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European University Fees
Find your PERFECT POSTGRAD PROGRAMThere are over 25,000 postgraduate qualifications available in Europe and many students from all over the world cast their gaze to this continent when considering their future studies and careers. So how do the tuition fees at universities in different European countries compare? Here we take a brief look at a some different European countries to give you some idea of the tuition fees you can expect to pay.
Tuition fees around Europe
Austria does not charge EU members for many of its postgraduate programs, however some courses charge up to around €800 per year so look up your course to see what you will have to pay. Costs may be more for international students.
Belgium charges around €900 per year for its postgraduate courses although there is a lot of funding to apply for that will reduce this cost. Again costs can be higher for international students.
Bulgaria charges foreign nationals up to €3,500 for most of its postgraduate courses, however as living costs are relatively cheap here it could be an option worth considering if you can find an interesting course.
Cyprus charges master’s tuition fees of around €400 per annum for EU students and over €5,000 for non-EU students.
Denmark does not charge EU students to study. Otherwise it is upwards of €6,000.
In Finland study is free to EU students. Fees will apply for non EU-students.
France typically charges around €245 for its master’s programs but funding is readily available and it is worth noting that Paris recently topped the QS list as the best student city in the world!
Germany charges all students €500 for its postgraduate courses which is the same amount as a German national pays. Funding is available.
Ireland charges all students tuition fees of between €4,000 and €10,000 so is not a cheap option in terms of tuition fees, however there are many funding options available to reduce these fees and some courses – for example those in ICT are set much lower to around €2,500.
Iceland does not charge EU students fees however there is a small registration fee of around €200. Extra charges are usually applicable for international students.
Italy charges all of its master’s students tuition fees from around €2,000 up to as much as €16,000 for many courses.
Lithuania typically charges €2,000-€3,000 for master’s courses, but funding is available.
Luxembourg does not charge tuition fees but there is a small registration fee applicable like Iceland. Costs may be higher for international students.
The Netherlands charges EU students around €2,000 for its courses and around €8,000 to non-EU students.
Norway does not charge tuition fees for its postgraduate programs although there will be a registration fee of around €300.
In Poland postgraduate study is free is you are Polish, for everyone else courses cost between €2,000 and €6,000.
Portugal charges around €950 for master’s courses and up to €3,000 for a PhD.
Spanish course fees are some of the lowest in Europe for international students as you pay on a ‘per credit’ basis at €9.50 per credit typically making courses cost around €2,000.
Sweden does not charge EU members tuition fees although non -EU students will pay around €9,700 for a master’s course.
In Switzerland all foreign nationals must pay tuition fees which are typically between €800 and €3,000. There is also a registration fee to pay.
Tuition fees in the United Kingdom range from £6,000 to £10,000 (€7,200 to €12,100) – although costs can get considerably higher depending on the institution and the postgraduate program. Funding is available.
Hidden costs of postgraduate programs in Europe
Remember that there can be huge variation in course cost within one country, Italy being a prime example, so make sure that you compare your chosen area of study across institutions as well as across nations. Some postgraduate courses may be expensive but that may be due to their global reputation – and some cases this investment could pay you back many times over in extra earnings you could gain from having a postgraduate qualification from a prestigious institution.
Also remember to check other expenses such as travel costs when considering where to study. For example, you may want to study in Lithuania, but if need to travel back to the UK to see family regularly then is that the most sensible option? It is also worth considering your living costs. If the course seems expensive but the cost of living is relatively cheap – then the country could still be worth considering.
Many expensive courses offer scholarships and grants so don’t take the course cost at face value, it could be considerably less if you qualify for funding or can justify grants to the course leaders. Total up all living costs as well as study costs when considering where to study.
And remember, although the postgraduate programs will be taught in English, try and learn some of the language of the country you are going to be living before you go as this will make life a lot easier for you.
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PLEASE NOTE: As a result of Brexit, from Autumn 2021 postgraduate students from the European Union studying at a UK university will be charged the same tuition fees as international students. Meanwhile, UK students studying their postgraduate course at a European university are also likely to incur higher tuition fees than their EU counterparts. It is advisable to check with the individual universities in the UK and Europe for up-to-date information on tuition fees for all postgraduate programs.
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