Study in Northern Europe for Free

The northern European countries (known also as the Nordic or Scandinavian countries) are some of the most developed countries in the world. Norway in particular has enjoyed the status of being the most developed country in the world. The Nordic countries – Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden – are known for their high quality of life and the liberal nature of their society. They also boast of some of the strongest higher education systems in the world.

These Scandinavian countries all offer opportunities to study either free or at low cost. Let’s have a look at them.

Norway

Norwegian universities are available free of charge to all students, regardless of study level or nationality. Students only need to pay semester fees of around NOK 300-600 (N14-28,000 at the current exchange rate). And these fees also bring many benefits such as on-campus health services, counselling, access to sports facilities, as well as reduced prices for public transport and cultural activities. However, most undergraduate programs are taught only in Norwegian, and international students need to demonstrate proof of proficiency in Norwegian in order to study at this level.

But at Master’s and PhD level, English language programs are far more common and free tuition still applies.

The downside is that Norway has a very high standard of living, due to the high quality of life. The cost of living might offset the free education.

Check out some Norwegian universities and the opportunities they offer. You should also read more about PhD courses in Norway.

Iceland

In Iceland, there are no tuition fees charged at the country’s four public universities: the University of Iceland, the Agricultural University of Iceland, Hólar University College and the University of Akureyri, with only a registration fee of around ISK 75,000 (around N239,000 at the current exchange rate) a year. You will have to pay tuition to study in a private university in Iceland.

Denmark

Only students from within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA) have access to free university education in Denmark. Students from other nations must pay tuition fees for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. However, PhD programs in these countries are fully funded, offering exceptional PhD candidates the chance to gain their degree without paying fees. They also get the chance to earn a salary.

University fees in Denmark range between DKK 45,000 and DKK 120,000 annually (N3-8 million at the current exchange rate). The University of Southern Denmark, one of Denmark’s cheaper universities, charge fees of around DKK 48,000 (approx. N3 million) per year for a Bachelor’s level business or social sciences degree, or DKK 63,000 (approx. N4 million) at Master’s level. At the University of Copenhagen, Denmark’s highest-ranked university, English-taught Master’s degrees start at DKK 40,000 (approx. N2.5 million) per year.

Again, living costs are a challenge for students studying in Denmark as a result of the high cost of living.

Finland

Just like with Denmark, Finland offers free university education only to students within the EU or the European Economic Area. Non-EU students have to pay tuition fees starting from €6,000 per year (approx. N3 million). The exact fee depends on the course of study.

Find out the exact tuition fees for your chosen university and course of study in Finland.

However, there are some slight benefits for a select group of non-EU students in Finland. Non-EU PhD students can study in Finland for free. Further, students who are proficient in Finnish or Swedish can study for free at all levels. The courses will be in those languages. A good plan here would be to apply for a short-term visitor’s visa allowing you to travel to Finland for a few months and learn those languages.

Sweden

Just like it is with Finland and Denmark, EU students and students from the European Economic Area can study in Sweden for free, while non-EU students have to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees in Sweden start at around SEK 80,000-140,000  (approx. N4-7 million) annually, depending on the course.

Search this website to discover the university of your choice and the applicable fees for your chosen course of study.

Note that it is possible to get a scholarship in some of these countries, especially Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Scandinavian countries offer some really good options for students from all over the world. However, the cost of living often offsets the low prices compared to other top European nations that offer a similar quality of education.

If you’d prefer to study somewhere slightly warmer, check out our other articles on education in Europe.