22 August 2025
7 minutes read
What are the 10 Best and Affordable Country to Study Abroad for Indian Students?

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.

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
Country | Tuition Fee (Avg) | Living Cost (Avg) | Scholarship Options |
---|---|---|---|
Germany | Free or €1,500/yr | €8,000–€10,000/yr | DAAD Scholarships |
Norway | Free | €9,000–€11,000/yr | State Scholarships |
Czech Republic | €2,000–€3,000/yr | €7,000–€8,000/yr | Government Funding |
Poland | €2,000–€4,000/yr | €6,000–€7,500/yr | Erasmus+ |
France | €3,000–€5,000/yr | €9,000–€11,000/yr | Eiffel Scholarships |
Italy | €2,500–€4,000/yr | €7,500–€9,000/yr | Italian Gov. Funding |
Spain | €3,000–€5,000/yr | €8,000–€9,500/yr | Erasmus+ Funding |
Canada | CAD 12,000–20,000 | CAD 12,000–15,000 | Vanier CGS |
Australia | AUD 20,000–35,000 | AUD 18,000–22,000 | Australia Awards |
USA | USD 25,000–40,000 | USD 15,000–20,000 | Fulbright |
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
Benefit | Impact on Students |
Lower Tuition Fee | Saves a portion of money |
Lower Cost of Living | Students can work easily |
Scholarships Available | Helps with financial burden |
Global Exposure | Strong career prospects |
Work Opportunities | Students can work relatively easily |
Less Debt | Easier to achieve financial independence |
High-Quality Universities | Education to international students |
Budget-Savvy Options | Usually trendy destinations for international students |
Networking Opportunities | International student community |
Safety | Great 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.

Table: Pros and cons of Studying in the Cheapest Destinations
Sl. No | Country | Pros | Cons | Avg Fee |
1 | Germany | Free-education, strong economy | Higher living cost in cities | Low |
2 | Norway | Free tuition, safe environment | Expensive living costs | Low |
3 | Czech Republic | Affordable tuition, central European hub | Limited English-taught programs | Medium |
4 | Poland | Affordable education, Erasmus+ options | Lower QS rankings | Low |
5 | France | Rich culture, scholarships available | Higher cost in Paris | Medium |
6 | Italy | Affordable yet high-quality education | Language barrier in some courses | Medium |
7 | Spain | Vibrant lifestyle, Erasmus+ scholarships | Higher unemployment rates | Medium |
8 | Canada | Work opportunities, scholarships offered | Higher tuition fees | High |
9 | Australia | Popular destination for international students | Expensive living cost | High |
10 | USA | Top-ranked universities in the world | High tuition fee | High |
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. No | Country | Top University | Courses Offered | Best Universities | Avg Fee (per year) | Avg Living Cost | Avg Scholarship Option |
1 | Germany | LMU Munich | Engineering, Business, Arts | TU Munich, Heidelberg | €0–€1,500 | €8,000–€10,000 | DAAD Scholarships |
2 | Norway | University of Oslo | Science, Humanities, Tech | NTNU, Bergen University | Free | €9,000–€11,000 | State-funded grants |
3 | Czech Republic | Charles University | Medicine, Law, Arts | Masaryk University | €2,000–€3,000 | €7,000–€8,000 | Government scholarships |
4 | Poland | University of Warsaw | IT, Engineering, Business | Jagiellonian University | €2,000–€4,000 | €6,000–€7,500 | Erasmus+ grants |
5 | France | Sorbonne University | Fashion, Arts, Business | Sciences Po, PSL University | €3,000–€5,000 | €9,000–€11,000 | Eiffel Excellence Scholarships |
6 | Italy | University of Bologna | Architecture, History, Arts | Sapienza University | €2,500–€4,000 | €7,500–€9,000 | Italian Gov. Scholarships |
7 | Spain | University of Barcelona | Business, Medicine, Tourism | Complutense Madrid | €3,000–€5,000 | €8,000–€9,500 | Erasmus+ and Gov. funding |
8 | Canada | University of Toronto | STEM, Management, Arts | McGill, UBC | CAD 12,000–20,000 | CAD 12,000–15,000 | Vanier CGS, Trudeau Scholarships |
9 | Australia | University of Melbourne | Engineering, Arts, Science | ANU, University of Sydney | AUD 20,000–35,000 | AUD 18,000–22,000 | Australia Awards Scholarships |
10 | USA | MIT | STEM, Medicine, Business | Harvard, Stanford | USD 25,000–40,000 | USD 15,000–20,000 | Fulbright, 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:
- Countries have high-quality courses on many subjects and fields of practice.
- The institutions utilize transcripts to conduct evaluations, GPA requirements in their admissions changes, and most follow some standardized tests instead of using personal examinations (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT, and ACT, etc.).
- Application processes usually involve writing a personal statement, statement of purpose, resume, and/or letter of recommendation.
Table: Education-System Comparison
Country | System Type | Application Requirement |
Germany | Research-oriented | GPA, SOP, IELTS/TOEFL |
USA | Credit-based | GRE, GMAT, SOP, LOR, Resume |
Canada | Coursework + Research | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Transcript |
France | Coursework-based | IELTS/TOEFL, GPA, SOP |
Italy | Bologna framework | GPA, SOP, IELTS/TOEFL |
Spain | Modular-based | IELTS/TOEFL, Transcript, SOP |
Poland | Credit & Research Mix | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA |
Australia | Flexible semester-based | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume |
Norway | Research-intensive | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA |
Czech Republic | Mixed Coursework | IELTS/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.

Table: Best Universities for international students (2025)
Sl. No | University/Region | Top Courses Offered | Avg Fee (per year) | Avg Scholarship Option | Documents & Tests Required | QS 2025 Ranking |
1 | University of Oxford (UK) | Law, Humanities, Science | £15,000–£25,000 | Rhodes, Chevening | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, LOR, Resume | #2 |
2 | University of Cambridge | Engineering, Arts, STEM | £16,000–£28,000 | Gates Cambridge | IELTS/TOEFL, GRE, SOP, GPA | #3 |
3 | LMU Munich (Germany) | STEM, Medicine, Arts | €0–€1,500 | DAAD | IELTS/TOEFL, Transcript, SOP | #33 |
4 | ETH Zurich (Switzerland) | Tech, Engineering, Science | CHF 1,200–2,500 | Swiss Government | GRE, IELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP | #7 |
5 | University of Toronto | STEM, Management, Arts | CAD 12,000–20,000 | Vanier CGS | IELTS/TOEFL, GPA, SOP, LOR | #18 |
6 | McGill University | Medicine, Business, Law | CAD 10,000–18,000 | Trudeau Scholarships | IELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP, GPA | #31 |
7 | MIT (USA) | STEM, Business, Research | USD 25,000–40,000 | Fulbright, Merit-based | GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, SOP, Resume | #1 |
8 | Harvard University | Law, Medicine, Business | USD 30,000–45,000 | Harvard Fellowships | IELTS/TOEFL, GPA, SOP, LOR | #4 |
9 | University of Melbourne | Arts, Engineering, Science | AUD 25,000–35,000 | Australia Awards | IELTS/TOEFL, GPA, Resume, SOP | #14 |
10 | University of Sydney | Business, Medicine, Arts | AUD 20,000–30,000 | Gov. Funding | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, LOR | #19 |
11 | ANU (Australia) | Politics, Law, Arts | AUD 20,000–32,000 | Australia Awards | IELTS/TOEFL, GRE, SOP, Resume | #34 |
12 | Sorbonne University (FR) | Arts, Humanities, Law | €2,500–€5,000 | Eiffel Excellence | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, GPA | #75 |
13 | Sciences Po (France) | Politics, Economics, Law | €3,000–€6,000 | Gov. Scholarships | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Transcript, GPA | #72 |
14 | University of Bologna | Arts, History, Literature | €2,000–€4,000 | Gov. Scholarships | IELTS/TOEFL, Resume, SOP, GPA | #95 |
15 | Sapienza University | Engineering, Architecture | €2,500–€4,500 | Italian Gov. Funding | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, Transcript | #131 |
16 | University of Barcelona | Tourism, Business, Arts | €3,000–€5,000 | Erasmus+ | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, GPA, Resume | #164 |
17 | Complutense Madrid | Law, Medicine, Arts | €2,500–€4,500 | Gov. Scholarships | IELTS/TOEFL, Transcript, SOP | #171 |
18 | University of Bergen | Natural Sciences, Tech | Free | State Funding | IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, Resume, Transcript | #201 |
19 | Masaryk University (CZ) | Medicine, Law, Arts | €2,000–€3,000 | Gov. Scholarships | IELTS/TOEFL, Resume, Transcript | #400 |
20 | Jagiellonian Univ. (PL) | IT, Business, Arts | €2,500–€4,000 | Erasmus+ | 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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