5 Ways to Study Abroad for Free or Cheap

Studying abroad can be the experience of a lifetime but it can also come with a hefty price tag. Luckily, there are more than a few options to cut costs and bring down your overall expenses making study abroad more accessible.

Here are some ways you can study abroad for cheap or even free!

You don't have to break the bank just to continue your studies overseas. By setting a clear budget, picking an affordable study abroad program, and opting for a destination with a low cost of living, you can make your study abroad dreams a reality!

Get started by exploring some of these popular and affordable study abroad regions and countries, based on the average monthly cost of living and average tuition fees per semester for direct enrollment.

Latin America is an all-around fantastic choice to find numerous countries with a low cost of living and free or cheap tuition costs. A good reason to brush up on your español!

You may not think "cheap" when you think of Europe but there are indeed a handful of countries with affordable costs of living and low tuition costs when compared with the US.

Studying abroad in Asia can be very affordable if you know where to look! Here are three fabulous countries where you can make your money go far as a study abroad student.

Many African nations have an affordable cost of living. This paired with reasonable tuition fees makes Africa a great place to study abroad for budget-conscious students.

Source for cost of living figures: Numbeo

It may come as a huge surprise but there are countries that offer free tuition – even for international students! Free tuition is usually associated solely with public universities. These institutions sometimes charge a few hundred dollars a semester or year in fees to cover administrative costs or amenities. For example, in Germany, your semester fees generally cover a bus pass for the city or region.

It’s important to remember that to take advantage of these free or low-tuition universities, you’ll need to enroll in the university directly. This means applying to the university, arranging all the paperwork, securing your own housing abroad, and making sure your credits will transfer back to your US university. This path takes a considerable amount of legwork but if you’re on a tight budget, it can save you some serious cash.

• Germany: Germany offers many undergraduate and graduate programs completely free of cost to international students. The Germany Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers tons of scholarships that can help cover living, travel, and research costs, too!
• France: While not free, tuition fees in France are among the lowest in Europe. Undergraduate students can expect to pay around $1,400 USD per semester at public universities. Keep in mind that despite the affordable tuition, the cost of living is quite high in Paris if that’s your dream destination.
• Argentina: Free and equitable education is a cornerstone of Argentine society, so much so that a bill attempting to introduce tuition fees for international students was voted down by congress in early 2024. The welcoming atmosphere for foreign students coupled with an affordable cost of living makes Argentina a great place to study abroad for free.
• Brazil: Brazilian public universities do not charge tuition fees for any students, domestic or international, because higher education is subsidized by the government. However, you will need to pass an entrance exam so Portuguese proficiency is a must if you want to study abroad in Brazil.
• Panama: Although most undergraduate courses at Panamanian universities are taught in English, this should be no problem for Spanish majors or minors. If you’re a graduate student, you may be able to find programs in English in Panama.
• Iceland: A large majority of Icelanders speak English and many of their undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in English. International students will only need to pay around $538 USD a year in administrative fees. The trade-off in Iceland is the high cost of living, which can be as high as $2,000-$3,000 USD a month.

Make sure to take into account the language spoken in the country and whether you have the right level of proficiency. Some universities offer undergraduate programs partially or completely in English but many don’t. If you’re a language student wanting to fulfill some language credits abroad, then this might be the perfect fit!

Exchange programs give you a chance to go abroad during your undergraduate study while paying the same tuition as usual to your home university. This slightly limits your choice based on the universities your institution partners with, but it’s a great opportunity to make study abroad more accessible (and covered by your financial aid if you have it).

• ISEP (International Student Exchange Programs): If your university is partnered with ISEP, you can study abroad at any university in their network located in over 40 countries.
• Semester exchange at your university: University exchange programs allow students to pay their normal university tuition while swapping with a foreign student at a select partner university. For students who pay in-state tuition, this can be a great value.

Working while studying abroad can sometimes be complicated for international students, but many popular destinations allow employment part-time. These countries include Canada, the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Although you shouldn’t go abroad with zero savings and try to support yourself entirely with a part-time job, your earnings can be a great supplement to everyday living costs.

Alternatively, working holiday visa countries generally allow study alongside full-time or part-time employment. These programs usually last for a year and can be a good gap year option.

Study abroad scholarships and grants are one of the best ways to cut your study abroad costs. However, they do take a substantial investment of time to search and apply for. The work is well worth the reward though!

Here at Go Overseas, we have an extensive list of more than 50 study abroad scholarships and grants across different subjects, countries, and programs. Google is another great resource to find scholarships specific to your study abroad program, the subject you're studying, or the country where you want to study abroad.

Study abroad third-party providers also give out millions of dollars to students each year who go abroad with one of their programs. Some of these opportunities include:

• API
• CEA CAPA
• AIFS Abroad
• TEAN full-ride scholarship

Additionally, the US government funds study abroad for undergraduates demonstrating financial need through the US Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The Fulbright US Student Program also supports research and study grants for successful applicants across a range of fields and languages.

Last but not least, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters is a European program extended to US master's students who want to study both in the US and Europe. This competitive program provides scholarship money for travel, visas, and a living allowance to the most qualified applicants.

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While financial aid isn’t free money and does need to be paid back (with interest), it can be money well-spent if carefully planned and used on a low-cost program.

The majority of study abroad programs run by third-party providers accept federal student loan money. If you’re wary about enrolling directly in a university abroad including handling all of the paperwork on your own, you can always simply opt for a study abroad program on the less expensive side.

Prices are also lower overall for short-term and summer study abroad programs so don't forget to consider those when researching your options.

Whichever free or cheap way you choose to study abroad, taking full advantage of the opportunities afforded to you is the best way to offset the cost. The memories you make overseas will be priceless!