Five cheapest universities in Europe where international students pay as low as N1.1m per academic year

As aspiring Nigerian students consider destinations for undergraduate and postgraduate study, Europe remains an attractive option, for its high-quality education at comparatively low cost. Across the continent, countries such as Germany, Norway, Greece,  Austria, and the Czech Republic provide tuition-free or low-fee programmes, with modest administrative or semester contributions. For many students, living expenses represent the largest portion of study costs, although this is still  lower than equivalent programs in traditional “Big Four” destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, which also has stricter visa requirements.

Many public universities in the EU offer free or very low tuition for programmes taught in the local language. This makes studying in Europe financially viable for many Nigerian families seeking international exposure for their children.

These countries also offers more straightforward visa procedures for non-EU students, and make Europe not only a cost-effective option but also a pragmatic choice for Nigerian students navigating global study options.

All fee estimates in this report have been converted to Nigeria’s current exchange rate of €1 = N1,661.10.

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RWTH Aachen University, Germany  (1,190,478 per year)

The university is positioned near the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands, and is one of Europe’s foremost technical universities, recognised for excellence in engineering, natural sciences, and applied research.

Like many public universities in Germany, RWTH Aachen does not charge tuition fees for degree programmes at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Instead, all students are required to pay a semester contribution fee, which supports student services, transport options and student governance.

For the current academic cycle, the semester contribution is €358.34, comprising social contribution of €128.00, mobility contribution of €216.57, and student body contribution of €13.77

Using the current exchange rate,  the semester contribution for international students equates to N595,239 per semester. Two semesters per academic year equates to N1,190,478

According to the official information posted by the university, this amount is typical of contribution fees required each semester. Students should consult the university’s semester fee page for the most current figures.

Tuition fee details can be found here

 

University of Göttingen, Germany (N1,449,200 per year)

The University of Göttingen in Germany hosts 4,500 students from 138 countries, maintains 510 partnerships for student exchange in 90 nations, and offers memberships in European and global university networks. They also offer more than fifty English-language Master’s and Ph.D. programmes, reflecting its strong international focus.

Studying at the University of Göttingen is tuition-free for both EU and non-EU students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Enrolled students are generally required to pay only a semester administrative fee, which covers student services and the university social fund.

For the summer semester of 2026, the tuition fee is €466.40, amounting to approximately N724,600 per semester. With two semesters per academic year, the total annual semester fee is N1,449,200.

The tuition fee details can be viewed here

 

University of Vienna, Austria (N2,498,200 per year)

Founded in 1365, the University of Vienna is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities, offering nearly 200 programmes across the arts, sciences, and social studies. A significant number of these programmes are delivered in English, making the university an attractive destination for international students from outside the EU/EEA.

For non-EU/EEA students, tuition is modest. According to the university’s official fee regulations, the standard semester fees include a tuition fee of €726.72 and a Students’ Union fee of €25.20, bringing the total per semester to €751.92. Using the current exchange rate, this amounts to approximately N1,249,100 per semester. With two semesters per academic year, the total annual cost for tuition and student contributions would be around N2,498,200.

Official tuition fee information can be found here

 

Charles university, Czech republic (N1,694,322 – N9,966,600 per year)

Founded in 1348, Charles university  is the largest Czech university and the only institution in the country to rank among the world’s top 250 universities, consistently performing highly in international rankings. The university offers more than 950 accredited study programmes, many of which are delivered in English, alongside courses in other foreign languages such as German, French, and Russian.

For studies in English, tuition fees apply and vary depending on the faculty and programme, ranging from €1,020 to €24,330 per year, with a median fee of around €6,000 per year. Prospective students are advised to check the university’s catalogue of study programmes for specific fees.

Using the current exchange rate, the annual tuition for English-taught programmes is approximately N1,694,322 for its lowest tuition fee, and N9,966,600 for its average tuition (€6,000 per year):

Official tuition information is here

 

 Masaryk University , Czech Republic (N4,983,300 – N23,255,400 per year)

Founded in 1919, Masaryk University is known for its strong research output, vibrant campus life, and wide range of English‑taught programmes, the university attracts students from across the globe. It offers degrees in fields including the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, informatics, pharmacy, and interdisciplinary studies.

Masaryk University provides a broad selection of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in English. Tuition for non‑EU international students varies by faculty and specific degree, reflecting the differing academic requirements and resources associated with each discipline.

Official tuition information for international students (English‑taught programmes) can be found here
For the Faculty of Science (general English programmes) and some Master’s programmes in the Faculty of Social Studies, the tuition is €3,000 per year, approximately N4,983,300. Global Environmental Change and some programmes in the Faculty of Informatics charge €4,500 annually, around N7,474,950. Data Analytics tuition is €14,000 per year, or roughly N23,255,400, while the Faculty of Pharmacy has annual fees of €7,500, equivalent to N12,458,250.

These figures represents tuition only for full-degree, English-taught programmes for non-EU students. Direct official tuition information (English) can be found here

For these universities, it is important for prospective applicants to always check direct fee and programme information via the links provided, as actual costs may vary by programme, language of instruction and citizenship status.

After opening the “tuition/fees” page for each university above, look for sections like “International Students,” “Fees by Program,” “Bachelor/Master Fees,” or “Cost of Attendance.” Some universities may include the fee information is a PDF or tables for each faculty or language of instruction.