Quick answer: Over 1,800 English-taught bachelor’s programmes are now offered across European universities. The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain, Cyprus and Malta have the largest English-taught catalogues. Tuition ranges from €0 in Germany’s public universities to €18,000+ at private business schools.
Netherlands — the European leader for English bachelor’s
Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences offer hundreds of English-taught bachelor’s. Tuition is €2,530/year for EU students and €8,000–€15,000 for non-EU. Top destinations include University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Maastricht and Leiden. Note: a 2024 government policy is reducing the number of new English bachelor’s programmes — apply early.
Germany — public universities, mostly free
English-taught bachelor’s are still less common in Germany than master’s, but growing. Notable options: Jacobs University Bremen (private), Frankfurt School of Finance, Bard College Berlin, IU International University, Hertie School (master’s only), and an expanding cohort of public-university programmes in business, engineering and life sciences. Public-university English bachelor’s typically cost €0–€1,500/year.
Italy — affordable and academically respected
Italy now offers 350+ English-taught bachelor’s. Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi, University of Bologna, Sapienza Rome and the University of Padua are popular choices. Tuition at public universities follows ISEE means testing — non-EU students pay €1,500–€4,000/year on average. Scholarships from individual universities are abundant.
Central and Eastern Europe — best value
Czech Republic (Charles University, CTU Prague), Poland (University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian, AGH), Hungary (Eötvös Loránd, Budapest University of Technology), Bulgaria, Romania and Estonia each offer dozens of English-taught bachelor’s at €1,500–€6,000/year. The quality is EU-recognised and rapidly improving in international rankings.
Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta
Spain’s IE University, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Pompeu Fabra offer English bachelor’s at €5,000–€12,000. Portugal’s Nova SBE and ISCTE Lisbon. Cyprus has English as the primary language at most universities (UNIC, European University Cyprus, University of Cyprus). Malta’s University of Malta is fully English-taught.
Nordic countries
Sweden, Denmark and Finland offer English-taught bachelor’s, but tuition for non-EU students is significant (SEK 100,000–SEK 175,000 in Sweden; DKK 75,000–DKK 130,000 in Denmark). EU students pay nothing in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Finland charges non-EU tuition but has a strong scholarship programme.
Admissions: what to expect
Most English-taught bachelor’s require: high-school diploma equivalent to the European baccalaureate or A-Levels (with country-specific subject lists), English at IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90, motivation letter, sometimes interview or aptitude test. Application deadlines are typically January–April for September starts. Use the Studies Multiverse search filters to find programmes matching your subject, language and budget.
FAQ
Do I need IELTS for every programme? Most universities accept IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or Duolingo. Some waive English tests if you completed prior education in English.
Are English bachelor’s lower quality? No. Programme accreditation is identical to local-language tracks at the same institution. The teaching staff is often international and research-active.
Related programme & destination guides
Continue exploring related guides on Studies Multiverse:
- English-taught study in the Netherlands
- Study in Germany
- Study in Italy
- Study in Cyprus
- Study in Malta
- Study in Poland
- Study in the Czech Republic
- Study abroad without IELTS
- Cheapest universities in Europe 2026
Related guides on Studies Multiverse — free for international students.