Cheapest Countries to Study In The World: With careful planning and financial acumen, studying abroad can not only be more inexpensive than you ever imagined, but it can also be less expensive than attending university at home for a semester or year. Swapping your university’s overpriced tuition and excessive college town living fees for a low-cost study abroad program might save you thousands of dollars. Saving ahead of time to cover certain inevitable expenses like travel can also help you achieve your international goals.
The location of your study abroad program is an important consideration in your expenditure. This is because it has an impact on the amount of money, you’ll have to spend on university tuition and, second, living expenses, therefore determining your overall affordability. Never worries; we’re here to help you find the finest deal possible, even if you’re on a budget. The following are 10 of the most cost-effective nations to consider while planning your study abroad trip.
Top 15 Most Affordable/Cheapest Countries to Study In The World 2023
1. Norway: Even though all of the Nordic countries are reasonably inexpensive study locations, we chose Norway because, except for a few specialized programs, public universities in Norway remain free to all students from inside and outside of Europe.
Norway, like the rest of Europe’s Nordic countries, is noted for its good standard of living and magnificent beautiful landscape. Another advantage to studying in Norway is the abundance of English-taught courses at all levels of study, as well as a large number of native English speakers. However, Norway, like the other Nordic nations, has high living expenditures; you’ll require roughly NOK 139,680 (US$17,200) each year.
2. Taiwan: If you’re looking to study abroad in Asia, Taiwan is another affordable option. Tuition rates for students at National Taiwan University, for example, start at TW$100,920 (US$3,300) per year for liberal arts programs and rise to TW$124,200 (US$4,050) for science and engineering programs, according to the QS World University Rankings® 2019.
Taiwan has more than 120 English-taught courses at over 40 universities, and it is also a popular destination for Mandarin learners. Taiwan also has a high living standard and comparatively inexpensive living expenditures, with annual rent rates as low as TW$88,000 (US$2,900).
3. Germany: Germany, nicknamed “the land of ideas,” is getting more popular among foreign students, and it’s easy to understand why: it has prestigious colleges, affordable expenses, and a decent standard of living. All public universities, except for those in Baden-Württemberg, do not collect tuition fees at the undergraduate or PhD levels.
An M.sc student who didn’t complete their undergraduate degree in Germany could spend up to €20,000 (US$23,450) annually, although there is a possibility of securing a grant for assistance. You’ll need at least €10,200 (US$11,950) a year to cover living expenses, but you may need more based on your lifestyle, region, and spending habits. There are also a variety of English-taught courses available, especially at the graduate level.
4. France: Domestic and international students pay the same college fees in France, which are set at €170 (US$200) annually for bachelor’s (licence) programs, €243 (US$285) for most master’s programs, and €380 (US$445) for doctoral programs. The very selective grandes écoles and grands établissements, which determine their rates, charge far more.
Living expenditures will be greatest in the capital, Paris, but you may find it worthwhile to pay the additional money-after all, Paris has been crowned the world’s number one student city four times in a row. If you don’t speak French well, you can study in France in English, with the bulk of English-taught programs available mostly at the postgraduate level.
5. Mexico: Mexico is among Latin America’s most-visited countries, with diverse cultures to discover. It also has a lot to give foreign students. Student fees rates vary, with private colleges costing more, and average roughly US$6,300 annually for foreign undergraduate students in Mexico City, which was ranked among the world’s top 100 student cities.
In Mexico, living expenditures are also quite inexpensive, with a normal budget in the capital amounting to roughly US$9,250, or US$6,450 elsewhere. Mexican institutions are increasingly providing English-taught courses to attract international students, even though Spanish is the primary language of teaching.
6. India: Returning to Asia for the next country on our list of the cheapest places to study worldwide, India is an excellent choice for those seeking both cost and cultural variety. While Hindi is the most widely spoken of the country’s 100 or so languages, English is frequently utilized as the medium of teaching in Indian colleges, particularly at the postgraduate level.
Living expenditures are extremely low; a one-way ride on public transportation may cost as little as 29 cents. Tuition rates vary based on your study level and university, but they should not exceed US$7,880 per year, and you should be able to live comfortably on less than US$4,600 per year.
7. Argentina: Argentina, which is the second-largest country in the continent of South America after Brazil, has spectacular stunning scenery and a wide landscape, making it excellent for students interested in recreational adventure and discovery. Argentina too is recognized for its fun-loving culture and strong national identity and is regarded as one of the safest nations in the area.
At a state-funded (public) university, you may usually study for free, whereas private universities charge roughly US$5,100 annually or more. For living costs, you’ll need roughly $5,000, with rent as low as US$350 monthly.
8. Poland: Poland is another excellent option for those looking to study abroad on a spending plan since it provides a high-quality education as well as a wealth of culture and history to discover. If you can communicate in Polish, complete the same admission examinations as Polish students, and do your course in Polish, you can study for free.
There are, however, several English-taught programs available, ranging in price from €2,000 to $3,500 (US$2,340 to $3,500) per year. Living expenses are likewise on the modest side, with an annual budget of €6,600 (US$7,700). In the 2018 QS Best Student Cities survey, Warsaw, Poland’s capital, was rated among the top 20 cities for affordability.
9. Malaysia: Malaysia is unquestionably among the most affordable destinations for international students, specifically concerning living expenses. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, ranked #1 in terms of affordability in the QS Best Student Cities 2016, and most students will only require approximately MYR 14,400 (US$3,550) annually to live a decent life in Malaysia.
Tuition expenses are around US$4,000 per academic year, however, certain degrees are significantly less expensive. Malaysia also has a handful of affiliates of overseas universities, like the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and Monash University in Australia, which provides students with the option to get a degree from these universities at a cheaper rate.
10. South Africa: South Africa, which closes our list of some of the best destinations to study abroad on a budget, is famed for its beautiful nature, cultural variety, and stormy past. It is an excellent option for adventurous students, fairly inexpensive, with minimal living and education expenditures.
Overseas students at the University of Cape Town which is South Africa’s top university and the University of the Western Cape pay approximately US$6,000 annually. For a year’s worth of living expenses, you’ll need roughly R 120,000 (US$9,150).
11. Lithuania: This is undoubtedly another place where education is very affordable. In Lithuania, education is compulsory for children under the age of 16. This is an effort of the government to make sure that every person in the country gets the basic knowledge of a reasonable person.
The country has a 12 years education policy namely; primary education, basic education, upper secondary education. There is also vocational training for students to ensure that the problem of unemployment after graduation is given a good fight. Take for example, Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET).
Though research also show that University researchers in Lithuania are paid very low, the country is still one of the cheapest places to study in the world compared to other countries in the world.
12. Denmark: Denmark is a country in Northern Europe, a Scandinavian country that is made up of the Jutland Peninsula and lots of Island. It is the most populated and the most political country of the Denmark Kingdom. It is a constitutionally unitary state which includes the territories of Faroe Islands and Greenland.
The country’s education system is top notch, it makes exception for international students, students from European Union or EEA and Switzerland countries can pursue their bachelor’s degree for free. Students outside the above mentioned place should expect to pay tuition fees ranging from 6,000 to 16,000 EUR per annum.
3. Spain: Spain, or the kingdom of Spain is located in the Southwest Europe with part of it bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and runs across the Mediterranean Sea in the Europe’s Iberian Peninsula. It is has 17 autonomous region with different geography and culture. The capital city of Spain is Madrid, which is the home of the Royal Palace and the Prado museum which is housing the various works of the European masters.
Spain is a very interesting place to study abroad, the country offers a high quality education, with the rich culture and history. The country also makes provision for English universities for English speaking students. The Tuition fees in Spain is one of the lowest tuition in Europe. For a Bachelor’s degree program, the tuition is set at the range of 750 EUR to 2,500 EUR per year. For a master’s degree program, the price is 1000 EUR to 3,500 EUR per year. Therefore putting Spain in a cheap destination for international students.
14. Belgium: Belgium is a country in located in the North Western Europe officially known as the Kingdom of Belgium. The country is has a boundary with the Netherlands by the north, Germany to the east, the North Sea to the Northwest, Luxembourg to the southeast and France to the southwest. Belgium has a population of more than 11.5 million people which made the country one of the most populated country in the world with the 22nd position and the 6th most populated country in Europe. It has its capital in Brussels.
The tuition fee for the Universities in Belgium is relatively low. It is ranked from 800 EUR to 9000 EUR per annum. The cost of living in the country for international students can vary from place to place and this is dependent on the location and the student’s circumstances. However, the student could make a budget between EUR 700 to 900 EUR per month. There are also Scholarship opportunities available for international students.
15. New Zealand: New Zealand is an island country, located in the southwest of the Pacific. The country has two main island, the north island and the South Island with more than 700 small islands. It is the sixth largest island country in the world. The capital city is Wellington and the most populated city in the country is Auckland.
If you are hungry for adventure, wants to study abroad, and looking for an affordable country to study in, then New Zealand should be your destination country. The country offers you breathe taking landscapes, friendly and welcoming people with wonderful institutions.
The universities in the country sets their own tuition fees, this differs from one university to another and the cost of tuition also depends on the students study level, students status and subject. The undergraduate tuition ranges from $14,900-$21,700 per year, with higher tuition for courses like Medicine and Veterinary science. Most of their bachelor’s degree, runs through the period of three years for before completion.
The nations on the list above are among the handful where you may pursue higher education at a reasonable cost. New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, England, and Sweden are among additional places that can provide equivalent educational quality at a lower cost. When choosing one of these countries to pursue higher education, make sure to consider the prices, including living expenditures, as well as the educational quality.
