Furthering education abroad is a dream come true for lots of people majorly because it provides top-quality education, gives room for learning different cultures and lifestyles, and builds relationships with different foreign students.
However, the cost of studying for any degree, including master’s degree programs is high. We are not just talking about the tuition fee but also the living expenses, and other expenses that will come up.
The good news is that there is a handful of free and cheapest universities in Europe for international students for masters. In case you don’t know, Europe is one of the best continents that provides very affordable education and still maintains excellence. In fact, some of their institutions are ranked among the best in the world.
Moreover, if you’re passionate about art there are some free & affordable art schools in this continent, so are there very affordable universities for int’l students that can waive IELTS on some certain conditions.
It’s worth noting that going to a school that provides no or low tuition fees, doesn’t always mean they will provide poor quality education, in fact, all the ones we listed provide the exceptional education you deserve.
Let’s get started with these schools.
Cheapest Universities in Europe for International Students for Masters
1. Free University of Berlin
The Free University of Berlin is one of the free universities in Europe for master’s degrees that doesn’t require you to pay a dime for tuition fees (yes, you heard me right, they don’t charge you for your tuition). However, your living expenses such as feeding, rent, grocery, and leisure have to be taken care of by you.
Moreover, there are some graduate programs that will charge you a little fee.
Furthermore, you are still allowed to work as an international student but for a maximum of 90 days (or 180 half days) per year, and the little money you will make can help pay for your living expenses.
Most importantly, though they provide free-tuition college, they also have excellent academics to back it up. They provide 19 English-taught graduate degree programs such as Computational Sciences, Biochemistry, Archaeology of the Ancient World, Cognitive Neuroscience, etc.
Location: Berlin, Germany
School Fees: Free
2. University of Giessen
This is among the cheapest universities in Europe for international students for masters that don’t demand any dime for tuition fee, except for students enrolled in a Master’s Course in Global Change. But if you are enrolled in a Master’s program such as;
- Agrobiotechnology
- Human Movement Analytics – Biomechanics, Motor Control, and Learning
- Mind, Brain, and Behavior
- Choreography and Performance.
And with other English-taught master’s degrees, you won’t need to pay for tuition. All you have to focus on is a semester contribution that will cover the student body, student services, and the unlimited use of public transport in Giessen and large parts of Hessen (semester ticket).
Location: Gießen
Tuition Fee: Free
3. Universite de Paris
Universite de Paris easily earns its spot on our list of most affordable universities in Europe for international graduate students due to both their affordability and excellence in academics. The school is the 48th best college in the world according to U.S. News & World Report, they are also ranked #48 in QS World University Rankings 2023 (no update yet in 2024).
So, you see, you’re in for a sweet ride when you’re admitted to Universite de Paris. Their graduate programs include;
- Graduate Schools in life sciences
- Graduate Schools in physical sciences & engineering
- Graduate Schools in social sciences and humanities
Location: Paris, France
Tuition Fee: 243 € + 100 € CVEC (student and campus life contribution)
4. Universite de Paris- Saclay
This is one of the cheapest universities in Europe for international students for masters which is also recognized for so many achievements such as being ranked #60 in Best Global Universities by U.S News & World Report. They are also ranked as the 71st best public university in the world by QS World University Rankings 2024.
Due to their academic prowess, lots of students desire to study here, and over 12,000 master’s students are furthering their education in this college. They provide 42 English-taught Master Programs which include;
- Business Law
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Nuclear Energy
- Pharmaceutical Science
Location: Paris, France
Tuition Fee: 243€ + €100 (CVEC)
5. University of Koblenz and Landau
This is another free college in Europe for international students for masters which only demand a uni-assist application fee which will cost €75 for the first desired course of study. An additional €30 applies for every additional desired course of study.
Also, you need to take care of your living expenses which are estimated to be around € 934 – 980/month which should cover your rent, food, books, clothes, phone, health insurance, semester contribution, and recreational activities. The college will not demand any proof of financial means before you can apply to study at the school.
Location: Mainz
Tuition Fee: Free
6. University of Göttingen
This is one of the cheapest universities in Europe for international students for masters that will only require you to pay €350.48 for first-time summer semester enrollment. Then, as the winter semester approaches you just need to pay a lower fee of €281.00.
So, in these fees, your Administration fee; Student body fee; Railway ticket; Bus ticket; Culture ticket, and Studentenwerk fee are all included. You see that you have a lot to earn for just a little cost.
However, if you exceed the regular standard course by six semesters or more you will be required to pay an additional €500 fee for long-running studies. If you intend to enroll in the IP-IT Law LL.M. your tuition fee is different and high, you’ll pay €7,800 (€3,900 per semester)
Also, the school provides a lot of single and double master’s degrees in 5 (five) important fields, which are;
- Agriculture, Forest, and Geosciences
- Biology, Chemistry, and Medicine
- Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics
- Economics, Law, and Social Science
- Humanities
7. HCI Siegen
HCI Siegen provides a tuition-free Master of Science (M.Sc) in Human-Computer Interaction, and this program is the oldest of its kind in Germany. It is an international study program where all lectures, seminars, and practices are taught in English. German courses can additionally be taken.
The only fee that is required to be paid is the standard semester fee of about €240 per semester.
Location: Germany
Tuition Fee: Free
8. RWTH Aachen University
RWTH Aachen University also provides free tuition education to both their German citizens and international students. Your concern should be on the monthly living expenses which are estimated at around €1,100 per month.
Note that, you need to prove a minimum monthly income of €861 to the Immigration Office in Aachen to have your residence permit extended. You can decide to take up full-time work for 120 days or part-time positions (up to 4 hours per day) for 240 days to be able to pay for your living expenses.
Most importantly, they provide amazing English-taught Master’s Degree Programs such as;
- Automotive Engineering
- Civil Engineering,
- Biomedical Engineering
- Software Systems Engineering
Tuition Fee: Free
9. University of Vienna
The University of Vienna meets the list of cheapest universities in Europe for international students for masters, not only because of how affordable their master’s programs are but also because of their academic distinction. Non-EU/EEA citizens pay slightly differently from what EU/EEA/CH citizens pay, but it is still very affordable.
The university was founded in 1365, and it has made the school gather enough experience in teaching and developing different kinds of students. They provide lots of master’s degree programs taught in English, which range from Advanced Theological Studies to Zoology.
Location: Vienna, Austria
Tuition Fee:
€386.06 for EU/EEA/CH citizens
€749.42 for non-EU/EEA citizens
10. Sant’Anna
This is one of the most affordable colleges in Europe for international students for masters that charges €7,500 for a full master’s program. Their fee looks bigger than other schools we have mentioned, but when compared with other institutions from first world countries you’ll see that Sant’Anna is affordable. The cost includes;
- Academic and tutorial costs
- Didactic material (mainly in electronic format)
- Participation in seminars and field trips
- Access to the School Library
- Access to the computer rooms
- Lunch on lesson/exam days
Moreover, they also offer a limited number of partial waivers to citizens of non-OECD countries who are eligible for the release of a visa for Italy, depending on financial availabilities. The school provides 5 master’s degree courses, from MSc in Bionics Engineering to MSc in International Security Studies.
Location: Pisa, Italy
School Fees: 7,500 Euros
Key Takeaway
As you can see there are lots of free and affordable universities in Europe for international students for master’s degrees. The beauty of it is that regardless of how affordable they are, they still provide top-quality education.
