Paying for College in Europe

The following is a guest post by Kevin Newton who specializes in helping students apply to college in Europe. 

For many people, the practicality of paying for a degree in Europe is a seemingly insurmountable hurdle. After all, since it is in Europe, surely it has to be more expensive, right? It is pretty well-known that American universities charge international students considerable sums of money to study stateside, so most expect the same for American students in Europe.

The truth is actually quite different. In many cases, studying in Europe is a much cheaper option that studying in the United States. Additionally, many countries have agreements with Federal Loan Servicers to allow some federal financial aid to cross the Atlantic. Finally, scholarships and grants are available in some instances.

Differences in Tuition and Fees

Most notably, the range of tuition abroad can be vast. Many German universities (but by no means all) charge no tuition to American students, instead opting only for a fee (typically around 500 Euro, so about $575) that covers university fees, a transportation pass, and other assorted costs.

On the other hand, British university tuition can reach $40,000 for fields like Medicine, making it comparable to a private university in the United States. For other fields, British university fees are a much more manageable $20,000 a year.

Meanwhile, just like the United States, there are necessary considerations for room and board. Almost always these can be had for around $1,300 a month (even in London!), with prices getting considerably lower away from large cities. Smaller towns, like St. Andrews in Scotland, are much cheaper. Coupled with student-friendly discounts on everything from rent to international train passes, these costs are often comparable to what one would pay in North America.

Federal Student Aid

Just because you are considering a degree outside of the United States does not mean that the usual financial aid procedures do not apply. Americans going abroad can often take advantage of a number of federal student aid options. The most commonly used of these is the Stafford Direct Loan – for example, practically every British university accepts Stafford Direct loans. These can take a chunk out of expenses. However, some universities in other countries have not filed the necessary paperwork with the United States Department of Education.

Scholarships and Other Grants

Finally, there are scholarships and other grants to be considered. Many of the scholarships that students apply to in the United States can be applied to study in Europe – check with the provider. Additionally, while not always as generous as American financial aid, European universities do make attempts to attract American students through financial offers. These can be administered by the university, by the government (such as German grants) or by some combination thereof (like British Council awards). Of course, for graduate study, two of the most famous options are the Rhodes Scholarships and the Fulbright Fellowships.

Other Cost Considerations

While attending university in Europe can have a higher per-year sticker price, it is worth remembering that since degrees take less time, you’ll be paying a comparable amount of tuition overall while being able to start applying your degree at least a year faster. Additionally, as employers take greater notice of international experiences in hiring decisions, having lived abroad is sure to turn some heads, making the transition from student to professional much easier.