Study Abroad, for Free? 11 European Countries Where Masters Tuition is FREE (or Almost Free)
In the post-referendum / pre-Brexit limbo, lots of you considering studying abroad might be a bit concerned about how your tuition fees could be affected.
But worry not.
Firstly, Brexit is going to take at least 2 years – and the process hasn’t actually started yet. That leaves plenty of time for you to study a Masters degree in most European countries.
Secondly, lots of European countries offer free tuition regardless of your nationality. So, Brit or not, EU or not, you can still save yourself fees (or loan repayments). Win-win!
Please note: the information provided below regards public universities only. If you wish to study abroad at private institutions, it’s likely that fees will be charged.
Completely free
Believe it or not, some countries charge no tuition or administrative fees to postgraduates, effectively offering free Masters degrees. Neat!
Bear in mind, however, that there are other costs to consider when studying abroad. These could include processing visas and residence permits, paying for accommodation, health insurance, and other living costs.
Lots of funding opportunities are available from most countries though, so you won’t be left stranded. Find out more below.
Finland
Free for who: Everyone (EU, EEA and the rest of the world).
Admin fees: None.
Terms: Whether your studies are part-time or full-time, you won’t have to pay any fees. However, as education is free, maintenance scholarships at Masters level are harder to come by. International students can work part-time during their studies, but it may be difficult to find employment if you aren’t fluent in Finnish or Swedish.
For information on working, visas, and funding, check out our guide to Masters study in Finland.
Note that From Autumn 2017, fees will be introduced for non-EU/EEA students.
Norway
Free for who: Everyone (EU, EEA and the rest of the world).
Admin fees: None.
Terms: In Norway you can undertake a Masters degree whether you choose to study part-time or full-time. International postgraduates are treated as domestic students, and do not pay fees for Masters study. Some funding is available, but is primarily in place for PhD students. However, exceptional students on Masters courses can be considered. So if your grades are high, you should definitely consider applying for funding.
For information on funding and student visas, meet us.
Free-ish
Many other European countries are effectively free, with a few conditions. These usually concern the format of your degree, the language it is studied in, and the time you have to complete it.
Austria
Free for who: EU, EEA and Swiss students.
Admin fees: None.
Terms: Austrian students, EU students, and students with equal status at universities do not have to pay fees, provided they complete their course on time. If you exceed the minimum study duration by more than a year, you’ll have to pay €363.36 per additional semester.
International students outside of the above categories pay €726.72 per semester. So an average Masters would cost around €1525 – 3050. Courses undertaken at University Colleges of Teacher Education are cheaper at €363.36 per semester.
For more advice, meet us.
The Czech Republic
Free for who: Everyone (EU, EEA and the rest of the world).
Admin fees: €18 - €21 per course (one-off fee).
Terms: As long as you study in the Czech language and complete your course on time, there are no fees! (If you extend your study period past the regular length, you will be charged €326 per year). Scholarships are available from most universities, so you may also have support for living costs.
For more advice, meet us.
Denmark
Free for who: EU, EEA and Swiss students on full-time courses.
Admin fees: None.
Terms: Other international students pay fees set by universities. Part-time students are subject to a fee of at least €268. Also note that some specialised Masters, such as MBAs, will cost more.
Grants and loans are potentially offered to all students, but availability varies by institution. Find out more with our guide to studying a Masters in Denmark.
Germany
Free for who: Everyone (EU, EEA and the rest of the world).
Admin fees: €40-75 per semester.
Terms: Consecutive Masters programmes (courses that follow a related undergraduate degree) are normally free. Admin fees vary depending on your course and length of study, but should not exceed €150 per academic year.
Although German education is extremely low-cost, funding is also available to support your studies. Bonus! With a strong economy, finding part-time work shouldn’t be a problem either.
For more information, check out our advice on studying a Masters in Germany and our in-depth guide to German Masters fees and funding.
Poland
Free for who:EU, EEA and Swiss students on full-time courses.
Admin fees: €41 per course.
Terms: Full-time students pay no tuition fees unless repeating a semester of study. Part-time students pay fees which are set by individual universities, so make sure you check with your institution how much you’re likely to pay.
For more information, read our guide to studying a Masters in Poland.
Slovakia
Free for who: EU, EEA and Swiss students on full-time courses.
Admin fees: €10 - €100 per academic year.
Terms: Fees are free for EU, EEA and Swiss students studying full-time courses in the Slovak language. Programmes in English may incur additional charges. You will also pay an additional fee of up to €1,675 if your course over-runs and / or you repeat a semester.
EU, EEA and Swiss students on part-time courses pay fees of up to €2,940 per year. Other international students pay higher tuition fees of €2,000 - €10,000 per year regardless of their mode of study.
Slovenia
Free for who: EU, EEA and Swiss students on full-time courses.
Admin fees: €16 - €29
Terms: Though there are no tuition fees for full-time EU and EEA students, you may be expected to cover the cost of field trips and other excursions that may be part of your course. But when your fees are only a max of €29, the investment will definitely be worth it!
Part-time students, and those from outside the EU or EEA, are subject to fees. These are set by universities, but generally range from €2,068 to €15,831 per year.
Grants and scholarships are available from HEIs, and can either be merit-based or needs-based. Government loans are unfortunately not available.
You can search for Masters degrees in Slovenia on our site.
Sweden
Free for who: EU, EEA and Swiss students.
Admin fees: None.
Terms: International students excluded from the above categories are expected to pay tuition fees. These are set by each institution and are not fixed by the government. Costs vary depending on course and place of study, so make sure you do your research before you apply.
For more information, see our guide to studying a Masters in Sweden.
Still pretty cheap
Some countries still charge general tuition or admin fees, but deserve an honourable mention for keeping these comparatively low - or offering generous scholarship opportunities.
France
Typical fees: Set rate of €256 for all students.
Admin fees: €215 for students aged 20-28.
Terms: Masters fees in France vary quite a bit, but are often very low. Most universities are subject to a fee cap set by the French government. Add to this the likelihood of gaining financial aid - either through a loan or a scholarship - and you’re good to go! If you are a mature student, however, do bear in mind that most scholarships are not available to students aged over 28.
For more information, see our introduction to French Masters degrees and our detailed guide to postgraduate fees and funding in France.
Iceland
Typical fees: Students do not pay tuition fees.
Admin fees: €566 per year.
Terms: Iceland doesn’t charge tuition fees for Masters programmes, but administration fees are paid by all students once per academic year. So, a two year Masters degree would cost you €1132. Still a pretty good deal!
You can learn about Masters degrees in Iceland on our site.
