Cheapest universities worldwide: Germany, Norway, Italy, France public universities. Tuition-free or low-cost options for international students in 2026.
Cheapest Countries
Germany (tuition-free at public universities, €150-500/semester admin fees), Norway (tuition-free at public universities for all students including non-EU), France (€2,770-€3,770/year for non-EU at public universities), Italy (€900-€4,000/year based on family income), and Austria (€726/semester for non-EU).
Top Low-Cost Universities
• TU Munich (Germany) — €150/semester admin fee.
• LMU Munich (Germany) — €150/semester.
• Heidelberg (Germany) — €170/semester.
• Free University of Berlin — €300/semester.
• University of Oslo (Norway) — Free tuition, even for non-EU.
• Sorbonne (France) — €2,770-€3,770/year (non-EU).
• Paris-Saclay (France) — €2,770-€3,770/year (non-EU).
• University of Bologna (Italy) — €900-€4,000/year.
• Sapienza (Italy) — €900-€4,000/year.
• University of Vienna (Austria) — €726/semester.
Things to Consider
Cheap tuition doesn't mean cheap total cost — factor in accommodation (€400-1,200/month), food (€200-400/month), transport, and health insurance. Germany and France require proof of €10,332-€11,904/year in a blocked account or bank statement for the student visa.
Next Steps
Use our comparison tool to evaluate schools side-by-side, try our admissions calculator to estimate your chances, or browse scholarships to find funding opportunities.
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Source: The College Monk — Based on data from 3,837 U.S. universities. Last updated June 2026.
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