Low-cost university abroad: what a public bachelor's costs EU and non-EU students in 8 European countries

Public universities in Europe charge very different fees, and the main dividing line is citizenship. Students from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) usually pay the same as local students. Students from outside that area may pay the same, a little more, or the full cost of the programme.

We checked the official study portals of eight countries on 8 October 2026. All figures are for bachelor's programmes at public institutions and come from those pages.

The table

In France, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, the official pages extend the EU rule to Swiss citizens. Several countries also exempt some students from outside the EU, such as family members of EU citizens with a right of residence in Sweden, or groups listed in Norwegian law. Those exceptions depend on the status you hold, so check them for your own case.

Low fees for everyone: Germany, France and Austria

Germany is the cheapest option on paper. The DAAD, the German academic exchange service, says there are generally no fees for bachelor's courses at state higher education institutions. Every student pays a semester contribution, between €70 and €430 depending on the institution, which the DAAD stresses is not a tuition fee. The exceptions are regional: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU citizens €1,500 per semester, and institutions in Bavaria decide whether to charge non-EU students and how much.

France charges a national fee set each year. For 2026 to 2027, a bachelor's costs €178 per year for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals. Other students pay differentiated fees of €2,902 per year.

Austria charges EU and EEA students nothing as long as they stay within the standard length of their programme plus two extra semesters. After that, the fee is €363.36 per semester. Students from other countries pay €726.72 per semester as a general rule. Everyone pays the student union fee of €26.20 per semester, which includes accident insurance.

Free for EU students, fees for others: the Nordic countries

Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway follow the same pattern: no tuition for EU and EEA students, fees for most others.

• Denmark gives a range of €6,000 to €16,000 per year for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, and tells applicants to confirm the exact fee with the institution.
• Finland charges no tuition for programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish, whatever the student's nationality. For English-taught programmes, non-EU students usually pay €9,000 to €20,000 per year, plus a €100 application fee.
• Sweden lists fees from about SEK 80,000 to SEK 320,000 per year, with an average around SEK 160,000. Non-EU applicants also pay an application fee of SEK 900.
• Norway says students from outside the EU and EEA must normally pay, but publishes no national figure. Fees vary between institutions and programmes.

A fee for everyone: the Netherlands

The Netherlands is the only country in the table where EU students also pay a substantial fee. The statutory fee is €2,694 for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. Students from outside the EU and EEA pay an institutional fee, on average between €9,000 and €20,000 per year for a bachelor's programme.

Costs beyond tuition

Tuition is only part of the bill. Non-EU students usually have to prove they can support themselves before they get a residence permit.

• Germany requires proof of €992 per month, as of 1 January 2025, for example through a blocked bank account.
• Finland sets an official minimum of €800 per month, and its study portal recommends planning for €900 to €1,200.

A country with low tuition can still be expensive to live in. Our article on the best countries to move to with a family covers schools and family costs in more depth.

What the table does not show

• Master's programmes. Fees and exceptions are often different. In Germany, some continuing education master's programmes charge fees.
• Private institutions. All figures are for public universities. Private ones set their own prices.
• Admission and language. A low fee does not guarantee a place. In Finland, the programmes free for everyone are the ones taught in Finnish or Swedish.

How to use these figures

1. Check your status first. Citizenship decides most fees, but residence status and family ties can change the answer.
2. Find the exact fee on the programme page. The ranges above are national guides; the institution sets the final amount where fees apply.
3. Add living costs. Compare the proof of funds with local rents before you choose.

Country profiles: Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

This article describes the rules as published on official pages on 8 October 2026 and is not legal or financial advice. Fees change from one academic year to the next. Check the current fee with the institution and the country's official study portal before you apply or pay.