Europe is one of the most sought-after and chosen study destinations for most foreign students.

Studying abroad in Europe opens endless opportunities for international students during and after their studies. There are many European universities that are recognized globally.

The cost of education and living in Europe is relatively cheaper when compared to the United States and Canada. However, this doesn’t mean that the standard of living in Europe is low. Generally, tuition fees and living expenses in Europe are comparatively low. The tuition fee in Europe can be as low as €6,000 per year. However, if you want to study in Europe but can’t afford the fees, you can apply for any European scholarship that is available for international students who are studying or want to study in Europe.

Meanwhile, when it comes to student visas in Europe, there are only two types of visas: the national study visa and the Schengen study visa, which are available for international students who want to study in any European country.

Costs of Studying Abroad in Europe for International Students

 In Europe, there are two major costs that add to the overall cost of studying in a European country for foreign students. The costs are the living costs and tuition fees. These two things are the major factors that contribute to expenses that an international student may incur in the UK. We are going to take them one after the other.

Tuition Fees for International Students in Europe

The tuition fees in different European universities are not fixed; they vary depending on the country that has the institution. However, the annual tuition fees for most European universities range from €6,000 to €50,000. So, if you want to study in Europe, you should budget such an amount for your tuition fees. Meanwhile, the school fees for some European universities are cheaper when compared to their counterparts. The tuition fees for some universities in European countries are listed below:

• Italy: €6,000-€10,000 per annum
• Finland: €8,000-€15,000 per annum
• Denmark: €8,000-€18,000 per annum
• Sweden: €8,000-€18,000 per annum
• Netherlands: €8,000-€20,000 per annum
• France: €8,000-€20,000 per annum
• Germany: €10,000-€35,000 per annum
• Ireland: €9,000-€45,000 per annum

From the list above, we can see that the tuition fees at universities in Italy are the cheapest, while those in Ireland are the most expensive. However, apart from the school fees, living costs also contribute to the overall studying costs for foreign students in Europe.

Living Cost for International Students in Europe

The living cost in some European countries is relatively high, especially in countries like Ireland, France, the UK, etc. The living expenses here include accommodation, feeding, transportation and other related logistics. The living expenses for some European countries are listed below:

• Italy: €8,000 to €10,000/year
• Finland: €8,000 to €10,000/year
• Denmark: €8,000 to €12,000/year
• Sweden: €8,000 to €10,000/year
• Netherlands: €8,000 to €10,000
• France: €8,000 to €12,000/year
• Germany: €8,000 to €10,000/year
• Ireland: €7,000 to €12,000/year

European Visas for International Students

Before you can enter and study in Europe as an international student from a non-EU country, you will need a student visa. In Europe, there are two different types of study visas for foreign students: Schengen Study Visa and National Study Visa. With any of these visas, you can study in any European country.

1. Schengen Study Visa  

The Schengen study visa is a European visa that allows foreign nationals to visit and study in Europe for under three months. This visa is made for foreign students who want to take short-term courses in Europe. The Schengen study visa  allow international students free access to travel across all the Schengen Area countries. Meanwhile, if you are a non-European citizen residing in a Schengen Area country, you don’t need a visa to study in a European country as long as your studies are within three months. However, if your study in Europe will last more than three months, then you will need to get ETIAS. The ETIAS will become effective in 2025.

2. National Study Visa

This is another visa type that is available for foreign students in Europe. This type of student visa is available for international students whose course will last more than three months. However, each European country has particular rules that guide their national study visa. Since this type of visa is country-specific, it is best for interested international students to go through the national study visa guidelines of their European country of interest.  

Detailed information on European Countries National Study Visa

1. Germany National Study Visa

The German national study visa allows foreign students to study for a fixed period of time. It comes in different forms; some of them last for a short period of time, while others may last for an extended period. The different types of student visas in Germany are:

• Student Applicant Visa
• Student Visa
• Language Course Visa

  2. France National Study Visa

France also has their own national study visa. It comes in different forms, depending on the duration of study in the country. However, non-European students are required to register with the French Office of Immigration and Integration to enable them to use this visa in France. The types of France national study visas are:

• Schengen Short-Stay Student Visa (Visa de court séjour pour études)
• Temporary Long-Stay Visa (Visa de long séjour temporaire pour études)
• Long-Stay Visa (Visa de long séjour études)

Some of these national studies in France last for up to a year, while others have shorter validity periods.

3. The United Kingdom National Study Visa

After the Brexit era, both European and non-European students are required to apply for study visas before they study in the United Kingdom. The UK has two different student visas for international students who want to study in their country. The United Kingdom national study visa types are:

• Standard Visitor Visa
• UK Student Visa

4. Italy National Study Visa

Italy also has a national study visa for international students who are interested in studying in their country. Just like other national study visas discussed earlier, Italy also has different types of national study visas for international students. The Italy National Study Visas are:

• Type C Short-Stay Visa, just like a Schengen Visa
• Type D Long-Stay Visa

Requirements for Student Visa in Europe

To get a student visa in Europe—either a Schengen Study Visa or national study visa—there are different requirements that you must meet. Some of the requirements are listed below:

• Valid international passport
• Proof of fund
• Proof accept from European university
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage
• Proof of accommodation arrangement
• Academic transcript for postgraduate studies
• Degree certificate for postgraduate studies
• Language proficiency certificate, etc.

How to Apply for Student Visa in Europe

Now that you know the different types of student visas in Europe, let’s look at the application process. The simplified process that you need to follow when applying for a student visa in Europe is:

• Arrange all the needed documents, such as valid passport, proof of fund, acceptance letter, health insurance coverage, academic transcript, evidence of accommodation arrangements, etc.
• Schedule a visa appointment with the consulate or Embassy of the European country of your choice. The earlier you book it, the better.
• On the visa appointment day, submit all the relevant documents to the Embassy or consulate of the European country you want to study in.
•  Wait for your visa application to be reviewed, and if approved, you will be notified.

Scholarship for Foreign Students Studying in Europe

In the previous sections, we have discussed exhaustively cost and visas for international students in Europe. In this section, we are going to discuss scholarship opportunities that  are available for foreign students in Europe. If you are ready, let’s get started!

In Europe, there are many scholarship opportunities for international students. These scholarship opportunities are available for foreign nationals who want to study in Europe and those who are already undertaking their studies in European universities. Some of these scholarship opportunities are funded by European governments, while others are funded by international organisations in conjunction with European universities. Some of these scholarships are fully funded, while others come with partial funding. Apart from scholarship opportunities, there are also research grants for international students in Europe who have expertise in conducting scientific research. Some of the popular scholarship opportunities for international students in Europe are listed below:

• Swedish Institute scholarships for Global Professionals
• Chevening Scholarships
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• DAAD scholarships
• Eiffel Excellence scholarship program
• Erasmus Mundus scholarships
• Erasmus+ exchange
• Expatrio Scholarship
• Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarships
• Holland Scholarships
• Konrad-adenauer-stiftung Scholarship
• “France Excellence Europa” scholarship program
• France Excellence Eiffel scholarship program

Conclusion

The cost of education and living for foreign students studying in Europe is relatively expensive; however, there are European countries with lower costs, like Italy. Meanwhile, there are scholarship programs to assist international students studying in Europe. In the same vein, there are different visas that foreign students can use to enter Europe. So, as a foreign student who wants to study in Europe, the choice is yours to make.