Attending English University: Free For American Students?

With university fees continuing to rise, many American students are looking to study abroad for free or at a low cost. In Europe, South America, and Asia, there are free or cheap education options for Americans. Germany, for example, offers free tuition at public universities for both German and international students. France also offers a large number of university programs in English, with public universities charging only a small fee of around $200-$250 per year. Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland, also offer free or low-cost tuition for international students, although living costs in these countries can be high. Brazil and Taiwan are other options for Americans looking to study abroad, with low tuition fees and English-language courses available.

Free English-taught courses in Germany

Germany has a multitude of tuition-free study programs available to all international students, not just German or EU citizens. This includes English-taught courses, which are offered at over 200 universities across the country.

Undergraduate courses

While most undergraduate courses at German universities are taught in German, there are still plenty of options for international students who don't speak the language. The International Program search tool from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) currently lists 116 bachelor's programs taught completely in English, reducing to 60 when filtered to show only those with no tuition fees.

Some examples of universities offering free English-taught bachelor's programs include:

• Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences: offers bachelor's degrees in International Relations, Sustainable Tourism and Gender Diversity.
• Universität Freiburg: offers a range of bachelor's programs in English, including a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science.
• Georg-August-Universität Göttingen: offers a BSc in Molecular Ecosystem Sciences.
• Berlin International University of Applied Sciences: offers bachelor's degrees in Architecture, Design, and Business Administration.

Postgraduate courses

English-language programs are already fairly common at the master's level, particularly within the social sciences and business-related subjects.

Some examples of universities offering free English-taught master's programs include:

• Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin)
• Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg)
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University in Berlin)
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (University of Munich)
• RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen)
• Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München)
• University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)
• University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)

Other costs

Although tuition is free at public universities in Germany, there are still some administrative costs known as "semester contributions" that students need to cover to enrol. These typically include fees for public transport tickets and registration, ranging from €150 to €300 depending on the university.

Special cases

In the state of Baden-Württemberg, located in the southwest of Germany, there is a small tuition fee of €1,500 per semester for students coming from outside the EU. However, many universities in this state offer reduced tuition or tuition waivers to non-EU students from certain countries.

Low-cost French public universities

France is known for its low-cost universities, with international students being able to study for free or at a very low cost. The French government subsidises higher education, making the cost of tuition fees relatively low. While there are additional charges for specialised programmes, such as medicine and engineering, these are not significant.

• Sorbonne University: Located in Paris, Sorbonne University is a top public institution in France, ranking #63 on QS World University Rankings 2025. They offer English-taught postgraduate programmes and French undergraduate programmes. Registration fees are $189 (170 euros) for a bachelor's degree, $270 (243 euros) for a master's degree, and $423 (380 euros) for a doctorate degree.
• University of Clermont Auvergne: An internationally focused institution located in the heart of France, the University of Clermont Auvergne offers a range of English programmes, including law and engineering, as well as French-taught programmes. International students pay $189 (170 euros) per year, while those enrolling in master's and medical programmes pay $270 (243 euros), and engineering students pay $668 (601 euros).
• National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations (Inalco): Inalco is a public university in Paris that focuses on the teaching of languages and cultures from around the world. They offer bachelor's degrees, doctorates, and institutional diplomas in over 100 languages and civilisations. For the 2024/25 academic year, non-EU students paid the same registration fees as EU students ($195/175 euros for a bachelor's degree, and $278/250 euros for a master's degree).
• University of Orléans: Located less than two hours outside of Paris, the University of Orléans is a multidisciplinary institution with a range of colleges, institutes, and schools. Undergraduate students pay $189 (170 euros) per year, master's students pay $270 (243 euros), PhD students pay $423 (380 euros), and engineering degree students pay $668 (601 euros).
• Université Grenoble Alpes: Located in Grenoble, which has a lower cost of living than Paris, Université Grenoble Alpes is the third largest university in France. They offer various English programmes, including STEM, humanities, social sciences, arts, languages, law, economics, and political science. Undergraduate students pay $189 (170 euros), master's students pay $278 (250 euros), PhD students pay $435 (391 euros), and engineering degree students pay $688 (618 euros).

In addition to these universities, there are also other low-cost options for international students in France, such as the University of Poitiers, Brest State Technical University, University of Limoges, Jean Monnet University, and Universite d'Angers.

Free Nordic country universities

The Nordic countries are known for their high quality of life, stunning nature, and liberal politics. They also boast some of the strongest higher education systems in the world. Nordic nations Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden all offer opportunities to study for free or at a low cost.

Norway

University study in Norway is free of charge for all students, regardless of nationality. However, there is a semester fee of around NOK 300-600 (~US$33-66). The majority of undergraduate programs are taught in Norwegian only, so international students need to demonstrate proficiency in the language. At master's and Ph.D. levels, English language programs are more common and tuition is still free.

The University of Oslo, the University of Bergen, and the University of Stavanger are some of the colleges that are free for US students.

Iceland

There are no tuition fees at Iceland's four public universities, though there is a registration fee of around ISK 75,000 (~US$600) per year. The University of Iceland, located in the capital, Reykjavik, is one of the largest in the country and does not charge tuition fees. Courses are generally taught in Icelandic, but there are some postgraduate programs in English.

Denmark, Sweden, and Finland

Denmark, Sweden, and Finland offer free higher education to students from within the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Students from outside these regions must pay tuition fees for bachelor's and master's programs. However, Ph.D. programs in these countries are fully funded, and non-EU/EEA students can study in Finland for free if they study in Swedish or Finnish.

Denmark's University of Copenhagen and Sweden's Lund University are two examples of universities that offer tuition-free education to EU/EEA and Swiss students.

While American students cannot attend English universities for free, there are several countries in Europe where they can study for free or at a very low cost. These include:

• Germany
• France
• Norway
• Iceland
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Finland
• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Greece
• Italy
• Spain
• Brazil

English-taught courses in France

France is a popular destination for international students, offering high-quality education at affordable prices. While the majority of programmes are taught in French, there are a growing number of courses taught in English, particularly at the graduate level.

Public universities in France are some of the most affordable institutions in Europe, and many offer English-taught programmes alongside French ones. These include:

• Neoma Business School
• Pierre and Marie Curie University
• University of Nantes
• Ecole Polytechnique
• Inseec Business School
• Paris Tech
• EFREI Engineering School of Information and Digital Technology
• Novancia Business School

Additionally, there are several other English-taught universities in France, including public and private institutions:

• The University of London Institute in Paris
• Sciences Po
• Paris-Dauphine University
• Université Paris Sud
• American University of Paris
• University of Technology of Compiègne
• IMT Atlantique
• American Business School
• EDC Paris Business School
• Esaip School Engineers
• Grenoble Institute of Technology
• ESLSCA Business School
• Montpellier Business School
• VATEL International Business School, Hotel and Tourism Management

For students interested in studying in France in English, it is important to consider the location of the programme. While major cities like Paris and Lyon have more English speakers, smaller cities and towns may have fewer English-language resources. It is also beneficial to find a programme with English-speaking housing options to create a familiar atmosphere.

To enrol in a French university as an American student, you must submit an application with your passport details and proof of your grades. A visa is also required, which can be applied for through the CEF procedure run by CampusFrance. You will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses while studying in France, and if your course is taught in French, you must also prove proficiency in the language.

Free Brazilian universities

Brazil is home to over 95 universities and colleges, and some of these institutions offer free tuition to international students. The Brazilian Exchange Programme for Undergraduate Students (PEC-G) provides international students with the opportunity to undertake undergraduate studies in Brazil for free. The programme includes a year of free Portuguese language study prior to entering the university for those who are not proficient in the language. Since its creation, 11,180 international students have participated in the programme and completed their studies in Brazil.

Some of the top-performing universities in Brazil include:

• University of Sao Paulo
• State University of Campinas
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
• Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
• Federal University of Santa Catarina
• University of Brasilia
• Federal University of Minas Gerais
• Federal University of Espirito Santo
• Santa Catarina State University

While tuition fees for international students at these universities are free, there may be other costs associated with studying in Brazil, such as living expenses and application requirements like language proficiency scores and visas.

Frequently asked questions