People & Money

Most Affordable European Universities You Can Study At

For many Nigerian students, the idea of studying abroad is an ultimate dream—but the high cost of tuition is a challenge for most families. In spite of the fact that most of the university education offered in Nigeria does not meet the global standard, public universities in Nigeria are reputed for being inexpensive, making tertiary education affordable to many.

In this article, we will look at seven of the cheapest universities in Europe and the different nuances around each university. For example, there are some schools in these nations that require proficiency in their local languages for admission. Then, some of these schools are tuition-free and offer English courses even in countries where English is not the primary language. 

  1. Sant’Anna – School of Advanced Studies Pisa

It is a research university located in the city of Pisa, Italy. The university which was founded in 1987 is a highly-selective state-supported research university that offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in social sciences, business sciences, political sciences, medical sciences, and information engineering, among others. There are about 13 research centers and departments of excellence at Sant’Anna. 

Just like Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa also, the tuition at Sant’Anna is free and the school covers the living expenses of students as well. The university which is ranked 1st in Italy and 7th in Europe in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2022 has a profile that is attractive to international students and researchers. 

  1. Free University of Berlin

As its name implies, the Free University of Berlin offers free tuition! Free, however, described the university’s ideology as being in a freer West Germany, in contrast to Friedrich Wilhelm University (now Humboldt University of Berlin), which was located in communist East Germany. For decades, the school has been acclaimed as one of the best higher institutions in Germany, and it has consistently ranked among German’s best universities.

Also Read: UK Student Visa Can Now be Switched to Skilled Worker Visas, Before Graduating 

The Free University of Berlin has about 12 academic departments that offer courses ranging from Law to Business and Economy, and physical sciences, among others. The school also features 6 graduate schools and programs which include the Berlin Mathematical School, Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies, and Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, among others. 

Although FU of Berlin does not charge tuition fees except for some graduate and post-graduate programs, international students are required to show proof that they have at least €934 at their monthly disposal to gain an entry visa into Germany for study purposes.  

  1. Scuola Normale Superiore

Just like Scuola Sant’Anna, the Scuola Normale Superiore is located in Pisa, Italy and it is tuition-free. The university which was founded in 1810 is a highly-selective research university that has about 600 undergraduate and post-graduate students. 

The university features faculties of humanities, political and social sciences, and sciences. The university also teaches Chinese, French, English, and German to help foreign students fulfill their linguistic obligations. And just like Sant’Anna, the school caters to the living expenses of its foreign students. 

  1. University of Göttingen

The University of Göttingen is a public research university located in Göttingen, Germany. It is also one of the oldest universities in Germany, being founded in 1737. The university offers degrees across 13 faculties, and it also offers more than 210 degrees. 

The University of Göttingen is the first on the list to not be tuition-free, however, it is one of the cheapest universities to study at in Europe. With a semester fee of about €350 during the summer semester and €281 during the winter semester, the university fees total €631 per year. International scholarship holders with funding from the German government, are to pay €275 during the summer semester and €206 during the winter semester. 

  1. Nord University

Nord University is a public university in Norway with two main campuses in Bodo and Levanger and over 11,000 undergraduate and post-graduate students. The university whose existence dates back to 1892 is one of the highest-ranked Norwegian universities. 

Nord University is also tuition-free, however, the Norwegian government has been proposing the introduction of tuition fees for international students from non-EU/EEA/EFTA countries starting in the Autumn of 2023. This rule change has yet to be decided anyways. For non-EU/EEA international students, they need to show proof of a financial permit to obtain a study permit, and the minimum required amount for this study permit is NOK 128 887 (approx. $13,000). 

The school also has a semester registration fee of about NOK 815 ($85) per semester. 

  1. Paris-Saclay University

Paris-Saclay University (formerly Paris-Sud University) was founded in 1971, with its history traceable to the University of Paris established in 1150. It is the only French university to appear on this list, and it is one of the highly-ranked French institutions, as it ranked 93rd on Times Higher Education World Education Ranking for 2023. 

Also Read: Seven Passports That Get You Visa-Free Access to Over 200 Countries

Non-EU students are required to pay the same registration fees as French nationals and EU students. The administrative fees are set at €170 for a bachelor’s degree, €243 for a Masters’s Degree, and €380 for a doctorate. Paris-Saclay University teaches some Masters’s Programmes in English, however, these programs come at large costs. 

  1. University of Crete

The University of Crete is a public university in Greece that was established in 1973. The university offers about 16 undergraduate programs and 30 post-graduate programs. 

Currently, public universities are tuition-free for Greek nationals and EU nationals. However, the University of Crete is also tuition-free for non-EU nationals undergoing undergraduate studies. But students will have to cater for their living expenses which cost between €600-725 for an average student in Greece. 

Closing Thoughts 

Studying in Europe can provide students from Nigeria with a unique opportunity to learn about new ways of life. Learning at the top schools in the world is a life-changing opportunity, then doing so at an affordable price is even more appealing.

David Olujinmi

David Olujinmi studies Engineering but his true passion is research and analysis. He writes about finance, particularly the capital market, investment banking, and asset management. More »

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