5 Most Affordable Countries for International Students

Choosing the perfect country to study abroad can be an overwhelming decision. There are so many factors that go into play, such as the quality of universities in a given country, its residence laws, as well as the tuition fees. On the other hand, some students feel like it is the only option for them if they don’t want to find themselves financially crippled by student loan debt.

Studying in the United States or the United Kingdom definitely has some perks to it, the main one being the fact that the world’s best universities seem to be concentrated in these two countries. Unfortunately, if you have not been granted a scholarship or have wealthy parents willing to support you throughout your studies, the only method of affording such education is by taking out a loan. That will gobble up most of your hard-earned money even years after you’ve graduated.

Thankfully, you’re not limited to these two countries. There are universities with high-quality, affordable education, many of which even have options such as fully-funded PhD programs or free accommodation for students coming in from abroad.

If you’re looking for countries to study abroad and care about the quality of your education and low cost of living, check out this article for a list of feasible options!

Poland

Poland is one of the cheapest nations to live in, as far as the European Union member states go. The average living cost in Warsaw, the country’s capital, is estimated to be around $600-650 per month, and that is if you like to live comfortably. If you don’t mind a more modest lifestyle, these costs can be cut down by another hundred bucks or so.

The main drawback of studying in Poland is the fact that even the public higher education institutions impose tuition fees on international students, but they’re relatively low compared to the Anglo-Saxon universities, at around $3,000 per academic year.

South Africa

If you fancy something a bit more adventurous, the cost of living in South Africa is comparable to what you would be spending in Poland. On top of that, there are some outstanding universities to choose from, such as the University of Cape Town. It has been steadily ranked in the top 200 schools in the world, and it doesn’t look like it’s about to change.

As far as tuition goes, you’re looking at payments of $3,000 per one school year.

China

There is a lot to be said about China not being the most welcoming country for American students in the current political climate, but on the other hand, academic relations between countries don’t always go hand in hand with politics. This is certainly applicable to China, whose education authorities set up a wide network of scholarships and grants for students from all over the world (including the U.S.). Your chances of landing a full government scholarship are all the higher if you’re planning to learn Mandarin during your stay.

China is home to some of the world’s top universities, the most prominent one being Tsinghua University in Beijing. The average tuition fees in China for international students are relatively high, at around $7,000, but can be drastically decreased or even eradicated by strong scholarship programs. The living costs in China vary from city to city — if you choose to study in Beijing, you’re looking at monthly expenditures of $500.

Keep in mind that the costs outlined above apply only to Mainland Chinese cities and schools. Studying in Hong Kong will likely cost you the same amount of money as going to the UK or the United States.

Germany

While living costs in Germany aren’t low, the country more than makes up for it by offering education in its public universities completely free of charge, even for international newcomers. This makes living in Germany a very attractive prospect if you’re looking to study abroad. In order to support yourself in Berlin or another German city, you’re going to have to spend around $800 per month. It is definitely higher than Poland or South Africa, but when you include tuition fees in the equation, you’ll soon realize that Germany is the cheaper option overall.

Argentina

Even though Latin American universities are not exactly globally renowned, they provide quality education. One might argue that they’re unjustly snubbed by rankings that tend to focus on first-world countries mostly. Just like in Germany, public colleges and universities in Argentina do not impose a tuition fee on students from abroad. That, combined with the average living costs of just 400 dollars, easily makes Argentina the most affordable country to study in.

Final Thoughts

Finding a good school with affordable tuition fees, located in a place where the living costs are not ridiculously inflated, is nothing short of a miracle. Additionally, you need to consider whether each particular university offers majors that suit your interests and study plans.

With all of those factors combined, the list of affordable countries to study in may become really short. There is no easy way to go about studying abroad. If you don’t want to regret your final decision, you should remember to strike the right balance between cheap living and choosing a quality degree that will increase your chances of finding employment in your area of expertise.

Maciej Grzymkowski – an avid traveler with a particular affinity for Southeast Asia. My love for traveling is only matched by my love for food – I’m a lifelong student of Chinese cuisine and language.