Every year, millions of people from around the globe dream about studying in Europe. Thankfully, there are tons of affordable and attractive places spread throughout the continent for international students. Opportunities for studying in Europe are so vast that choosing the best one for yourself can become an overwhelming task but don’t worry. Here’s all you need to know about the top 6 Best European Countries to Study Abroad. Let’s take a look.
6 Best European Countries to Study Abroad
1- Germany
A list compiling the best and most affordable places for students to study abroad would be incomplete without Germany. It’s undoubtedly the favorite European study destination for thousands of people around the world. And for the correct reason too: almost all German public universities don’t as much as a penny in tuition fees! This applies to anyone applying from the outside as well, whether you reside in the EU or the rest of the world. On top of that, Germany is home to some of Europe’s finest universities like the Technical University of Munich, University of Aachen, and the Humboldt University with subjects ranging from physics, chemistry and engineering to history, arts and philosophy.
Expenses:
The tuition fee for all students studying in a public university in Germany is free at the undergraduate and PhD level except in the Baden-Württemberg region where the tuition expenses for non-EU international students can be around €3,000 per year.
The cost of living and supplementary educational costs can total to around €10,000-€12,000 per annum.
Scholarships for international students in Germany:
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships in Germany for International Students
- Zurich One Young World Scholarships
- Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Scholarships for International Students
- DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance
- The Deutschlandstipendium at German Universities
- Study a master’s in Europe Scholarships
- Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship for International Students
- Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarships
- DAAD Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies in Architecture
2- France
According to the international QS World University Rankings for 2019-2020, France has over 10 institutions in the list. Most of the programs are offered in French but that does not mean that English is non-existent in French academia. You can find hundreds of courses taught in English with very manageable tuition costs. High quality education and low costs of studying means that you can spend more time exploring France and its beautiful cities like Lyon, Paris, Toulouse, Montpellier and Marseille. Some of the best and most famous French universities are École Normale Supérieure, Sciences Po, Pierre & Marie Curie University, and the Paris-Sud University.
Expenses:
For international students from Europe, studying in France can have an annual toll of around €160 for undergraduate degrees, around €250 for master’s programs while €400 for doctoral programs.
On the other hand, students from the rest of the world have to pay considerably more every year at an average of €3,000 per annum for undergraduate programs and around €4,000 per year for master’s. The PhD costs of around €400 are the same for everyone.
Living in France can be quite expensive with costs ranging anywhere from €9,000 to €12,000.
You can visit the StudyAbroadGuide.com for a more detailed analysis of studying in France and the relevant expenses.
Scholarships:
- International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) Scholarships
- Ampère Excellence Scholarships for International Students
- Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarships
- INSEAD-Syngenta MBA Scholarships for Developing Country Leaders
- Eiffel Scholarships in France for International Students
- Emile Boutmy Scholarships for Non-EU Students at Sciences Po
- Civil Society Leadership Awards
- ENS International Selection Scholarships
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for Joint Master Degree in AquaCulture, Environment and Society (EMJMD ACES/ACES+)
- Study a Masters in Europe Scholarships
3- Spain
With low costs of tuition, Spain is a very lucrative option for studying in Europe. Spain’s prestigious universities have lower expenses for internationals students when compared to other popular European countries like the UK. You can save even more if you choose to take admission in a countryside university. Since Spanish is one of the world’s most popular languages, it won’t be that difficult for you to start learning it no matter where you are in the world right now. Learning the language will help you perform well in Spain’s top institutes like Universitat de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Expenses:
Undergraduate level expenses range from €750 to €2,300 while postgraduate studies can be anywhere between €1,200 and €5,000. The living costs in Spain are more or less the same as the rest of Europe on average. On a per annum basis, living in Spain can cost around €10,000 to €14,000.
Scholarships:
- International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) Scholarships
- Erasmus+ Scholarships for the Master in Education Policies for Global Development (GLOBED)
- African Leadership in Business MBA Scholarships
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for International Students
- Study a Masters in Europe Scholarships
4- Italy
Italy is home to one of the world’s oldest universities and institutions. On top of that, all of the top universities are in or around Italy’s best tourist destinations like Venice, Rome, Milan and Florence as well as the beautiful Italian countryside. From the Mediterranean to the Alps, there’s just too much history and culture to explore in France along with getting a high quality education.
Expenses:
Living expenses in Italy for an international student can be around €10,000 to €14,000, depending on the location. In addition to that, the tuition costs can start from €900 and go all the way to €1,500 at undergraduate level and around €1500 for postgrad.
Scholarships:
- International Scholarship for the Master in Management of Sustainable Development Goals
- Padua International Excellence Scholarship Programme
- Study a Masters in Europe Scholarships
- Bocconi Merit and International Awards
- Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students
- University of Padua International Scholarships
- UNIPV International Scholarships for Developing Countries
- University of Bologna Study Grants for International Students
- International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) Scholarships
5- Sweden
You might not believe this but Sweden is one of the countries where you can get the chance to study for free as an international student from the rest of Europe, even at a PhD level. The best thing about studying abroad in Sweden is that you have a lot of scholarship options and most of the universities offer programs in the English language.
Expenses:
Sweden can have some of Europe’s highest costs of living adding around SEK 100,000 to an international student’s expenses every year on average. While the educational expenses for most of the European students is free, for other students, it can range from SEK 85,000 to SEK 200,000 per year.
Scholarships:
- BTH Scholarships
- Mälardalen University Scholarship Programme
- Linnaeus University Scholarships
- The University of Gothenburg Axel Adler Scholarships
- Chalmers IPOET Scholarships for International Students
- University of Skövde Master’s Scholarships
- Adlerbert Study Scholarships at Chalmers University of Technology
- Lund University Global Scholarship Programme
- Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals
- Uppsala University Global Scholarships
6- The Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the most popular studying destinations for students hailing from every part of the world mostly because they provide the highest number of English-taught courses in Europe outside of the U.K. With highly prestigious schools like University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology and the Wageningen University, the Netherlands offers more than 2,100 international study programs.
Expenses:
Living in the Netherlands can be quite expensive for students, with costs going as high as around €15,000 per year. Bachelor level education can cost an international student anywhere between €5,000 and €16,000 while a postgrad-level program can go as high as €20,000 per annum. Thankfully, there are a lot of scholarships and grants available for international students who wish to pursue higher education in the Netherlands.
Scholarships:
- Maastricht University Holland High Potential Scholarships for International Students
- Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships for International Students at TU Delft
- VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme for International Students
- Orange Knowledge Programme in The Netherlands
- Eric Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen
- University of Twente Scholarships (UTS)
- Amsterdam Merit Scholarships for Excellent International Students
- Utrecht Excellence Scholarships for International Students
- Holland Scholarship for Non-EEA International Students
- Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (LexS)
