Many more young adults will attain education if they had access to free education. For the African continent and other parts of the world where poverty ravages a plethora of countries, education remains an unaffordable luxury, at least for the poor or those living just above the poverty line.
Coincidentally, a good number of these “less privileged” young adults are very smart in their own right.
Now imagine if these young persons have access to free college education so they can live their dreams like every other ‘privileged’ human?! Awesome right?! But sadly, they do not.
Fortunately, there are certain countries in the world where taxpayers pay the bill for all students looking to get a college degree. This at least reduces the number of countries without total free education for anyone.
This post provides a compilation of the top 8 countries where college is free. You should be able to determine which college is most suitable for your choice-course.
The countries in this list are mainly in Europe and have cultures that “take care of each other”. These socialist countries usually have higher income tax rates but it’s well worth it if you’d like to have health care and college tuition all paid and taken care of.
Ask yourself this question before moving to one of these countries, is free important to you? If it is, then this list starting below is all for you:
Often, students want specific answers to key questions around the issue of free college. We have given specific answers to some of theses questions immediately below.
Table of contents
What is Free College?
There are various kinds of free colleges. It is necessary to note that tuition is the enrollment fee, but there are other school-related costs, such as the fee of lodging, food, equipment, and the like.
The various types of free colleges include:
Tuition-free
This is the kind of education the University provides for citizens. No recurring enrollment payments or course resource expenses. But a one-time registration fee of $60 and an evaluation charge per course funding the university’s service.
Because it’s a university that’s 100 % online, there’s no risk involved with campus living. You’ll have to pay your living costs anywhere you want to work.
Free for citizens
There are other institutions that the government covers the fees so people will participate for free.
Free for EU residents
Certain EU colleges give free college to any EU citizen student.
How many countries have free college?
About two dozen countries give their residents free or near-free tuition at public colleges and universities. Some limit free tuition to residents, while others give free tuition to all foreign students or a subset, such as for all EU people.
| Country | Free Tuition (Citizens) | Free Tuition (International Students) |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | |
| Austria | Yes | |
| Brazil | Yes | Yes, but classes are taught in Portuguese. |
| Czech Republic | Yes | Free tuition in the Czech language, not free in other languages. |
| Denmark | Yes | |
| Egypt | Yes | |
| Finland | Yes | Yes |
| France | Yes | Available to all European Union (EU) citizens. |
| Germany | Yes | Yes |
| Greece | Yes | Yes, but classes are taught in Greek. |
| Iceland | Yes | Yes |
| Kenya | Yes | Free public tuition for high-scoring secondary school students. |
| Luxembourg | Yes | Yes |
| Malaysia | Yes | |
| Morocco | Yes | |
| Norway | Yes | Yes, but living expenses are high. |
| Panama | Yes | Yes |
| Poland | Yes | |
| Scotland | Yes | |
| Slovenia | Yes | Available to all EU citizens. |
| Spain | Yes | |
| Sweden | Yes | Available to all EU citizens. Ph.D. programs are tuition-free. |
| Turkey | Yes | |
| Uruguay | Yes |
Which is the cheapest country to study in?
Knowing which country can afford you the quality of education you desire on a very lean budget is important in your choice of higher institutions in abroad.
Here is a list of 10 of the Most Affordable Places to Study Abroad:
- Norway; While all Nordic countries are comparatively inexpensive study destinations, Norway is our option as it remains free for all, both inside and outside the EU, at public universities, save for a few unique programs.
- Taiwan.
- Germany.
- France.
- Mexico.
- India.
- Argentina.
- Poland.
8 Countries Where College Can Be 100% Free
These countries are itemized, and the said colleges are identified below:
Denmark
According to the 2015 OECD report, Denmark is one of 8 countries with some free college university programs.
The country is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. Denmark proper, the southernmost of the Scandinavian countries, consists of a peninsula, Jutland, and an archipelago of 443 named islands, with the largest being Zealand, Funen and the North Jutlandic Island. The islands are characterized by flat, arable land and sandy coasts, low elevation and a temperate climate.
Denmark lies southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, bordered to the south by Germany. The Kingdom of Denmark is constitutionally a unitary state comprising Denmark proper and the two autonomous territories in the North Atlantic Ocean: the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Denmark has a total area of 42,924 km2 (16,573 sq mi), land area of 42,394 km2 (16,368 sq mi), and the total area of the Kingdom, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands is 2,210,579 km2 (853,509 sq mi), and a population of 5.82 million in Denmark proper (as of 2020)
Top Colleges & Universities In Denmark
| University of Copenhagen | Times Higher Education World Ranking #82 |
| Aarhus University | Time Higher Education World Ranking #106 |
| Technical University of Denmark | Time Higher Education World Ranking #167 |
| Aalborg University | Time Higher Education World Ranking #201-250 |
| Copenhagen Business School | Time Higher Education World Ranking #201-250 |
| University of Southern Denmark | Time Higher Education World Ranking #301-350 |
Estonia
The Republic of Estonia is on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe.
According to the 2015 OECD report, Estonia is one of 8 countries with free college university systems.
Public Universities In Estonia
| Tallinn University | Not Ranked |
| Tallinn University of Technology | Not Ranked |
| University of Tartu | Not Ranked |
Finland
According to the 2015 OECD report, Finland is one of 8 countries with free college university systems.
Higher education in Finland is free, particularly at the postgraduate and doctoral level. Finland provides courses in construction, architecture, communications, etc. The country has several fantastic polytechnic colleges providing more realistic schooling.
Finnish college is open for European Union-born applicants. Starting in 2017, however, foreign undergraduate students wanting to receive degrees in English can pay at least EUR 1,500 a year (approximately $1,776 a year), while certain colleges can charge even more based on the degree and study program.
However, doctoral students — regardless of their country — and those studying in Finnish or Swedish, also don’t pay tuition. It also plans to provide grants and financial support to foreign students of outstanding academic backgrounds.
Top 10 Public Universities in Finland
| University of Helsinki | Administrative Staff – 8000 Employees |
| Abo Academy University | Administrative Staff – 1300 Employees |
| University of Turku | Administrative Staff – 3319 Employees |
| University of Tampere | Administrative Staff – 1982 Employees |
| University of Jyvaskyla | Administrative Staff – 2583 Employees |
| University of Oulu | Administrative Staff – 2852 Employees |
| University of Vaasa | Administrative Staff – 498 Employees |
| University of Lapland | Administrative Staff – 633 Employees |
| University of Eastern Finland | Administrative Staff – 2800 Employees |
| Aalto University | Administrative Staff – 4424 Employees |
Norway
According to the 2015 OECD report, Norway is one of 8 countries with free college university systems.
Europe’s northern countries are renowned for their quality of living and incredible natural scenery, and Norway is no different. Another incentive to study in Norway is the abundance of English-teaching services at all stages, plus many English-speaking locals.
Like other Nordic nations, however, Norway has a large price tag for living costs; you’ll need approximately NOK 139,680 (~US$17,200) per year.
Most Popular Universities In Norway
| University of Oslo | Number of Full-Time Students – 27,628 |
| University of Bergen | Number of Full-Time Students – 17,000 |
| Western Norway University of Applied Sciences | Number of Full-Time Students – 16,000 |
| University of Tromso | Number of Full-Time Students – 9500 |
| University of Stavanger | Number of Full-Time Students – 9000 |
Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
The Slovakia Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Poland borders it to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the southwest, and Czech Republic to the northwest.
The Country’s territory spans about 49,000 square kilometers (19,000 sq mi) and is mostly mountainous. The population is over 5.4 million and consists mostly of ethnic Slovaks. The capital and largest city is Bratislava, and the second-largest city is Košice. The official language is Slovak.
According to the 2015 OECD report, Slovakia is one of 8 countries with free college university systems.
Top Colleges In The Capital – Bratislava
| The University of Economics In Bratislava | Popular Study Program – Business Management |
| The University of Technology In Bratislava | Popular Study Program – Civil Engineering |
| Comenius University In Bratislava | Popular Study Program – Mathematics and Physics |
| University of Performing Arts In Bratislava | Popular Study Program – Music and Dance |
| Academy of Fine Arts and Design In Bratislava | Popular Study Program – Architecture |
Slovenia
A country in central Europe that was part of Yugoslavia for most of the 20th century. Slovenia is a small but topographically diverse country made up of portions of four major European geographic landscapes—the European Alps, the karstic Dinaric Alps, the Pannonian and Danubian lowlands and hills, and the Mediterranean coast.
Easily accessible mountain passes (now superseded by tunnels) through the country’s present-day territory have long served as routes for those crossing Europe’s Mediterranean and transalpine regions.
According to the 2015 OECD report, Slovenia is one of 8 countries with free college university systems.
Top College In Slovenia
| University of Ljubljana | Established in 1919 |
Sweden
According to the 2015 OECD report, Sweden is one of 8 countries with free college university systems.
Swedish colleges provide tuition-free schooling. This is true for Swedish and non-Swedish pupils. If you obtain a PhD from some Swedish institution, you’re often charged for your studies.
In addition, Swedish universities can offer foreign students scholarships. Some of Sweden’s prominent foreign student universities include Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University, and Stockholm University.
Colleges With More Than 20,000 students in Sweden.
| Lund University | Student Population – 23,539 |
| Stockholm University | Student Population – 21,121 |
| University Of Gothenburg | Student Population – 22,434 |
Turkey
Turkey is, a country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Throughout its history, it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents.
According to the 2015 OECD report, Turkey is one of 8 countries with free college university systems
Turkey has over 178 different universities to choose coursework from :
Here Are 3 Of The Oldest Universities
| Ankara University | Established – 1946 |
| Istanbul Universities | Established – 1933 |
| Istanbul Technical University | Established – 1944 |
Conclusion
We are convinced that this is all the information you or a friend of yours may need to go, and live their dream. Kindly follow the scholarship links and apply for your chosen course. We wish you the best in this.
Cheers to everything good in life.
EDITOR’S RECOMMENDATION
- Harvard University Scholarships Opportunities
- List of 50 Undergraduate Degree Programmes In Canada and their Tuition Fees
- Study in Poland: All You Need to Know About Warsaw University in 2024
- 25 Comoros Undergraduate Scholarships 2024 [Fully Funded]
References
- www.topuniversities.com – 10 of the most affordable places to study abroad
- www.indiaeducation.net – Top 10 Countries that offer Free Education to International Students
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
Comments are closed.