- Originally published
- Last updated on February 23rd, 2024 at 08:42 pm
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Want to Save Some Money By Going to the Cheapest College in the World?
It’s frustrating to search for cheap degrees and then realize, as an American student, that you’re never going to be able to secure a visa, and you’ll never be able to roll with the language of instruction (we’re looking at you, Germany).
Americans seeking the cheapest college in the world (that’s actually right for them) are going to have to dig deeper.
American students are more likely to choose to go to university abroad to save on costs since they live in an era where college tuition has exploded 113% since they were born.
It’s true: more Americans are more worried than ever about the cost of their education.
We decided to help by crunching the numbers. We started with a database of all The Times ranked universities and merged it with the list of world universities that offer at least one undergraduate degree entirely taught in English. From that list, we considered three costs:
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- Tuition for the length of that degree (from 3 to 6 years) for non-EU, international students. For multiple programs with varying costs, we used the average of the highest and lowest program tuition.
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- The local cost of living index
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- The local rent index
And? The cheapest college in the world is Istanbul Technical University.
Istanbul Technical University is the cheapest university in the world for international students. But – and there’s a big but – you’ll need to pass Turkish proficiency tests to study your English-taught program in subjects like fashion design, naval engineering, or urban planning.
Are Any Universities Free for Foreigners?
Free? That’s a tough ask.
Few affordable universities offer students from all countries free (or nearl free) access.
The list of free universities for American students dwindles to zero for students who want an undergraduate degree taught in English.
But cheap? The cheapest universities in the world for international students? That’s doable. Let’s look at the cheapest universities in the world for international students.
What are the Universities with Low Tuition Fees for International Students?
Overall Cheapest: Grab a kebob and a Cola Turka at the cheapest international university: Istanbul Technical University. But while classes are taught in English, you’ll need a Turkish proficiency test to study here, making it inaccessible for most international students.
Cheapest in the EU: Within the EU, you can’t beat Varna University of Management, one of the cheapest colleges in the world. For $4200 USD per year (and a 3-year degree option), you can study either international business management or hospitality and culinary arts on the Black Sea in Bulgaria in a vibrant city named EU’s Youth Capital in 2017. Its degree partnership with the University of Cardiff in Wales makes this option even more appealing.
Cheapest For Smarties: With Russia’s “Do not Travel” warning affecting our winner for “cheapest in the top 300 world universities,” check out the runner-up: Semmelweiss University in Hungary. Ranked 225th in the world, you can choose from 7 English-taught programs in health sciences, from midwifery to dietetics.
Cheapest in the Top 50% for Quality of Life in the World: Want to blend your wallet’s health with your quality of life and find the perfect balance? Look at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria. You’ll find programs in International Business and Robotics and AI. It’s in the 46th% percentile for cheapness among all world universities—not even the top half of the cheapest colleges in the world. So is it the cheapest university in the world for international students? No way. Is it the cheapest happy university in the world? We think so!
Overall Cheapest Universities in the World for International Students
Where can you get a degree that saves you the most dough? Well, it’s complicated. Here’s the data.
Is it Possible to Save at these Universities?
First off, we assumed students were coming from non-EU countries. They’ll have to pay foreign and international fees everywhere they go outside the U.S. That means most of the cheapest colleges in the world aren’t in highly developed countries with strong economies, like countries within the EU.
That makes college cheap, but it presents other problems. For example, will a degree from this university and this country get respect at home? Will graduates find jobs in this country after graduating? Do grads even want to stay?
Here are some issues making “cheap” as unrealistic as “expensive” can be:
Turkey’s Language Requirement
Some of our cheapest universities in the world suffer from the dilemma of “cheapness” versus “worthiness.” For instance, you’ll find Turkish students honing their engineering skills at the University of Buffalo as part of a dual degree program with Istanbul Technical University. But the relationship doesn’t go both ways. Not many American students choose to pursue degrees in Turkey.
Why? First, the university may not even be accessible to most Americans. Istanbul Technical University, while offering courses in English, requires Turkish proficiency to apply. Fun fact: American high schools do not often offer Turkish.
Ukraine’s Safety Issues
Our runner-up isn’t a possibility for many American students, either. #2 Kharkiv National University is currently located in a war zone.
Romania’s Lack of Resources for International Students
So perhaps the best affordability bargain among globally-ranked universities is at #3 University of Oradea in northwest Romania. Its website’s front page accommodates English readers, but its menu options slip into Romanian, making it tough to find any resources for international students.
It’s nearly impossible to find the employment rate for international students following graduation, or even an international student center where students. can ask these questions.
In the end, the “cheapest college in the world” is a trade-off, and students looking to save big face an uphill, and often independent, journey. There is a lot of legwork they’ll need to handle themselves.
As students investigate the cheapest universities in the world for international students, they’ll have to remember that they’ll likely face fewer student services catering to their unique situation—so they’ll pay in other ways than just cash.
Cheapest Universities in Europe for International Students
We included universities with more than 10% international students in the EU (eliminating EU candidates Serbia and Turkey, alongside Brexit leavers in the U.K.). For non-EU students paying tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Europe.
Cheapest of the Academic Giants
We looked at universities ranked by the Times in the top 300 globally (with more than 10% international students). If you’re looking for a high-quality education for less, these are the top contenders.
The winner that’s not currently under US sanctions where you won’t even be able to access you bank account? It’s Semmelweiss University in Hungary.
If you’re not into health sciences, consider #3 the University of Cape Town where you can study commerce, law, humanities, science, engineering, or health sciences.
Cheapest with Top-Half Student Life Scores
We eliminated universities with less than 10% international students, but this time we judged universities based on a combination of:
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- Their world happiness score 2022 (which ranks countries on 6 factors: GDP, family, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and trust)
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- The university’s percentage of international students (higher is better. It offers newcomers plenty of student societies to fit in and is likelier to have an international office with services to help international students. Additionally, it also means a more diverse student body in general, with better class discussions and a deeper and wider intellectual community)
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- The country’s overall English proficiency (so students can manage life easily)
We only included universities that scored in the top 50% on this student life/happiness category.
Cheapest Universities in Canada for International Students
Of all the Great White North’s Times-ranked universities, which are the most affordable?
| UNIVERSITY | TIMES RANKING | FINAL AFFORDABILITY SCORE |
| University of Lethbridge | 1350 | 4.4 |
| University of Saskatchewan | 550 | 4.2 |
| University of Manitoba | 375 | 4.0 |
| University of Windsor | 700 | 3.9 |
| York University | 450 | 3.7 |
| University of Calgary | 225 | 3.6 |
| University of Victoria | 325 | 3.4 |
| Dalhousie University | 325 | 3.3 |
| McGill University | 46 | 2.9 |
| Ontario Tech University | 700 | 2.8 |
Cheapest Universities in Australia for International Students
Of all the Times-ranked universities down under, these ten keep more cash in your pocket.
| UNIVERSITY | TIMES RANKING | FINAL AFFORDABILITY SCORE |
| Federation University Australia | 700 | 3.9 |
| Charles Darwin University | 375 | 3.8 |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | 700 | 3.7 |
| Australian Catholic University | 275 | 3.6 |
| Murdoch University | 450 | 3.5 |
| Queensland University of Technology | 225 | 3.4 |
| Charles Sturt University | 1100 | 3.3 |
| Curtin University | 225 | 3.2 |
| Edith Cowan University | 375 | 3.0 |
| University of Canberra | 275 | 2.9 |
Cheapest Universities in the UK for International Students
The cold island isn’t known for cheap college. But which schools cut your costs best?
Find out more about how to go to college in England or Scotland as you weigh the costs.
| UNIVERSITY | TIMES RANKING | FINAL AFFORDABILITY SCORE |
| University of Cumbria | 2000 | 4.5 |
| University of Northampton | 2000 | 4.5 |
| Queen Margaret University | 2000 | 4.5 |
| University of Salford | 900 | 4.4 |
| University of Bolton | 2000 | 4.4 |
| Wrexham Glyndwr University | 2000 | 4.4 |
| Bishop Grosseteste University | 2000 | 4.3 |
| Plymouth Marjon University | 2000 | 4.3 |
| Liverpool Hope University | 2000 | 4.3 |
| Writtle University College | 2000 | 4.2 |
Cheapest and Most Expensive Universities in Other Countries
France
Cheapest: University of Strasbourg
Most Expensive: Sciences Po
Germany
Cheapest: University of Duisburg-Essen
Most Expensive: University of Freiburg
Ireland
Cheapest: University of Limerick
Most Expensive: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
(Check out all the Irish universities and how they stack up)
Italy
Cheapest: University of Genoa
Most Expensive: Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
Japan
Cheapest: Chiba University of Technology
Most Expensive: Ritsumeikan University
Netherlands
Cheapest: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Most Expensive: Utrecht University
New Zealand
Cheapest: Massey University
Most Expensive: Aukland University of Technology
Spain
Cheapest: European University of Madrid
Most Expensive: University of Navarra
Cheaper by Degrees
High income countries are more likely to offer more resources to support all kinds of students from different educational backgrounds and get them all to the highest levels in their fields while helping them acclimate to a new country. That’s a big job. Additionally, it’s an expensive one.
That often means that Western students looking to make Western bucks and get Western jobs one day are better off in these resource-rich environments – if they can afford it.
However, there are lower-priced gems.
High-income countries don’t have a monopoly on intelligence. Find some by looking into our overall best universities for international students (which use cost as just one of three factors overall in the ranking).
Use your own criteria, and you’ll be able to find low-cost universities that secure your future without draining your bank account.
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Jessica Share
Jessica is the writer, Ph.D., and mom-of-an-abroad-student-in-the-UK at the helm of College Abroad Guides. When she's not asking college students where the coolest place to hang out in their city is, she's figuring out how she can make $60 imported Greek oregano potato chips and £50 British bacon potato chips appear on her doorstep for the cost of a local bag of Lay's.
