For Nigerian students nationwide, Europe has become one of the cheapest countries for foreign education, especially with the frequent changes in immigration laws across many countries in the Americas and the United Kingdom. However, not all countries in the EU are the same, as languages, benefits, standards of living, and potential opportunities differ. This guide explores the top 10 study destinations in Europe, welcoming Nigerians with affordable tuition fees, automatic scholarship awards, and supportive international communities.
EU countries like Malta, Spain, Luxembourg, and Germany are preferred over popular study destinations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Studying here costs lesser and guarantees higher admission and visa approval rates. As a matter of fact, some countries grant a Schengen visa to international students, allowing visa-free travel and short stays in other countries within the Schengen Area.
Top 10 Cheapest Countries to Study in Europe
1. Malta
Malta is #1 on our recommendation of the top study destinations in Europe, with reputable institutions like the University of Malta, Middlesex University, MCAST, and the American University of Malta. Tuition fees for international students in Malta is as little as €1,500 per academic year and may cost up to €15,000, depending on the program.
Thus, studying abroad in Malta is cheaper than any other country in Europe, and you can still subsidize the costs if you win an automatic scholarship.
2. Spain
Spain offers affordable courses and programs, typically ranging from £4,000 and £7,000. With English-taught programs available in most universities in Spain, you can apply directly without taking the IELTS exam to prove our language skills.
The major downside about studying in Spain is the Spanish language barrier in some parts of the country. But if you’re studying in a major city like Madrid or Barcelona, you do not need to learn any foreign language and can easily integrate into communities.
3. Germany
Germany is another good country to study abroad, particularly because of its globally known universities, offering a wide variety of English-taught programs. Both tuition and living expenses are cheap for Nigerians, as £15,000 is enough to cover them yearly.
However, you might need to wait for one year to 18 months to process your student visa, which is usually due to the large number of applications processed by German embassies year-round.
4. France
While you might believe studying in France is not good for its French-speaking nature, this is not always true! You do not need to learn French to enroll in France as an international student. In fact, tuition is very cheap just like Luxembourg, and you can study yearly for around £600, depending on the program.
Upon graduation, you can apply for Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS), which extends your study for up to one year while seeking employment.
5. Luxembourg
The cheapest country to study in Europe is Luxembourg, with the University of Luxembourg charging as low as £400 for yearly tuition. That means you need less than two million Naira to cover all your tuition costs as an international student in Luxembourg.
Although Luxembourg is one of the top study destinations in Europe, the biggest challenge you’ll face is language barrier, which requires knowledge of multiple languages, including Luxembourgish, French, German, and Dutch to get a job outside campus. International students from Nigeria can find this pretty much of a challenge.
You might also dislike that students from non-EU countries like Nigeria can only work 15 hours per week.
6. Ireland
Ireland has been among the top study destinations for Nigerians in Europe for decades, especially due to its high-quality education. Schools like University College Dublin, The University of Galway, and Trinity College Dublin are globally recognized, and they have high acceptance rate.
You need around €9,000 to €25,000 annually for your tuition fees in Ireland. For your sliving expenses, €850 to €1,200 a month should do.
7. Netherlands
The Netherlands is home to numerous prestigious universities, such as Maastricht University, University of Amsterdam, and Delft University of Technology. These institutions are renowned for offering a wide range of English-taught programs with competitive costs to international students.
You will find top-ranking universities in the Netherlands that charge around €6,000 per year for tuition fees. About 95% of its residents speak English, despite having Dutch as its official language.
8. Austria
There are many good reasons to choose Austria, when thinking of what country to study in Europe. Austria’s public universities charge as little as €800 for yearly tuition fee for several programs. Austria is ranked 4th in safety and security, 11th in living conditions, and 22nd in education, according to the Prosperity Institute’s ranking.
You can enroll in top-tier institutions like The Graz University of Technology, the University of Vienna, and The Johannes Kepler University Linz.
9. Finland
Finland is another country we recommend for Nigerians looking to study abroad. This part of Europe is well-known for its highly-rated educational system, as well as for being one of the world’s most inclusive countries for international students. Finland’s top universities include the University of Turku, Aalto University, and the University of Helsinki.
Apart from tuition fees being cheap in Finland, costing around €4,000 and higher, many scholarship opportunities are open to non-EU/EEA citizens, including Nigerian students.
10. Denmark
Studying in Denmark is affordable to international students from different world regions, with some programs costing as low as €6,000. Not just that, English is the second language of Denmark, which means that you don’t need to make any efforts to learn Danish or any other language.
Popular schools like the University of Southern Denmark, Aarhus University, and Aalborg University accept Nigerian students into their undergraduate and graduate programs.
Final Thoughts
For many years to come, studying in Europe will be highly beneficial than attending any higher education institution outside the EU. With immigration rules getting stricter, you’ll still find many countries in Europe that offers world-class education, scholarship opportunities, and lets you work and study simultaneously.
Feel free to consult our travel agency, Dex Travel, in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, and we’ll be willing to help you every step of the way, from choosing the right school to arrival smoothly in Europe.