education for foreigners will cost 1800-4500 euros per year in public universities. Moreover, the Estonian Academy of Arts has the only program in the country exclusively in Russian - Medagrafica . Estonia is also famous for its technical professions, the country as a whole is very developed in terms of digital environment, it is here where Skype was invented! It is not so difficult to enter the local universities, you need a certificate of language knowledge and school diploma or bachelor's degree with good marks, the admission is based on the average mark.

The cost of living for students is relatively low, you can count on 400-600 euros per month.

Austria 

Austria famous for its ski resorts and chocolate, but it is also a great place for higher education. Vienna has been voted the best city to live in ten times, and Vienna University  is annually ranked among the top universities in the world. At the same time, the cost of education for foreign students is quite low and varies from 1,500 to 3,600 euros per year. It is not, however, possible to enter immediately after school, as in Germany, in Austria students study for 12 years, so after obtaining the diploma there are two options. The first is to study one year at the university in the home country, and then go directly to university. The second is to go to the annual training courses where you can learn specific disciplines for your direction, as well as pull German. The cost of such preparation is about 1500 euros per year, but to enter you need a certificate of knowledge of German at least level A2.

The cost of living for students is quite high, on average it is 800-1300 euros per month, strongly depends on the city.

Belgium

Belgium is famous for its medieval streets and buildings in Renaissance style. This country is often called the heart of Europe, and for good reason: it is a major cultural and economic center, and many programs, both undergraduate and graduate, are taught in English. At the same time the tuition fee for international students is 1700-3800 Euros per year. It is possible to enter local universities immediately after school on the basis of a diploma. All you need is a language certificate. For undergraduates you also need a Bachelor's degree.

The cost of living in Belgium for students is comparable with neighboring countries, on average 600-900 euros per month.

Switzerland 

Switzerland is a country of amazing mountain landscapes, cheese and watches. As many as 8 of the country's universities are in the top 20 universities according to QS, and Business schools in Switzerland  are famous around the world. At that the cost of education for foreign students is rather low and varies from 1300 to 4000 euros per year. The courses are taught in three languages - German, English or French, there are programs exclusively in English for bachelor and master programs.
The bachelor degree is usually only available after two years at the university in the home country. In addition, some universities will have to take additional entrance exams from ECUS, for which you have to come to the country. Usually after two years of bachelor's degree they are not required, only when changing specialty. For admission to a master's program, usually no exams are required, only a bachelor's degree with grades. The admission to universities is based on the grade point average and examination results if required.

Living in Switzerland is very expensive, to stay in the country and to apply for a visa the student has to prove the presence of 19 000 euros in his/her account, this amount is calculated for one year.

The cost of living in Switzerland for students ranges from 1500 to 1700 euros per month.

Latvia 

Latvia is a country on the Baltic Sea, famous for its sand dunes, colorful houses in the old town and peaceful lifestyle. Education in Latvia is available in English at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and the vast majority of the population is fluent in Russian. The cost of higher education varies from 2,000 to 5,000 euros per year, and the cost of living in the country is quite low. To enter the bachelor's program, you will need a certificate of language proficiency and a high school diploma. It is possible to enter a master's program with a bachelor's degree.

The cost of living is generally quite low, a student can expect 500-700 euros per month.

Lithuania 

Lithuania is also on the Baltic coast, there are many pines and empty beaches, the country is known for a lot of Gothic buildings in the city centers. Education here is available in English at all levels of study. You can apply for a bachelor's degree immediately after high school by presenting a diploma and a language certificate. Master's students can enter immediately after completing their bachelor's degree. Nevertheless, educational documents will have to be notarized and possibly apostilled, a lengthy procedure that should be done in advance.

The cost of living for students is about the same as in Latvia, it is about 400-700 euros per month.

Portugal 

Portugal is an amazing coastal country in the very west of Europe, a paradise for surfers and bakers. Portugal is famous for its cobblestone streets and colorful tiled houses. Every year a lot of foreign students come there to study, because it is not only parties and surfing, but also high standards of education, the diploma of Portugal is recognized not only in Europe, but also very highly regarded in Latin America. Nevertheless, undergraduate programs are mostly in the local language, although there are also English-language ones, both master's and bachelor's degrees. But it is much easier to find an English master's program. For a master's degree program, you need a bachelor's degree. Educational documents need to be apostilled, this is a long procedure which will take at least a month, so it is worth taking care of this in advance.

The cost of living for students is somewhat cheaper than in major European countries - it is 600-700 euros per month.

Bulgaria 

Bulgaria  is a country in southern Europe near Greece that is famous for its nature and unusual traditions. There are programs available both in Bulgarian and English, moreover it won't be hard for Russian speaking students to master the local language, as it is very similar to Russian.
The entrance to Bachelor's program requires a notary certified certificate of education, a medical certificate and a certificate of language proficiency, but you don't need the Unified State Exam, there are no entrance exams either. For Master's students an additional requirement is a Bachelor's degree. The enrollment is based on the grade point average.
There is American University in Bulgaria, the diploma of which is equal to those of American Universities. Tuition there costs as much as 10,000 euros a year, but the university gives generous scholarships covering up to the full cost of tuition if you have high scores on the SAT (the minimum SAT score for entry is only 1000).

The cost of living  for students is considered very low, in most cases it is 260-500 euros per month.

Romania 

Romania   is a country rich in history, famous for its architecture and medieval castles. For students it is also a great opportunity to receive a European Degree! The cost of higher education varies from 2100 to 6000 euros per year. For candidates from Russia and CIS countries it is possible to count on scholarship of the Romanian government, covering the full cost of education and living in the country. However, the scholarship is granted only to candidates who will study in Romanian.

In order to apply for the bachelor's degree, it is sufficient to submit to the university a notarized  diploma, a medical certificate of no infectious diseases and a certificate of language proficiency. Graduate students will also need a bachelor's degree.

The cost of living for students is quite low, at 450-600 euros per month.

Asia

Higher education in Asia is becoming more and more popular every year. Students are attracted by good job prospects after graduation, an unusual culture, and relatively inexpensive university and living costs.

Indonesia 

Indonesia is an island in Southeast Asia, a land of tropical jungles and volcanoes, with year-round sunshine and a multicultural population speaking many different languages, including English. Most undergraduate and graduate programs are taught in local languages, but students can choose from a wide variety of English-language programs. At the same time almost every university offers an opportunity to get a double degree with the top universities of England, the USA, the Netherlands, and Canada. The cost of higher education for foreigners starts at 1120 Euros a year and comes up to 3600 Euros. For admission to Bachelor's degree you will need a diploma with good marks and a certificate confirming the knowledge of the language. Graduate students require a bachelor's degree in the respective field.

The cost of living for students is generally comparable to Europe, you can count on 600-800 euros per month.

Taiwan 

Taiwan  an island in Asia famous for its unusual culture, high living standards, almost complete absence of crime and high internationality. And also a stunning nature! Study programs at universities here are usually held in both Chinese and English in parallel, the student has the right to choose. The cost of education varies from 1100 to 3600 euros per year. To enter after school you need a certificate and a language certificate, for Master's students a Bachelor's degree is required. Many universities in Taiwan, like in the U.S., ask applicants to provide two letters of recommendation from teachers.
Taiwan is generally a very developed Asian country, so the cost of living here is higher than in neighboring countries, so students should expect to pay 660-800 euros per month.

Philippines

The tropical beaches and sunny climate of this Asian country attracts not only tourists but also foreign students. In addition, Philippines is an English-speaking country, and the programs at universities here are also English-speaking. The cost of both undergraduate and graduate programs varies from 900 to 2500 euros per year. It is not so difficult to enter the university, often it is enough to have Diploma or Bachelor Degree, but each University decides independently about each candidate, therefore it is necessary to contact directly with the Admission Board.
The cost of living for students is significantly lower than in Europe, on the average a student needs 300-450 euros per month.

China 

Higher education in China is gaining momentum every year, with more and more foreign students coming here, university programs becoming English-language, and a more multicultural population. And no wonder, because China is one of the largest economic and cultural centers of the modern world! The tuition fee for foreigners at universities is 2300-4000 euros per year. To apply for a Bachelor's degree you need a school diploma and a certificate of language knowledge (Chinese or English). In spite of the fact that the majority of programs in the country are taught in Chinese, there are some English-speaking programs, but there is much less choice at the Bachelor's program than at the Master's. If you want to immigrate to China in future it makes sense to consider the Master's program, because it is much more difficult to stay in the country after the Bachelor's program.
The cost of living for students is 300-600 euros per month, which is not much by European standards.

South Africa

South Africa  is the most civilized and developed country in Africa, it is famous for the stunning nature. In addition, it has an extremely international population and colorful, colorful culture. The country has as many as 11 national languages and three capitals. Because of this, you can find a huge number of educational programs in English in South Africa. The prices for undergraduate programs are quite high and range from 4000 to 6000 euros per year, but the prices for masters programs start at 1500 euros. To apply for a bachelor's degree you will need a diploma and a language certificate, but each university decides the admission procedure itself, you need to contact the admission committee directly, in some universities it is required to pass exams or undergo an interview. For magistracy you need a bachelor's degree.
The cost of living in South Africa is quite low in comparison with European countries, a student here needs 300-400 euros a year.

We hope that our article was informative, and the myth that education abroad is available only for big money is now dispelled. So you can safely study the programs of universities in your favorite country and apply. We wish you luck and success! And if you are still undecided where to apply, and you need help in choosing a country and university, as well as in preparing documents and selecting programs, contact the professionals at StudyQA.