If you fail to qualify for fully-funded university scholarships, consider enrolling in universities that are tuition-free or charge low tuition fees, or those offering tuition fee waivers. Countries like Norway, Austria, Germany, Finland, and Sweden offer different types of free/low tuition schemes and tuition waivers for international students.

Norwegian state universities and university colleges as a rule, do not charge tuition fees to all students including international students. This applies to all levels, including undergraduate studies, master’s programmes, and Ph.D. programmes. However, students will have to pay a semester fee of NOK 300-600 each semester.

Cost of Studying in Norway: You should take into consideration that living expenses in Norway are higher than in many other countries.  Living expenses would amount to NOK 90,000-100,000 per year.

• See also the list of  Scholarships in Norway for International Students
• See the list of Universities and Colleges in Norway

Tuition Free Universities in Austria 

According to studyinaustria.at

If you are an non-EU/EEA student, federal/public universities in Austria only charge about 726.72 Euros per semester for tuition fees plus 20.20 Euros per semester for student union membership fee “ÖH-Beitrag” and the student accident insurance fee.

In certain special cases, students may be eligible for a tuition fee exemption or a full/partial refund. This applies, for example, to recipients of specific scholarships, participants in exchange programmes or university partnerships, and students from designated countries. For detailed information, please visit the university’s official website.

Cost of Studying in Austria: The cost of living for students in Austria is approximately 800 Euros per month which covers accommodation, food, and personal expenses.

See the list of Higher Education Institutions in Austria

Online Tuition-Free Universities

There are now a number of Universities offering online degrees/courses for free.  The first such University is University of the People, which is a tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university dedicated to opening access to higher education globally.  University of the People offers online Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration, Health Science, and Computer Science, as well as an MBA program

This was followed by an initiative of MIT and Harvard called edX which is a learning platform that gives students from any country the opportunity to take free online courses offered by three premier Universities in the US – Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley and about 50+ Universities and institutions.

Tuition Free Universities in Germany 

In October 2014, all Universities in Germany except Baden-Württemberg* will not charge any tuition fees for bachelor’s and consecutive master’s degree programs for all students, including international students.  In some Federal States, Universities will charge a semester contribution (about 50 euros) and/or administration fees (about 50 euros).

This tuition fee structure can change in the future; you should check this page for updated information on tuition fees in different federal states in Germany. Currently, the federal state of Baden-Württemberg is charging tuition fees (for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom, and state examination degree programmes) of €1,500 per semester for non-EU citizens.

Unlike undergraduate studies, most Master’s studies in Germany come with tuition fees, but they’re not as high as in other countries.

However, doctoral studies at German universities are, in principle, free.   PhD students are charged tuition only after completing their first six semesters, but they are expected to pay a semester contribution of approximately 150-200 euros per semester.  Doctoral students usually work on a research project (paid PhD position) or receive a scholarship.

See the list of German Universities and Colleges.

Tuition Free Universities and Scholarships in Finland

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students has been announced from autumn 2017 onwards for English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes. It can only be Doctoral level studies that will remain free of tuition fees,  regardless of their nationality.

Finnish universities and UAS’s offer scholarship options for gifted non-EU/EEA students admitted to their fee-charging Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes. EDUFI Fellowships are available to cover living expenses for Doctoral studies for up to one  academic year.

Cost of Studying in Finland: Estimated living expenses of a single student in Finland average around 700-900 Euros per month.

See the list of all Finnish institutions of higher education

Tuition Scholarships in Swedish Universities

Application and tuition fees apply for those who are not citizens of an EU/EEA/Nordic country or Switzerland studying at the bachelor’s or master’s level. However, the Swedish Institute and a significant number of Universities offer full and partial scholarships in the form of tuition waivers for international students.

PhD positions in Sweden are usually offered as paid positions by universities or external funding bodies. This means that if you are offered a position as a PhD candidate, you will not pay fees and will receive a monthly salary.

Find the list of Universities in Sweden that offers scholarships/tuition waivers