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Affordable countries to Study abroad (2022 Ultimate List)

Affordable countries to study abroad (1)
Chapter 1

Why Study Abroad

Seeking out strange, foreign lands has been in our blood for millennia. As a species, the 21st century has left very few spheres for exploration, but as individuals, there is so much we haven’t yet experienced, felt and learnt, not to mention the drive for better opportunities. The latter is primarily why students shift entire countries for their education; they seek a better standard of living, the best education, a stable economy, and a free, democratic space. Some may just want a change of pace, a chance to feel different cultures and the vividity of different lands. The ‘homeland’ has come to mean different things to different people, yet we often forget that it is just the one planet we belong to. 

Apart from the aforementioned reasons, common reasons cited by students who want to move abroad include: the chance to be independent, the chance to meet new people, the thrill of travel and exploration, and of course, excellent career opportunities. There is a sort of optimization of the person that you are, while applying to move abroad, in order to get the opportunities, you need in order to become who you want to be. Aspirations and dreams drive us and help us reach our potential. It all starts in your mind. Remember, whoever you think you need to be is who you already are. : )

Anyway, let’s lay off the philosophy and jump on to the essence – students want to move, and they want the best of opportunities available. These things tend to be pricey, and affordability is a key factor that drives a lot of decisions. The resources and economic factors surrounding one student can be vastly different from the other, but affordability is a practical factor that will help in the long term.

We at Galvanize have put together a neat little list of countries that are known for their affordability, world-class education and great career opportunities. The list isn’t ordered by rank, but entropy! Let’s get started. Note: Language may be a problem but keep in mind that most universities allow for English speaking international students. Do learn the language (as much as you can) and respect the culture wherever you go.      

Chapter 2

Affordable Countries to Study Abroad

France

There is often a perception that France is too expensive a country to live in, and while this is true to some extent, it is far less expensive that the UK and USA. On an average, France is a viable option. France attracts a lot of international students because of excellent work opportunities, recognized education system and popular tourism destinations. 

It hosts beautiful cities, home to some of the world’s top universities, specializing in management, engineering, tourism, design, pure sciences, and arts. It has an excellent academic reputation, not to mention its wondrous culture, music, food, and art. 

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Cost of living in France:

Type

Average Monthly Cost (INR)

Utilities (Water, Electricity etc.)

9.5k

Transport 

3.3k

Internet and Telephone 

2k

Food and Drinks

10k

Rental Expenses

37.6k

Recreation 

7k

Total 

69.4k

Top Programs in France:

  • Management – There is a strong demand for management roles such as marketing, consulting and administrative jobs in France. It hosts 9 universities that feature in the top 50 MBA colleges of the world. 
  • Pure Sciences – France has produced many Nobel Laureates, specialising in Chemistry and Physics. Those looking to pursue their masters here are in for a treat. They may end up working in the R&D departments of top companies. 
  • Engineering – France is a world leader in Aerospace, Automobile, and Metallurgy Engineering. There is a strong need for professionals and researches in these sectors, making a masters in Engineering a good option. 
  • Tourism, Gourmet, Fashion and Luxury – As we mentioned before, France is a popular tourist destination. It has the third largest income from tourism globally and are known for their luxury sector as well which ranges from jewellery, clothes, perfumes, and even the best toiletries. The food and gourmet sector are also excellent options. To sum it up, Fashion, Tourism, Gourmet and Luxury!
  • Arts – France has a rich culture and heritage, and is one of the top study destinations for arts programs, ranging from photography, painting, and sculpting to latest modern graphic designing. 

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Top Universities in France:

Rank in France

Name 

1

Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris

2

École Polytechnique

3

Sorbonne University

4

University of Paris

5

Paris-Saclay University

If you are pursuing a particular program, make sure to research the top universities for that particular stream. Scholarships will be available. Tuition fees vary according to your specialization, so do keep that in mind. The average tuition fees in France are around 5 lakhs INR per year in France. IELTS may be required.

Advantages of living and studying in France:

  • Average fees are around 5 lakhs per annum. 
  • 2-year Post-study Work VISA.
  • 6 month paid internship.
  • 1 year Master programmes.
  • Top programs and universities with QS Rankings. 
  • Lovely, multicultural society with music, food and art. 
  • Infrastructure and Weather. 
  • Part of the European Union.
  • Good Healthcare. 
  • Lots of tourism spots.

Germany

Germany is the largest economy in the European zone, and the fifth largest economy in the world. They have a strong industrial output, dealing with heavy and light machinery, chemicals and vehicles. They are also known for their health sector, electronic sector and IT sector. With very low tuition fees, world-class academic reputations and education, Germany has certainly earned its name on this list. Some public universities do not charge fees as well. There’s plenty of cities worth exploring, and greenery is plentiful in Germany. Germans are mostly private but friendly people. 

Cost of living in Germany

Type 

Average Monthly Cost (INR)

Utilities (Water, Electricity etc.)

19.6

Transport 

5.6k

Internet and Telephone 

2.2k 

Food and Drinks

11.2k

Rental Expenses

20.2k

Recreation 

4.6k

Total 

63.4k 

Top Programs in Germany:

Mechanical and Automotive Engineering :

When we think of cars, the names that pop up are often German Cars. They’re the best in the world. The automotive sector is a huge area of opportunity for engineers in Germany. They also have various medium and large manufacturing companies that require plenty of mechanical engineers. There is a lot of scope for this stream in Germany. 

Management :

Germany is definitely on the list for top MBA Programs in the world. The fees for an MBA are cheaper compared to the USA, and they rank among the highest executive MBA providers in the world. 

Computer Science/IT and Telecommunications :

There is strong research in this field, and they hold a significant role in the IT industry closely behind the USA. It is a technologically strong nation with heavy focus towards digitization. The service sector is also connected to CS/IT and Telecommunications. 

Biomedical Engineering:

This is a field that holds great promise in Germany, with some of the world’s leading universities in the field operating from the country. Biomedical research and engineering linked with the health industry is a viable option in Germany. 

Top Universities in Germany:

Rank in Germany 

Name 

1

Technische Universität München

2

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

3

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

4

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

5

Freie Universität Berlin

Most institutions require an IELTS Score, and the average tuition fees for public universities vary, wherein most of them are free for even non-EU students. The competition is definitely high, and learning German can give you a chance. On the other hand, private universities in Germany, average around 15 lakhs per year as part of their tuition fees. 

Advantages of living in Germany: 

  • Low Cost of living. 
  • Rapid Economic Growth. 
  • Minimum wage of around 10 euros per hour. 
  • Multicultural diversity. 
  • Highly developed country with a strong manufacturing and service sector. 
  • Environment-sensitive, clean and have good climate policies. 

Norway

Norway is easily one of the cheapest countries for studying abroad, especially for Indian Students. It has been consistently ranked as one of the best countries to live in by the UDHR, with high life expectancy, human rights and a unique education system. It also has an excellent welfare system, and a very low crime rate. Located in Northern Europe, it borders Sweden, Finland and Russian on the east, and the Northern Atlantic Ocean on the west. The best part is that they have free universal healthcare, and international students can study for free at public universities. Top programs usually involve energy, biotechnology, IT/CS, Visual Arts, Natural Sciences, and Science Technology. 

Cost of Living in Norway

Type 

Average Monthly Cost (INR)

Utilities (Water, Electricity etc.)

12.5k

Transport 

5.7k

Internet and Telephone 

2.5k

Food and Drinks

20k

Rental Expenses

40k

Recreation 

5k

Total 

85.7k

This is definitely expensive, but do keep in mind the fact that your tuition fees is going to be absolutely free!

Top Programs in Norway

Norway is known for advances in Science and Technology, Scientific Research, Economics, Natural Sciences and an internationally reputed masters program system, which usually lasts for 2 years. 

  • Energy Sciences
  • Biotechnology 
  • IT/CS
  • Visual Arts
  • Natural Sciences 
  • Science Technology
  • Economics 
  • Humanities 
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Top Universities in Norway

Rank in Norway

Name 

1

University of Oslo

2

(1) Norwegian University of Science & Technology

3

University of Bergen

4

University of Tromso

5

University of Stavanger

Other notable universities include the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and UIT The Arctic University of Norway.

Advantages of living and studying in Norway:

  • High quality of life and education. 
  • Stunning natural beauty and wonders. 
  • English-taught courses with excellent academic reputations.
  • Good IT Facilities. 
  • World-class educations system.
  • High employment rate.
  • Beautiful Culture and Ecology.

Canada

The Great North is certainly expensive to live in, but the minimum wage, excellent post-study VISA and quality of life in Canada, couple with the best education available, make it a good choice in the long run. Check out this blog for top reasons to live in Canada, if you don’t believe us! The Great North has shaped itself to be one of the most diverse, international student-friendly and immigrant-welcoming countries on the planet. With consistent top rankings in the Quality-of-Life Surveys, this large, geographically diverse country has proven to be a safe haven for many refugees and international students looking for better education, quality of life and work opportunities. They’re also friendly, and band together in the snows, reflective of a welcoming civilization. 

Their education and healthcare system are excellent, the immigration process is far simpler than the US, UK and most European countries. Canada is extremely student friendly. Those looking to settle in Canada will be glad to know that you can apply for Permanent Residence after 1 year of full-time work in Canada. The work permits allow you to settle into the country, repay any educational loans you may have taken, and of course, work in the companies in which you have been placed. 

Cost of Living in Canada

Type 

Average Monthly Cost (INR)

Utilities (Water, Electricity etc.)

19k

Transport 

6k

Internet and Telephone 

4k

Food and Drinks

25k

Rental Expenses

40k

Recreation 

10k

Total 

1.4L 

The minimum wage in Canada is around 1k per hour. If you work part-time, you can definitely cover your cost of living. If you’re worried about your Cost of Living, go for shared spaces and don’t worry, for you will be able to pay everything back after your degree. Quality of living and life is high in Canada, and there’s a lot to explore and do. 

Top Programs in Canada:

Canada’s stable economy and GDP is powered by various high-tech firms, agriculture, biotechnology, a stupendously large service sector, manufacturing sector, and of course, a highly-established business environment. 

Firstly, plenty of top Canadian Programs are renowned and recognized worldwide, with more than 10 of its universities featuring in the top 150 universities in the World. 

  • Business Management – Head over to this blog for learning about the best b-schools in Canada.
  • Finance – Canada is well known for its well-established educational programs in Finance. 
  • Computer Science and IT. 
  • Engineering. 
  • Digital Media and Journalism.
  • Health and Medicine 

Top Universities in Canada:

Rank in Canada

Name 

1

University of Toronto

2

McGill University

3

University of British Columbia

4

Université de Montréal

5

University of Alberta

6

McMaster University

7

University of Waterloo

Advantages of living in Canada: As we mentioned earlier, it is worth checking out this piece about reasons to live in the Great North. 

Other notable countries with quality education include:

Taiwan

Taiwan is one of the better study destinations in Asia, with over 120 English-taught courses spread over 40 universities in Taiwan. Taiwan’s average tuition fees is very low, and one of the programs that has gained popularity over the years has been the Global MBA program. The cost of living is around 30k a month, making it very affordable. The Top Universities in Taiwan include the National Central University, the National Cheung Kung University, the Chang Gung University, and the National Tsing Hua University. Top programs include: management, humanities, media, and engineering.

Austria

Austria is another one of those countries which are very safe to live in, and have a high quality of life. It is a cultured, but advanced country with stunning beauty, beautiful cities and top universities. There is a lot of financial support for international students, with some of the top courses being law, psychology, economics, medicine, natural sciences, and engineering. The Top universities in Austria include: University of Vienna, Universität Innsbruck, Vienna Institute of Technology, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz.

  

Switzerland

Switzerland has a high skill diversity and excellent education system in place. 8 Universities from Switzerland are ranked in the top 100 Universities under the QS Rankings. The best courses to pursue are Banking, Finance, Engineering, International Business, Data Sciences, Biotechnology, and Hospitality. The cost of living is around 1L per month, which is expensive, but the average tuition fees come around 2.5L per year, which is very less compared to the other options available. The top Universities are the University of Zurich, The University of Bern, The University of Basel, and The University of Lausanne.

Hope this blog helped you! Written by Saahil R Bhatt.

Guided by Pavitra Srinivasan and the Galvanize In-house Experts

FAQ : Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study in any country for free?

If you can get funding and scholarships from the university, then the tuition fee can be compensated. Living costs can be managed with part time jobs. So yes, one can study for free if they have the proper circumstances. We have listed the most affordable universities to study in above in this article

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