Cheapest European Countries to Study Abroad in 2026
Europe offers some of the most affordable study destinations in the world — several with free tuition — combined with Schengen access, globally recognised degrees, and strong post-study work options. Here are 12 European countries ranked by total annual cost for international master's students.
The ranking
| Rank | Country | Tuition/yr | Living/yr | Total/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | €0–350 | €11,208 | ~€11,500 |
| 2 | Poland | €2,000–4,000 | €6,000 | ~€9,000 |
| 3 | Hungary | €1,500–3,500 | €6,600 | ~€9,600 |
| 4 | Czech Republic | €0 (Czech) / €3,000–8,000 (English) | €7,200 | €7,200–15,200 |
| 5 | Turkey | €600–1,500 | €4,800 | ~€6,000 |
| 6 | France | €243 | €10,200 | ~€10,400 |
| 7 | Italy | €900–4,000 | €9,000 | ~€11,500 |
| 8 | Spain | €2,000–5,000 | €8,400 | ~€11,900 |
| 9 | Austria | €1,500 | €10,800 | ~€12,300 |
| 10 | Finland | €0 (PhD) / €6,000–18,000 | €9,600 | €9,600–27,600 |
| 11 | Portugal | €950–7,000 | €8,400 | ~€12,400 |
| 12 | Belgium | €900–4,500 | €10,800 | ~€13,300 |
The free-tuition group
Germany (€0 for everyone), Czech Republic (€0 if studying in Czech), Finland (€0 for PhD), and Austria (€1,500 — technically low-cost, not free) form the most affordable group. Of these, Germany stands out for combining free tuition with the strongest post-study job market.
The best-value group
Poland, Hungary, and Turkey offer low tuition AND low living costs — making them the cheapest overall. Poland's 23% growth in international students reflects this value proposition. Hungary's Stipendium Hungaricum makes it even cheaper (potentially free). Turkey's Türkiye Scholarships provide 14,000+ fully funded places.
The premium-but-affordable group
France (€243 tuition but €10,200 living), Italy, Spain, Austria, and Portugal offer low tuition at public universities but higher living costs. These are best for students who have some savings or scholarship funding and value the cultural experience and degree prestige.
Schengen advantage
All EU countries in this list are in the Schengen area, meaning your student residence permit lets you travel freely across 27 countries. This is a significant lifestyle and networking advantage not available in the US, UK, or Australia.
Europe's scholarship ecosystem
Erasmus Mundus funds joint master's programmes across multiple European universities — fully funded with a €1,400/month stipend. Stipendium Hungaricum offers 5,000+ fully funded places per year. DAAD is Germany's massive scholarship agency. Each country also has national scholarship bodies.
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