Most Affordable Countries to Study Abroad
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Most Affordable Countries to Study Abroad

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Nov 27, 2024 18:15 IST

Cheapest countries to study abroad: While planning to study abroad, it is necessary to check the finances. The cheapest countries to study abroad are the preferred choice among international students. So many countries offer programs at affordable tuition fees. In this article, we will cover all the aspects of the cheapest country to study for Indian students.

Cheapest countries to study abroad

There are some popular countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etc. have some world-ranked universities declared by prestigious ranking sources like Times Higher Education, US News, and QS World University Rankings, among others. Affordability is based on the tuition fee and the living cost in the country. So many top-ranked universities abroad located in popular countries offer high-quality education to international students at reduced costs. Continue with this article to get complete information about the tuition fee of the program and the living cost of some world’s most popular countries. English-speaking countries usually choose English as the main language for education. This is because English is important for communication in many areas like science, technology, and business. 

Must Reads

List of 10 Affordable Countries to Study Abroad

  1. Germany
  2. UAE
  3. Sweden
  4. UK
  5. Canada
  6. Ireland
  7. New Zealand
  8. Singapore
  9. Australia
  10. USA

Country Wise Studying & Living Cost Analysis

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On average, students are required to spend approx. $10,000-$12,000 yearly on living expenses. The living cost depends on the location that students select to study abroad. The cost of living is a big concern for so many students. If a student decides to reside in a metropolitan city, he would be spending more than a student who opts for a hostel or suburban accommodation. The living expenses generally include the accommodation costs, hostel, food, travel, study material, clothing, and entertainment expenses as well. Keeping these factors in mind we have mentioned below the average cost of living for students wanting to travel abroad.

Countries Abroad

Avg Tuition Fee to Study Abroad

Avg Cost of Living Abroad

USA

INR 23.76 Lakhs

INR 10.5 Lakhs

New Zealand

INR 17.5 Lakhs

INR 8.5 Lakhs

UK

INR 15.5 Lakhs

INR 10 Lakhs

Australia 

INR 21.40 Lakhs

INR 11.5 lakhs

Canada 

INR 15.5 Lakhs

INR 12.5 Lakhs

Singapore 

INR 20.5 Lakhs

INR 12.5 Lakhs

Ireland 

INR 15.5 Lakhs

INR 9.5 Lakhs

UAE

INR 10.5 Lakhs

INR 4.5 Lakhs

Sweden 

INR 11.5 Lakhs

INR 8 lacs 

Germany 

INR 13.5 K

INR 11.5 Lakhs

(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Know all about 11 most affordable countries to study abroad in the video below:

Countries to Study Abroad








We have below provided the list of popular countries with their top-ranked universities and other information. These countries are popular among Indian students who are travelling abroad for higher education.

1) United States of America







The United States of America is the home world’s top-ranked universities. These universities are known for offering the best education in undergraduate, postgraduate, and other degree programs. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Boston, New York, Cambridge, Old Saybrook, New Haven, etc. B.Tech., B.Sc, BBA, MBA, MS, MFA, MBBS, etc. are some popular programs for international students to study in the USA.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT

1

Harvard University

4

Stanford University

5

University of California, Berkeley

10

University of Chicago

11

University of Pennsylvania

12

Cornell University

13

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

15

Yale University

16

Princeton University

17

(Source: QS)

2) Canada

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Is this recommendation relevant?

The Great North is a little bit expensive to live in, but the low tuition fee, post-study work VISA, quality of life, etc. attract foreign students to study in Canada. Canadian universities offer the best education in the world and the immigration process is far simpler than in the US, UK, and most European countries.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

The University of Toronto

21

McGill University

30

The University of British Columbia

34

University of Alberta

111

University of Waterloo

112

Western University

114

University of Montreal

141

University of Calgary

182

McMaster University

189

University of Ottawa

203

(Source: QS)

3) United Kingdom

Top universities in the UK offer excellent education to foreign students. The tuition fees of the programs are affordable and can easily be managed by the students. Top-ranked universities, better education, low tuition fees, affordable living, etc. are the reason to select the UK for study abroad. Students get scholarships in the UK during their studies, which makes it easier for foreign students to complete their degrees in the country.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

University of Cambridge

2

University of Oxford

3

Imperial College London

6

University College London

9

University of Edinburgh

22

University of Manchester

32

King’s College London

40

London School of Economics

45

University of Bristol

55

University of Warwick

67

(Source: QS)

4) Australia

The area of New South Wales on the east coast of Australia is the centre of all its renowned academic institutes. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth. Accounting, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Health Care, Information Technology, and Hotel Management are the popular courses that Indian students pursue in Australia.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

University of Melbourne

14

University of New South Wales

19

University of Sydney

19

Australian National University

34

Monash University

42

University of Queensland

43

University of Western Australia

72

University of Adelaide

89

University of Technology Sydney

90

Macquarie University

130

(Source: QS)

5) New Zealand

New Zealand is undoubtedly the safest destination to study abroad. With globally ranked universities and an excellent education system, this country offers better opportunities and environments to Indian students. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings, etc. Auckland is the hub of all the popular higher education institutions in the country. 

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

University of Auckland

68

University of Otago

206

Massey University

239

Victoria University of Wellington

241

University of Waikato

250

University of Canterbury

256

Lincoln University

362

Auckland University of Technology

407

(Source: QS)

6) Singapore

Singapore becoming the global of higher education in a safe and secure environment. Every year, many foreign students apply to study in Singapore to learn the best academic program at an affordable tuition fee. Top-ranked universities in the world and an excellent education system are the reasons to select Singapore for studying abroad.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

National University of Singapore

8

Nanyang Technological University

26

Singapore University of Technology & Design

429

Singapore Management University

545

(Source: QS)

7) Germany

Known as the ‘land of ideas’, Germany is continually gaining popularity among international students. It has world-reputed universities like Heidelberg University, Technical University of Munich, Free University of Berlin, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Humboldt University of Berlin. The tuition fees vary from INR 34,000 to INR 13.14 lakh for 1st-year. The average living cost for foreign students is around INR 3.77 lakh and it may vary depending on your living standard and location.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

Technical University of München

37

University of München

54

University of Heidelberg

87

Free University of Berlin

98

RWTH Aachen University

106

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

119

Humboldt University of Berlin

120

Technical University of Berlin

154

University of Freiburg

192

University of Hamburg

205

(Source: QS)

8) France

The Tuition fees for undergraduate, postgraduate, and other degree program is around INR 11,820 to INR 20.95 lakh for 1st-year. Students can apply for admission to study at top universities in France like Ecole Normale Superieure, Ecole Polytechnique, Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University, etc. Courbevoie, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Paris, Rennes, etc. are the popular locations to study in France.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

PSL Research University Paris

24

Institut Polytechnique de Paris

38

Sorbonne University

59

Université Paris-Saclay

71

Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon

184

Ecole des Ponts ParisTech

192

Paris Cité University

236

Grenoble Alpes University

294

Sciences Po, Paris

319

University Panthéon-Sorbonne

328

(Source: QS)

9) Netherlands

Netherlands has an affordable living cost of INR 4.39 for international students. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Wageningen‎, Groningen, Leiden, Maastricht, and Nijmegen. Space and Aviation teaching, Engineering, Business Studies, Art, History, Tourism, and Hotel Management are the popular courses Indian students pursue in the Netherlands.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

Delft University of Technology

47

University of Amsterdam

53

Utrecht University

107

Eindhoven University of Technology

124

University of Leiden

126

University of Groningen

139

Wageningen University & Research Center

151

Erasmus University Rotterdam

176

VU University Amsterdam

207

University of Twente

210

(Source: QS)

10) Ireland

Ireland provides the safest environment for foreign students who come to study in the country. The top universities in Ireland follow an excellent education system and provide better opportunities to students. The tuition fee for undergraduate, postgraduate, and other degree programs is affordable. The living cost in Ireland is also low for foreign candidates.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

Trinity College Dublin

81

University College Dublin

171

National University of Ireland, Galway

289

University College Cork

292

University of Limerick

426

Dublin City University

436

National University of Ireland, Maynooth

801-850

Technological University Dublin

851-900

(Source: QS)

11) Sweden

Sweden is the home of world-ranked universities that offer the best academic programs to students. Foreign students can easily apply for admission by following the easy process mentioned by the Swedish universities. Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in cities like Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. Language and Literature, Business Studies, Medical courses, Nursing, and Social sciences are the popular courses Indian students pursue in Ireland.

University

QS Ranking 2025 (World)

KTH - Royal Institute of Technology

73

Lund University

85

Uppsala University

105

Stockholm University

118

Chalmers University of Technology

129

Göteborg University

187

Linkoping University

268

Umea University

465

(Source: QS)

Read More: Most Expensive Cities in The World for Study Abroad

Q:   Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?

A:

The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.

Q:   What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?

A:

The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:

Ranking Body Ranking
The Guardian University Guide 2024 #101
The Complete University Guide 2024#117

Q:   How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?

A:

The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses: 

The Undergraduate Application Process:  

Step 1:  You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.

Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.

Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements. 

Check out:  tips to improve your SOP

Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS. 

Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.

Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.

The Postgraduate application process: 

Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\

Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.

Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.

Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course. 

To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application. 

Step 5:  If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester. 

Q:   Is Hertfordshire University hard to get into?

A:

With a 70% acceptance rate, the University of Hertfordshire is not hard to get into and follows easy selection criteria during admissions. This does not mean the university accepts all the students applying for different programs. The selection is based on academic performance, English language requirements, references, and many more. Some of the programs at Hertfordshire even demand an experience of 4-5 years. Students must fulfill the eligibility criteria to enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.

Q:   How much IELTS score is required for Hertfordshire University?

A:

International students coming from diverse backgrounds must prove their English language proficiency by submitting the scores of IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo at Hertfordshire University. The university demands an IELTS score of 6 from the students. Along with the IELTS scores, students can refer to the table below for all the required English proficiency score:

English language test

Minimum Score required UG

Minimum Score required PG

IELTS

6 or above

6 or above

PTE

59 or above

58 or above

Duolingo

105 or above

120 or above

Q:   How long does Hertfordshire University take to reply?

A:

After applying to Hertfordshire University UK, the applicants are going to receive an initial decision about their application within 2-3 working days. After the submission of the application and documents, the applicants are required to pay their tuition deposit. Then, complete the Sponsorship interview and the financial declaration. International students are required to pay a deposit of £5,000 before registration. The balance can be paid in line with the liability dates related to the year and entry of the semester.

Q:   What are the entry requirements for Bedfordshire University?

A:

International students can check below the University of Bedfordshire entry requirements for undergraduate and graduate admissions:

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

·      2 A level passes (minimum C and D)

·      Year 12 60% overall

·      70% English to waive IELTS

·      Must meet the English language requirements

·      A recognised Foundation degree

·      Submit additional test scores for ACT/SAT (if applicable)

·      Additional course requirements if any

Graduate Admission Requirements

·      Bachelor's degree (55% or more)

·      UK Bachelor's degree with Honours

·      Additional course requirements if any

·      Must meet the English language requirements

·      Submit additional test scores for GMAT/ GRE (if applicable)

Q:   What is Hult International Business School - UK famous for?

A:

Hult International Business School, UK, is famous for its global perspective and multicultural environment. The school is known for its focus on practical education, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education programs across multiple campuses located in prominent cities around the world, including Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai, and New York. It is also recognised for its diverse student body, with over 128 nationalities represented among its students. The school has received positive reviews for its competent faculty, practical approach to business education, and the opportunity for students to interact with a wide network of contacts

Above are some of the major countries in the world where students get an affordable education. Students can access the entire list of universities with their tuition fees and apply for admission easily without any problem. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.

About the Author
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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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Comments

(120)

S

Sai Pakala

7 months ago

Is there any university for MS for indian students in 20L total fee plzzz tell me sir/mam

Reply to Sai Pakala

Pls is there any University that gives scholarship for Masters in Nursing, am from Nigeria.

Reply to Oyebamide Afusat Ayodele

Hello am from Nigeria, looking for scholarship to study Master in nursing in Ireland, pls can you refer me to the link.

Reply to Oyebamide Afusat Ayodele

A

Ahz Associates

a year ago

Studying abroad can be an enriching experience, but it's essential to consider the financial aspect when choosing your destination. The affordability of a country is a significant factor, and for Indian students, there are some fantastic options to explore. While countries like the USA, UK, Canada,

...Read more

Reply to Ahz Associates

W

Winnie

a year ago

Looking for scholarship for my son who wants to study IT in Canada

Reply to Winnie