Studying abroad can be the experience of a lifetime… but it can also be very expensive. Luckily, there’s more than one choice if you want to study abroad with low costs – or even study abroad for free.

 Study abroad programs charge you extra fees to help you find accommodation, help you enroll in foreign universities, or even facilitate your visa process. By taking on some or all of these tasks on your own, you can make your study abroad experience much easier.

This article shows you the different ways to reduce some of these costs.

How to study abroad cheaply (even for free)

Enroll directly in a university or a foreign language school

While universities in the United States tend to be quite expensive, many countries offer free or low-cost tuition…even for international students.

The Sorbonne in Paris, for example, has no tuition fees and only charges a modest registration fee – around $200.

English language programs are not limited to English speaking countries.

Then, check the websites of public universities in these countries to see if the cost of tuition is bearable for you. Also consider the cost of living in these countries.

Countries where you can study at a lower cost (or for free)

Germany

Germany is known for its excellent university system, and all international students can study there for free after paying an annual administrative fee, which is usually less than €350.

Brazil

If you know how to speak Portuguese, you can take a free education in one of the prestigious Brazilian public universities, with a very low registration fee at the beginning of your courses. You will need to pass a test, just like other prospective Brazilian students, and to demonstrate your level of proficiency in Portuguese, you will need to obtain a CELPE-Bras certificate.

Norway

Do you speak Norwegian? Fabulous. You can study abroad in Norway for free with an application fee of around $50.

Greece

International students must pay an annual tuition fee of €1,500. If you add to that the fact that the cost of living in Greece is among the lowest in Europe, you have an incredibly cheap study abroad experience. However, you will need to learn Greek if you do not already know it.

Iceland

In Iceland, the public university is free for all students, regardless of their origin (5% of higher education students are foreigners). Luxemburg.The University of Luxembourg is incredibly international and, beyond a registration fee of €800 the first year and €400 per year thereafter, studies are completely free for all students.

France

France, one of the most popular countries for studying abroad, does not charge tuition fees at its public universities, regardless of your nationality. Just expect to pay a small administrative fee.

Sweden

If you have an EU or Swiss passport, you can study in Sweden for free. Other nationals can expect to pay a few thousand dollars a year, but PhDs are usually free, and you even get paid! Another advantage is that all students have the opportunity to work while studying in Sweden.