Quick answer: The Studies Multiverse Tuition Index 2026 is an original dataset comparing public-university tuition for international students across 30+ countries. Public-university bachelor’s tuition for non-EU students ranges from €0/year (Germany, most states) to USD 50,000+/year (top US privates). Master’s and PhD funding patterns differ substantially. This page summarises the index and links the underlying tables.
Methodology
We sampled the largest accredited public university in each country (or two, when one is the dominant flagship), and recorded the official 2025–2026 academic year tuition for international (non-resident) students at three levels: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral. Where multiple tracks existed, we chose the lowest published English-taught programme. Currencies were converted to euros at April 2026 rates. Figures are reference prices — actual costs vary by faculty, programme and individual scholarship.
Cheapest 10 countries (bachelor’s, non-EU students, public universities)
| Rank | Country | Bachelor’s tuition (€/year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany (most states) | 0 | Semester fee €150–€350 |
| 2 | Norway | 0 (EEA) / 11,000–25,000 (non-EEA) | Non-EEA tuition introduced 2023 |
| 3 | Iceland | 0 + €750 registration | Free at public universities |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 0 in Czech / 1,000–5,000 in English | Charles University, Masaryk |
| 5 | Greece | 0 (EU) / 1,500 (non-EU) | English-taught Bachelor’s growing |
| 6 | Argentina | 0 (UBA) / 1,000–3,000 (private) | Public universities free for foreigners |
| 7 | France | 2,770 (non-EU) | EU students €170/year |
| 8 | Italy | 900–4,000 (ISEE-based) | Means-tested for all nationalities |
| 9 | Spain | 750–3,500 | Region-dependent |
| 10 | Portugal | 1,250–7,000 (non-EU) | Higher fees at top public universities |
Mid-range countries (€3,000–€10,000 bachelor’s)
| Country | Bachelor’s (€/year) | Master’s (€/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Hungary | 1,200–6,000 | 1,500–8,000 |
| Poland | 2,000–6,000 | 2,500–8,000 |
| Bulgaria | 3,000–8,000 | 3,500–9,000 |
| Romania | 2,000–5,000 | 2,500–6,000 |
| Cyprus | 3,400–10,250 | 5,125–10,250 |
| Malta | 1,080–10,800 | 1,080–10,800 |
| Türkiye | 500–4,500 | 500–6,000 |
| Mexico (UNAM and similar) | 0–2,500 | 0–4,000 |
| Brazil (USP, federals) | 0 (public) | 0 (public) |
| South Africa (UCT, Wits) | 4,000–9,000 | 4,500–10,000 |
Higher-tuition countries (€10,000+ public-university bachelor’s)
| Country | Bachelor’s (international) | Master’s (international) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £20,000–£35,000 | £20,000–£45,000 |
| Ireland | €12,000–€26,000 | €15,000–€32,000 |
| Netherlands | €8,000–€15,000 | €11,000–€22,000 |
| Sweden | SEK 100,000–175,000 | SEK 100,000–200,000 |
| Denmark | DKK 75,000–130,000 | DKK 75,000–150,000 |
| Australia | AUD 28,000–48,000 | AUD 30,000–55,000 |
| New Zealand | NZD 25,000–45,000 | NZD 28,000–50,000 |
| Canada | CAD 25,000–60,000 | CAD 18,000–55,000 |
| United States (public out-of-state) | USD 25,000–55,000 | USD 25,000–60,000 |
| Singapore (NUS, NTU) | SGD 17,000–30,000 (with MOE grant) | SGD 25,000–45,000 |
Doctoral funding patterns
PhD funding is structurally different from bachelor’s and master’s. Most STEM PhD students worldwide are paid rather than charged: Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, the Nordics, France, Belgium, the UK (with UKRI funding), most US R1 universities and most Canadian R1 universities offer fully-funded packages combining tuition waiver with monthly stipends ranging from CHF 4,000–6,000 (Switzerland, top end) to €1,800–€2,800 (Germany, France, Netherlands) to USD 30,000–45,000 (US public R1) to USD 35,000–60,000 (US private R1). Self-funded PhDs are most common in humanities and in non-EU students at certain UK and Australian institutions.
What the data shows
Three patterns are clear. First, tuition cost does not correlate cleanly with academic quality — Germany, France, Italy and Norway all host top-100 universities at near-zero tuition while many high-cost destinations rank lower. Second, “free” tuition is rarely fully free: cost of living, mandatory health insurance, visa fees, and proof-of-funds requirements add €7,000–€20,000 per year of effective expenses. Third, scholarship density varies enormously: countries with high tuition (UK, US, Australia) typically have larger scholarship pools, partially offsetting headline prices.
How to use this index
The Tuition Index is a planning starting-point, not a final bill. Use it to shortlist 5–10 countries that match your budget, then compare specific universities and programmes within those countries using the Studies Multiverse search and country pages. Pair this index with our scholarship guides and visa cost-of-funds breakdowns for a full picture of total annual cost.
Citation and re-use
This dataset was compiled by Studies Multiverse from public university websites, government portals, and accreditation registries in March–April 2026. Researchers, journalists and educators are free to cite the index with attribution and a link to studiesmultiverse.com/tuition-index-2026/.
Related guides
- Cheapest universities in Europe 2026
- Free vs paid universities abroad
- Cost of living for international students 2026
- Scholarships for international students
- Tuition-free universities in Germany 2026
- Student visa guide by country 2026
Methodology and data: collected March–April 2026 from official university websites and accreditation registries. Currencies converted at April 2026 rates. Updates planned annually.