Study Abroad in Europe: Affordable Alternatives to the UK, US, Canada & Australia
TL;DR
- Skyrocketing tuition fees and visa restrictions in traditional study destinations like the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia are pushing students to explore alternatives.
- YUNO LEARNING’s latest guide highlights affordable European countries—including Germany, Portugal, Italy, Poland, and Spain—offering quality education, lower living costs, and clearer post-study pathways.
- Some, like Germany, offer tuition-free education, while others boast costs significantly lower than the big four.
- This article breaks down average tuition fees and living expenses across each country, helping students make smart, cost-effective decisions for 2025. If you’re tired of feeling unwelcome or overcharged, it may be time to study where you’re celebrated, not tolerated.
An article in the Times of India (2025, May 20) notes that rising tuition fees and living costs in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia are driving Indians with international study dreams to think of other destinations. (Actually, it’s not just rising tuition fees and living costs that are prompting a rethink; the traditional study destinations have become problematic for some reasons.) The TOI piece suggests that students should take a look at Austria, Malta, Portugal, and Spain, citing the lower tuition fees, affordable living costs, and clear post-study work opportunities in these countries.
Great idea! Absolutely cannot argue with it.
YUNO LEARNING would like to add this bit of encouragement to the TOI suggestion:
- Go where you are wanted.
- Go where you are appreciated.
- Go where you are respected.
- Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated.
Above all … if that coveted admission comes with scapegoating you for any or all of the host country’s problems, then take your money elsewhere.
As a student in a Master’s/PhD level programme in a reasonably good university in the UK/US/Canada/Australia, you pay somewhere around Rs 21,29,279 per year (just tuition!).
If the UK/US/Canada/Australia doesn’t want your money, there are plenty of other universities in other countries that do. And, most likely, after graduation, those countries will be getting the benefit of your talent too.
The ToI piece specifically mentions four countries: Austria, Malta, Portugal, and Spain. Let’s look at 13 European countries: Here is an overview of approximate annual tuition fees (converted to Euros) for MSc-level STEM programs at public universities in various European countries for the 2024–25 academic year.
2024-25 Public Universities Approx Annual Tuition for STEM (in €) | 2024-35 Approx Cost of Living | |||||
| Country | Non-EU (€/year) | Range. € / month | ||||
Low | High |
| Country | Low | High | |
| UK | 12,900 | 37,000 |
| Denmark | 1,800 | 2,200 |
| Ireland | 9,950 | 34,500 |
| Ireland | 1,700 | 2,100 |
| Netherlands | 8,000 | 20,000 |
| Netherlands | 1,600 | 2,000 |
| Sweden | 7,800 | 13,600 |
| Sweden | 1,500 | 1,900 |
| Denmark | 6,000 | 16,000 |
| UK | 1,400 | 1,800 |
| Belgium | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| France | 1,300 | 1,700 |
| Portugal | 3,000 | 7,5000 |
| Austria | 1,200 | 1,600 |
| France | 2,770 | 3,770 |
| Belgium | 1,100 | 1,500 |
| Poland | 2,000 | 3,000 |
| Germany | 1,000 | 1,400 |
| Austria | 1,503 | 1,503 |
| Italy | 900 | 1,300 |
| Spain | 1,000 | 4,500 |
| Spain | 800 | 1,200 |
| Italy | 900 | 5,000 |
| Portugal | 700 | 1,100 |
| Germany | 000 Except Baden- Württemberg 1500 | 000 Except Baden- Württemberg 3,000 |
| Poland | 600 | 1,000 |
Sources: https://www.findamasters.com/guides/masters-fees-and-living-costs-in-europe |
| Sources: | ||||
The tuition figures are based on available data and may vary depending on the specific university and program. Tuition fees vary by university, program, and student nationality. Some countries offer tuition-free education for EU students, while others charge higher fees for non-EU students. Additionally, administrative fees may apply.
In Germany, public universities do not charge tuition fees; however, students must pay a semester fee ranging from €150 to €350. For more precise information, it will be necessary to check the websites of specific universities.
Next, consider the cost of living in these countries. There is a big variation in living costs. We can see at a glance that living in Denmark is three times more costly than living in Poland. France, Austria, Belgium, and Germany are in the middle range with monthly living costs running between €1000 and €1400.
If a student is looking for a country with low tuition fees AND low living costs, then Italy and Spain score on both parameters. France, Belgium, and Austria are in the middle for both tuition fees AND cost of living. Poland and Portugal are very affordable in terms of cost of living. Poland scores low on tuition fees, and Portugal is in the middle range. Germany’s zero tuition is unbeatable, while the cost of living is in the middle range.
What about the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark? They have high tuition fees and a high cost of living.
Cost-wise, the optimum countries are: Poland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Germany.
In past posts, YUNO LEARNING made a detailed analysis of
- Italy [2025, Mar 10]
- Germany [2025, April 7]
- Poland [2025, Feb 17]
- France [2024, Nov 24]
- Portugal [2025, Jun 2]
Check out these posts. The information is still up to date.
That leaves Spain
Stay tuned … In the next post, YUNO LEARNING tells you all about Spain.