Where Can You Study a Free Masters Degree?

Several countries offer free or low-cost education to international students. Iceland, Germany, Brazil, and the Czech Republic provide free tuition for all students, though some administrative fees and living costs apply. While tuition may be free or inexpensive, students should also consider living expenses, which vary widely by country.

So, you're dreaming of studying abroad but your bank account is giving you the side-eye? Don't worry; there are plenty of budget-friendly options out there for international students! In fact, some destinations even offer completely free Masters degrees—yes, really.

In this guide I'll walk you through the most affordable study-abroad locations, any sneaky hidden costs, and how to keep your wallet intact while pursuing your degree.

Free for EU nationals

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are entitled to study in Europe for free.

Norway

Tuition is free for EU, EEA, and Swiss students, though a semester fee of €30-60 applies.

Is there a catch?

Norway is expensive. Expect to budget around €1,320 per month for living costs. Oh, and non-EU students will have to pay tuition fees starting in 2023.

Tuition is only free at public universities. If you want to attend a private university, you can expect to pay fees of €400-9,360 per year.

Read more about studying, living and Masters funding in Norway.

Denmark

Universities in Denmark do not charge any tuition fees for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals. All other international students will have to pay full tuition fees, which range from around €6,000 to 16,000.

The cost of living in Denmark is relatively high (though so is its standard of living!). Average monthly living expenses for students range between €870 and 1,240.

Read more about studying and living in Denmark.

Finland

Masters study in Finland is free for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals. All other international students pay fees of between €4,000 and €18,000 per year. You will also need to pay a student union fee of €80-100, which entitles you to discounts in restaurants and on public transport.

Read more about studying and living in Finland.

Sweden

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not have to pay tuition fees in Sweden and are also exempt from administrative fees. You may occasionally have to pay tuition fees if completing a joint or multiple-degree programme.

All other international students will need to pay fees, which are usually between €7,265 and €26,792 per academic year, with an average of €11,716. They will also need to pay a €90 application fee.

Other study-related expenses you might encounter in Sweden include €70 per month for textbooks, and between €5-35 for student union membership.

Read more about studying, living and funding in Sweden.

Poland

Masters study in Poland is free for EU and EEA nationals (you will still need to pay an administrative fee of up to €200, however). You may also be exempt from tuition fees if you have Polish heritage and meet the conditions to be granted a Polish Card (Karta Polaka).

All other international students will need to pay tuition fees, which cost an average of €3,000 per year. Fees can be as high as €6,000 per year, or €12,000 for MBA programmes.

Read more about studying and living in Poland.

Austria

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals don’t pay any tuition fees at Austrian universities. However, you’ll need to complete your programme within the regular study period, which is equivalent to the minimum duration of your programme, plus two semesters (usually around three years). After this, you’ll be charged €363.36 per semester.

Austrian universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) are technically allowed to charge domestic and EU students fees for up to €363.36 per semester from the beginning of their programme – but many of them do not.

All other international students will pay tuition fees, but these are still relatively low compared to other European countries, at €726.72 per semester, or €2,906.88 for a full two-year Masters.

All students, regardless of nationality, will need to pay a Student Union membership fee of €20.70 per semester.

Read more about studying and living in Austria.

Lithuania

University students in Lithuania are either self-funded or state financed. State-financed students have the entire cost of their tuition covered by the government. Though most of these places go to Lithuanian students, EU nationals are also eligible to apply.

Self-funded students pay fees starting at around €2,300.

Read more about studying and living in Lithuania.

So, hopefully there's a lot more options for you here than you thought. And, again hopefully, you're a bit less worried about your bank account. Here's a few more tips from me when considering studying in any of the countries we've discussed:

• Learn the language – If free tuition depends on fluency in Icelandic or Czech, consider Duolingo your new best friend.
• Look beyond tuition – Living costs can make or break your budget. A free degree in an expensive country isn’t always the best deal.
• Apply early – Competitive universities fill up quickly, and you don’t want to be stuck paying tuition elsewhere.

Studying abroad doesn’t have to mean drowning in student debt. If you’re strategic, you can get a world-class education without paying a cent in tuition. Now go forth and learn (preferably for free)!