- Norway offers free higher education for all students, regardless of nationality.
- Bachelor’s programmes and consecutive Master’s programmes in Germany are tuition-free in public universities, but they are also highly competitive, and often taught in German.
- EU/EEA students can find the most tuition-free universities in Europe, although that often applies only to programmes taught in the local language (for example, in the Czech Republic), while English-taught courses come with tuition fees.
- Germany
- Norway
- Finland
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Austria
- Greece
- Malta
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania (for a set number of students)
- Norway
- Germany
- Finland
- Iceland
- Czech Republic
- Master’s of Geographical Information Science at Lund University
- Master’s in Adult Learning and Global Change at Linköping University
- Master’s in Biodiversity and Systematics at Stockholm University
- Germany (but pay attention to see if the university is public or private)
- Ireland (free only for EU/EEA, UK and Swiss students)
- Sweden (free only for EU/EEA and Swiss students)
- Learn everything about studying in Europe
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- All you need to know about the European credit system
- Find top-quality and affordable Master’s degrees in Europe
- Discover the best countries to study abroad in Europe
- Where to apply for English-taught Bachelor’s degrees in Germany
Europe has exceptional opportunities in higher education, with several countries providing free tuition at public universities. This unique educational model can be found in countries such as Germany, Norway, and Finland, where students, regardless of their nationality, can pursue their studies without the burden of tuition fees. Other nations offer variations of free tuition, with EU students benefiting from free education and international students enjoying significantly reduced fees.
The prospect of free or low-cost universities in Europe is incredibly appealing to international students. Most importantly, it can drastically reduce the debt burden often associated with higher education, particularly in countries like the USA or UK, where tuition fees can be quite high. Moreover, you get to enjoy high-quality education while exploring diverse cultures with different languages, traditions, and histories.
This article explores the concept of free universities across Europe, focusing on the available options of 'free' education, and provides a comprehensive guide to navigating this lucrative option.
Is university free in Europe?
In Europe, the concept of free higher education varies significantly from one country to another. Generally, 'free' can mean completely tuition-free, free for home students, or free for EU students, with some countries extending this benefit to all international students. The understanding of 'free' education includes not only the absence of tuition fees but also often lower administrative costs, though students may still need to cover their living expenses.
Free education in Europe refers to public universities where tuition fees are either completely waived or significantly reduced for students, including both domestic and international students, depending on the country. This model is primarily found in several European countries, where the government covers the cost of university education as part of their commitment to accessible education for all.
Free universities in Europe for EU students only
The groups that can enjoy free education in most European countries are students from the European Union, plus students from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein(which are part of the EEA – the European Economic Area) and Switzerland. If you're from one of these countries, here’s a list of where you can typically study for free in public universities:
A few other European countries offer free tuition for courses taught in the national languages, but require tuition for English-taught programmes:
Keep in mind, though, that in many countries, while there are no tuition fees, students are often required to pay some administrative fees which cover student services, union memberships, and other campus facilities.
Furthermore, even in countries that have tuition fees, these are a lot smaller than they are in other countries, with Eastern European countries being the most affordable. They offer a great combo of low tuition and low living costs. On the other hand, for a wider variety of English-taught courses, you should look towards countries like France, Spain, and Belgium.
FREE MASTER'S COURSES IN EUROPE
Free universities in Europe for international students
For international students from outside the EU/EEA, finding universities in Europe that offer free tuition can be a bit more challenging. However, there are still a few countries where such opportunities exist or where tuition fees are very low. Here's a list of countries in Europe where public universities offer free or significantly subsidised education to non-EU international students:
Norway offers free tuition at public universities to all students, regardless of their nationality. The policy applies to all levels of study, including Bachelor’s, Master's, and PhD programmes. However, living costs in Norway are relatively high, but they fit with the excellent quality of life and high salaries that Norwegians enjoy. What’s more, if you decide to go for a PhD in Norway, it will not only be free, but you will also get a proper salary and employment contract from the University.
The quality of education is also high, with 12 Norwegian ranked universities and the University of Oslo in the top 0,5% worldwide.
In Germany, most public universities do not charge tuition fees to international students, irrespective of their nationality. This applies to undergraduate programmes and consecutive master's programmes. In other words, if you have a Bachelor’s degree earned in Germany, then you can also study for a Master’s degree for free there. Otherwise, you would have to pay tuition fees.
If you combine this with one of the cool scholarships offered by DAAD in Germany, which will cover your monthly expenses, then studying at one of the many high-ranking German universities is a really good deal. Three universities are in top 0,5% worldwide, and 12 in top 1%. That being said, don’t be surprised that admission to public universities in Germany is competitive, with a significant number of programmes requiring knowledge of the German language.
As of 2017, Finland introduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students for English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes. However, PhD programs are still tuition-free for all students. Additionally, many universities offer scholarships that can cover part or all of the tuition fees.
Moreover, universities in Finland are of the highest quality. Out of ten ranked Finnish universities, the University of Helsinki is in top 0.5%, while the last in the top is still in position 301 worldwide, according to Metaranking.
In Iceland, public universities do not charge tuition fees to students, though there is usually a low annual registration fee. On the downside, living costs are very high, and the cold, windy weather might not be everybody’s cup of tea! Moreover, Iceland is a small island with seven universities in total: four state-owned and three private ones. From them, two features in global rankings: The University of Iceland in top 2% worldwide (a public university) and Reykjavík University in top 7% (a private university).
In the Czech Republic, higher education is free for all students studying in the Czech language, regardless of their nationality. However, courses taught in English and other foreign languages are subject to tuition fees.
Charles University is the best in the country, being in top 2% worldwide, alongside 17 other ranked universities from the Czech Republic. As an extra cool fact, Charles University is also one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1347.
These countries provide some of the most accessible higher education options in Europe for international students from outside the EU/EEA. But you should also look into various scholarship programmes available that can help mitigate costs even in countries where tuition isn't free.
Free online universities in Europe
In Europe, free online degrees are relatively rare, but there are a number of universities and platforms that offer free online courses and, in some cases, pathways to earning degrees at little or no cost. Here are some prominent examples where you can find free online education opportunities or very low-cost degree programmes:
The Open University, based in the UK, offers a range of free courses through its OpenLearn platform. While the courses themselves are free, obtaining a formal degree can involve tuition fees. However, at the Open University the cost is approximately a third of regular campus-based education in the UK, and they also offer flexible payment options.
France Université Numérique (FUN)
This is a French platform offering free online courses (MOOCs) from French universities. All courses have a free option called Discovery Course and a paid option called Qualifying Course. The latter gives a certificate at the end. The majority of Qualifying Courses are in the areas of Health and Life Sciences, and the Certificate you obtain gives you the chance to apply for the Institut Pasteur Online Diploma of Infectious Diseases (DNM2IP).
OpenHPI of the Hasso Plattner Institute, which is the faculty of Digital Engineering at the University of Potsdam in Germany, is a digital education platform that offers high-quality, tuition-free study programmes.
Some Swedish universities, including the highest-ranking ones like Stockholm University and Uppsala University, offer free online study programmes for EU/EEA and Swiss students. Here are some course examples:
Virtual University of Bavaria (vhb)
The Virtual University of Bavaria is a network of 36 Bavarian universities that offer a variety of free courses. It offers ECTS-earning courses for students enrolled in one of the 36 universities, which can be used towards gaining their degree, and courses without ECTS credits available for all.
These online platforms are an incredible opportunity to access education for free or at a low cost. However, it's important to distinguish between free courses, which are widely available, and complete degree programmes, which are less common and often come with some fees associated with them, particularly for certification or diplomas.
Free universities in Europe taught in English
Based on what we’ve already discussed, education is free in many European countries for EU/EEA students, regardless of the languages in which the programme is taught, while non-EU students can also enjoy free higher education in five European countries.
From these tuition-free countries, the ones that have the highest numbers of English-taught programmes are
To find the right English-taught programme in Europe for you, go to Mastersportal, select the country or continent where you want to study and use the Sort button in the right-hand corner above the list of programmes to select “Lowest tuition fee.” You’ll see free programmes first.
Final words
Europe has many attractive options if you’re looking for free universities. Countries like Germany, Norway, and Iceland allow all students, regardless of their nationality, to benefit from tuition-free education at public universities, which makes a big difference in freeing students from the financial burden associated with higher education.
Luckily, there are thousands of English-taught programmes across Europe, although learning the local language can be an exciting endeavour which will also benefit your future career. And most universities offer language courses as well, so don’t dismiss the option too soon!
Other resources
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there any free universities in Europe that offer courses entirely in English?
Several universities in Europe offer programmes taught entirely in English without tuition fees. These universities are free for EU/EEA students, but if you are an international student from outside the EU, then look at programmes in Norway, Germany, Iceland, and Finland (for PhDs only) where education is free for all.
2. What are the living costs in European countries with free tuition?
While tuition may be free, living costs vary significantly across Europe. For example, Norway and Iceland offer free tuition but have high living costs. In contrast, countries like Germany and the Czech Republic have more moderate living expenses. Prospective students should budget for housing, food, transportation, and other personal expenses, which can range from €700 to over €1,200 per month depending on the city and lifestyle.
3. Can non-EU students study for free in Europe?
International students (from outside the EU/EEA) can study for free in public universities from Norway (at all levels), Germany (Bachelor’s programmes and consecutive Master’s programmes), Iceland (at all levels), Finland (only PhDs), and the Czech Republic (only in the local language, not in English).