Tuition-free or near-free countries
Several countries charge little or nothing at public universities, even for international students.
- Germany — semester fee of €150–€350 at most public universities
- Norway — free at public universities (from 2023 fees apply to non-EU students at most; check each university)
- Italy — income-based fees with DSU scholarships that can waive tuition
- France — public fees around €2,900–€3,900 per year
- Finland & Sweden — fees, but generous tuition waivers
Fully funded scholarships
These cover tuition, living costs and often airfare.
- Chevening (UK)
- DAAD (Germany)
- Erasmus Mundus (Europe)
- MEXT (Japan)
- Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
Assistantships and funded PhDs
In Canada, the UK and Europe, research and teaching assistantships can waive tuition and pay a monthly stipend. Most PhDs in Europe are paid positions.
Earn while you learn
Part-time work of 20 hours a week can cover a large part of living costs in most countries.
Key takeaways
- Start 12–18 months before your intake
- Strong academics, test scores and SOPs unlock funding
- Combine low-fee countries with part-time work for the lowest total cost