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22 August 2025

7 minutes read

What are the 10 Best and Affordable Country to Study Abroad for Indian Students?

Dirghayu Kaushik
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Dirghayu Kaushik

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Founder & CEO

Dirghayu Kaushik is the co-founder and CEO of Ambitio. He started this platform because he’s been in your shoes—navigating confusing websites, second-guessing college choices, and trying to make sense of what actually matters in an application. A graduate of IIT BHU, Dirghayu combines personal experience with data-backed guidance to help students apply smarter. Whether it’s choosing the right course, building a standout profile, or writing essays that don’t feel forced, his mission is simple: to make getting into your dream university less overwhelming, and a little more honest.

22 August 2025

7 minutes read

Key Takeaways

  • Best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students offers quality education with low tuition fees and scholarships to ease financial burden.
  • Best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students allows part-time work to cover living cost while gaining international exposure.
  • Best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students includes Germany, Norway, and Czech Republic, top choices for international students.

For many Indian students, studying abroad is a combination of education, excitement, and global opportunities that make up the experience of a lifetime. The struggle occurs when students want to balance quality education with low-cost living.

Choosing a low-cost country can help minimize the overall financial obligation for many international students while still allowing for some exposure to the best universities in the world. There are plenty of countries, widely available, that offer a superb quality of education at an affordable price in addition to international-students being able to work part-time.

For this reason, there are countries that offer the best study destinations in the world for Indian students that might be on a budget. International-students can also consider a few options; Germany, Norway and relatively low-cost affordable budget to study. The countries listed above can give immense sustainability to future aspiring students without destroying finances.

Is it Possible to Study Abroad for Free or at a Low Cost of Living or Studying?

Did you know that countries such as Germany and Norway, offer FREE education to international-students? International-students can pay a high range of tuition fees to study in Western countries such as the UK and the USA. However, a lot of countries offer free or below tuition fees and opportunities for working part-time to support living expenses.  

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Key takeaways:   

  • Most countries offer free or affordable tuition fees (or free!).  
  • There are international scholarships available to help you diminish tuition fee and living costs.  
  • Most students can work part time while studying, manageable living expenses (depending on country).  

Table: Low-Cost Study Options

CountryTuition Fee (Avg)Living Cost (Avg)Scholarship Options
GermanyFree or €1,500/yr€8,000–€10,000/yrDAAD Scholarships
NorwayFree€9,000–€11,000/yrState Scholarships
Czech Republic€2,000–€3,000/yr€7,000–€8,000/yrGovernment Funding
Poland€2,000–€4,000/yr€6,000–€7,500/yrErasmus+
France€3,000–€5,000/yr€9,000–€11,000/yrEiffel Scholarships
Italy€2,500–€4,000/yr€7,500–€9,000/yrItalian Gov. Funding
Spain€3,000–€5,000/yr€8,000–€9,500/yrErasmus+ Funding
CanadaCAD 12,000–20,000CAD 12,000–15,000Vanier CGS
AustraliaAUD 20,000–35,000AUD 18,000–22,000Australia Awards
USAUSD 25,000–40,000USD 15,000–20,000Fulbright

Why Go for the Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad in 2025?

Fun fact: The Czech Republic is surprisingly affordable for education – and it is home to some of the oldest universities in the world! For several Indian students, to study abroad in 2025, an affordable country allows students to limit financial burdens while receiving valuable and world-class exposure.

Here are reasons why students should consider an affordable study destination:

  • In all cases, the lower cost for students in quality and destination, reduces stress for students studying on a budget.
  • Scholarships for international-students in affordable destinations help students study in these countries.
  • Finally, affordable education with quality, just because you study in an affordable country, they cannot take away the global recognition, but at least without putting you into debt.

Table: Benefits of Study in Lower-Cost Countries

BenefitImpact on Students
Lower Tuition FeeSaves a portion of money
Lower Cost of LivingStudents can work easily
Scholarships AvailableHelps with financial burden
Global ExposureStrong career prospects
Work OpportunitiesStudents can work relatively easily
Less DebtEasier to achieve financial independence
High-Quality UniversitiesEducation to international students
Budget-Savvy OptionsUsually trendy destinations for international students
Networking OpportunitiesInternational student community
SafetyGreat option for Indian students.

Places to Study Abroad at the Cheapest Countries for Indian Students: Pros and Cons

Did you know that in Germany students are allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours per week to help support their everyday costs of living? When choosing the best destinations to study abroad, students must evaluate the pros and cons of each place to study abroad.

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Table: Pros and cons of Studying in the Cheapest Destinations

Sl. NoCountryProsConsAvg Fee
1GermanyFree-education, strong economyHigher living cost in citiesLow
2NorwayFree tuition, safe environmentExpensive living costsLow
3Czech RepublicAffordable tuition, central European hubLimited English-taught programsMedium
4PolandAffordable education, Erasmus+ optionsLower QS rankingsLow
5FranceRich culture, scholarships availableHigher cost in ParisMedium
6ItalyAffordable yet high-quality educationLanguage barrier in some coursesMedium
7SpainVibrant lifestyle, Erasmus+ scholarshipsHigher unemployment ratesMedium
8CanadaWork opportunities, scholarships offeredHigher tuition feesHigh
9AustraliaPopular destination for international studentsExpensive living costHigh
10USATop-ranked universities in the worldHigh tuition feeHigh

10 Best and Affordable Countries to Study Abroad for Indian Students (Including Tuition Fee and Living Cost)

If you didn’t know, Indian students are more inclined to study in western European countries due to cheaper tuition fees and scholarships for international students. When Indian students are making the choice and narrowing down affordable countries, they have to consider tuition fees, living costs, scholarships, as well as universities within each of these countries. 

Table: The Top 10 Affordable Countries for Indian Students

Sl. NoCountryTop UniversityCourses OfferedBest UniversitiesAvg Fee (per year)Avg Living CostAvg Scholarship Option
1GermanyLMU MunichEngineering, Business, ArtsTU Munich, Heidelberg€0–€1,500€8,000–€10,000DAAD Scholarships
2NorwayUniversity of OsloScience, Humanities, TechNTNU, Bergen UniversityFree€9,000–€11,000State-funded grants
3Czech RepublicCharles UniversityMedicine, Law, ArtsMasaryk University€2,000–€3,000€7,000–€8,000Government scholarships
4PolandUniversity of WarsawIT, Engineering, BusinessJagiellonian University€2,000–€4,000€6,000–€7,500Erasmus+ grants
5FranceSorbonne UniversityFashion, Arts, BusinessSciences Po, PSL University€3,000–€5,000€9,000–€11,000Eiffel Excellence Scholarships
6ItalyUniversity of BolognaArchitecture, History, ArtsSapienza University€2,500–€4,000€7,500–€9,000Italian Gov. Scholarships
7SpainUniversity of BarcelonaBusiness, Medicine, TourismComplutense Madrid€3,000–€5,000€8,000–€9,500Erasmus+ and Gov. funding
8CanadaUniversity of TorontoSTEM, Management, ArtsMcGill, UBCCAD 12,000–20,000CAD 12,000–15,000Vanier CGS, Trudeau Scholarships
9AustraliaUniversity of MelbourneEngineering, Arts, ScienceANU, University of SydneyAUD 20,000–35,000AUD 18,000–22,000Australia Awards Scholarships
10USAMITSTEM, Medicine, BusinessHarvard, StanfordUSD 25,000–40,000USD 15,000–20,000Fulbright, Merit-based funding

What are the Education Systems Like at the Best Countries to Study Abroad for Indians?

Fun fact: Western countries like the USA and UK use credit-based systems for their education while countries like Germany use research-based education for their education systems.

It is important for international students to understand how each country organizes its education system, as students may find significant savings available by choosing the right study location considering the study options available to them.  

The characteristics of education are:

Table: Education-System Comparison

CountrySystem TypeApplication Requirement
GermanyResearch-orientedGPA, SOP, IELTS/TOEFL
USACredit-basedGRE, GMAT, SOP, LOR, Resume
CanadaCoursework + ResearchIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Transcript
FranceCoursework-basedIELTS/TOEFL, GPA, SOP
ItalyBologna frameworkGPA, SOP, IELTS/TOEFL
SpainModular-basedIELTS/TOEFL, Transcript, SOP
PolandCredit & Research MixIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA
AustraliaFlexible semester-basedIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume
NorwayResearch-intensiveIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA
Czech RepublicMixed CourseworkIELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP

Top Universities to Study in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia

Did you know? Within Europe, you can find several universities, such as Oxford and Sorbonne, where multiple Nobel prize winners and leaders of the world received their education? These areas continue to be sought-after destinations for international students due to their international prestige.

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Table: Best Universities for international students (2025)

Sl. NoUniversity/RegionTop Courses OfferedAvg Fee (per year)Avg Scholarship OptionDocuments & Tests RequiredQS 2025 Ranking
1University of Oxford (UK)Law, Humanities, Science£15,000–£25,000Rhodes, CheveningIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, LOR, Resume#2
2University of CambridgeEngineering, Arts, STEM£16,000–£28,000Gates CambridgeIELTS/TOEFL, GRE, SOP, GPA#3
3LMU Munich (Germany)STEM, Medicine, Arts€0–€1,500DAADIELTS/TOEFL, Transcript, SOP#33
4ETH Zurich (Switzerland)Tech, Engineering, ScienceCHF 1,200–2,500Swiss GovernmentGRE, IELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP#7
5University of TorontoSTEM, Management, ArtsCAD 12,000–20,000Vanier CGSIELTS/TOEFL, GPA, SOP, LOR#18
6McGill UniversityMedicine, Business, LawCAD 10,000–18,000Trudeau ScholarshipsIELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP, GPA#31
7MIT (USA)STEM, Business, ResearchUSD 25,000–40,000Fulbright, Merit-basedGRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, SOP, Resume#1
8Harvard UniversityLaw, Medicine, BusinessUSD 30,000–45,000Harvard FellowshipsIELTS/TOEFL, GPA, SOP, LOR#4
9University of MelbourneArts, Engineering, ScienceAUD 25,000–35,000Australia AwardsIELTS/TOEFL, GPA, Resume, SOP#14
10University of SydneyBusiness, Medicine, ArtsAUD 20,000–30,000Gov. FundingIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, LOR#19
11ANU (Australia)Politics, Law, ArtsAUD 20,000–32,000Australia AwardsIELTS/TOEFL, GRE, SOP, Resume#34
12Sorbonne University (FR)Arts, Humanities, Law€2,500–€5,000Eiffel ExcellenceIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, GPA#75
13Sciences Po (France)Politics, Economics, Law€3,000–€6,000Gov. ScholarshipsIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Transcript, GPA#72
14University of BolognaArts, History, Literature€2,000–€4,000Gov. ScholarshipsIELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP, GPA#95
15Sapienza UniversityEngineering, Architecture€2,500–€4,500Italian Gov. FundingIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, Transcript#131
16University of BarcelonaTourism, Business, Arts€3,000–€5,000Erasmus+IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA, Resume#164
17Complutense MadridLaw, Medicine, Arts€2,500–€4,500Gov. ScholarshipsIELTS/TOEFL, Transcript, SOP#171
18University of BergenNatural Sciences, TechFreeState FundingIELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, Transcript#201
19Masaryk University (CZ)Medicine, Law, Arts€2,000–€3,000Gov. ScholarshipsIELTS/TOEFL, Resume, Transcript#400
20Jagiellonian Univ. (PL)IT, Business, Arts€2,500–€4,000Erasmus+IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA, Resume#293

Conclusion

For aspirational Indian students who want to study overseas, studying abroad for the first time in 2025 is a like a dream come true – we have countries accommodating not only quality education at an affordable price but also a standardized cost of living.

Many countries where universities offer affordable or free education, such as Germany and Norway, the countries with the lowest tuition fees for international students, and the European Regions with cheaper living costs means that our students can realise their academic and financial goals too!

The special scholarships for international students, opportunities for students to work part-time whilst being exposed to some of the best universities at the same time, is a perfect fit for these destinations. If you are a student with an aspiration to find a cheap but, high quality education, do connect with Ambitio to help explore your best study abroad options.

FAQs

Which is the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students in 2025?

The best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students in 2025 includes Germany, Norway, and Canada due to their affordable tuition and quality education. The best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students also offers part-time work opportunities. Many choose Germany as the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students because it provides free or low-cost education.

Why is Germany called the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students?

Germany is widely regarded as the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students because of its free education at public universities. The best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students like Germany also has low living costs compared to western countries. This makes Germany the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students who want high-quality education at minimal expense.

What makes Norway the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students?

Norway is the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students because tuition fees for international students are minimal or free in public universities. The best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students such as Norway also provides English-taught programs. Norway being the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students makes it a strong choice for those seeking budget-friendly education.

Can Canada be considered the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students?

Yes, Canada is considered the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students due to its affordable tuition and generous scholarships. The best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students like Canada also allows students to work part-time. With cultural diversity, Canada has become the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students looking for international exposure.

Is the UK still the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students?

The UK can be seen as the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students if scholarships are secured. Many universities in the UK fall under the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students list because they offer merit-based funding. With shorter course durations, the UK remains the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students wanting world-class education.

Why is the Czech Republic the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students?

The Czech Republic is the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students because of its low tuition fees and living cost. Universities here make it the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students offering programs in English. With rising popularity, the Czech Republic is seen as the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students seeking affordable education.

How do scholarships make the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students even better?

Scholarships play a key role in making the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students accessible. With financial aid, the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students becomes an even more realistic option. Scholarships ensure that the best and affordable country to study abroad for Indian students remains budget-friendly for ambitious learners.

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