These Countries Allow Americans to Study Abroad for Virtually No Cost.
According to Forbes magazine , US student loan debt jumped to $ 1.56 trillion, spread across 45 million borrowers. With a raging pandemic and more than 17.5 million Americans unemployed, and college tuition averages between $ 20,000 for a public college and more than $ 45,000 for a private college, going to college will be more of a privilege than a rite of passage for many.
This is why, if you are considering undergraduate and graduate school options, you should consider using your talents abroad to study. With minimal tuition fees, universities in these countries are becoming increasingly attractive to Americans. This is by no means an exhaustive list of options for international higher education; to do this, we recommend going to MastersPortal.com and searching for the countries of interest and your specific programming preferences.
Germany
According to The Washington Post, one of the reasons German universities are nearly free is because “taxpayers are paying the bill to help bring more skilled workers to the country.”
In recent years, German companies have been unable to fill thousands of jobs due to a lack of qualified candidates. Although Germany has one of the most generous social security systems, its resources become increasingly limited as more workers retire.
With over 300 public universities and 1000 majors, there are tons of options. Please be aware that some programs are not in English and will require knowledge of or desire to learn German. Universities cost between $ 300 and $ 700 per semester.
Here’s a look at a German university:
Goethe University Frankfurt
The cost of living in Frankfurt is the third largest city in all of Germany, so the cost of living will be higher for housing and things like food, but still lower than in most US cities. The cost of admission for international students is about $ 420 per semester.
Here you can find out about all the fees associated with studying at this university, as well as the estimated cost of living .
Egypt
The American University of Cairo is offering a scholarship that gives international students the opportunity to earn a free Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). (I did apply for this program because who wouldn’t want a free master’s degree?)
Here are the criteria:
- Open to all nationalities
- For applicants to graduate school; meet the AUC graduate admission requirements
- Full Access to the TESOL Program Meeting the English Language Requirements for the TESOL Scholarship
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
- For continuing students; to maintain the scholarship, the recipient must have a 3.2 grade point average.
- English proficiency for or close to native speakers
- Special attention is paid to those who have experience of working with TESOL in the Middle East; knowledge of Arabic or other languages; Bachelor’s or coursework in linguistics, English, or a related field
- There are financial needs
You can see full details of the program on the AUC website. By the way, the American University of Cairo is a magnificent campus located in the beautiful suburb of Cairo.
Finland
Tuition fees for the 2019/2020 academic year for international students wishing to enroll in a Finnish university depend on the program and the university. Annual visit costs will range from $ 4,500 to $ 20,000.
As far as Finland is concerned, you can search each program for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees on this website.
Displayed programs include:
- Engineering
- Environmental science
- Art and design (music, theater)
- Social Sciences and Law
- Technologies
France
Higher education options in France are not free, but the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs offers international students the opportunity to receive grants and multiple scholarships – depending on the academic potential and financial needs of the student.
French universities cost between $ 200 and $ 17,000 per year, depending on the university, city, and program.
Here are some examples:
- University of Orleans : $ 700 per year
- University of Paris : $ 200 per year
- University of Burgundy : $ 230 per year
- École Normale Supérieure (Paris): $ 700 per year
Czech Republic
If you speak Czech, your studies as a foreign student will be completely free. If you don’t speak Czech, you pretty much pay just to take a course in English. Tuition fees at most universities in the Czech Republic will cost around $ 10,000 per year.
The best study programs in the Czech Republic turn out to be the most expensive programs in the United States. Engineering, Medicine and Natural Sciences are the best programs for international students who want to study at universities in the Czech Republic.
The total amount for these programs at US universities is:
University of Maryland – Engineering ($ 19,008 for out-of-state students).
NYU – Arts & Science ($ 27,440 for 12-18 credits)
Johns Hopkins University – Engineering & Science ($ 55,350)
Sweden
When it comes to doctoral programs, Sweden is often the first choice for international students. Swedish doctoral programs generally do not charge tuition fees to their students (regardless of nationality). You will need to cover living and living expenses during your stay in Sweden, but you can also contact the university for help.
If you are interested in pursuing a doctorate, Sweden is the best place to leave with a doctorate, not mountains of debt.