Cheapest Country to Study Abroad for Indian Students – Top Picks & Budget Guide

Intro: 

Studying in another country is a big dream for many Indian students. But the cost of going abroad is very high in countries like USA, UK, or Australia. So, many students look for the cheapest countries to study abroad where they can get a good education without spending too much money.

Some budget-friendly countries offer low-cost education and also good quality. Some of these countries even have no tuition fees or just very low fees. Countries like Germany, Poland, Malaysia, and Taiwan are getting popular now among Indian students. These places not only have cheap tuition but also low cost of living.

Also, many of these countries give scholarships to international students, and allow them to work part-time to earn some money while studying. Some of the universities in these countries also teach in English, so it's easier for Indian students to learn and adjust.

This article will talk about the cheapest countries to study abroad for Indian students, and will help you understand things like tuition fees, living costs, and student visa rules. Choosing the right country can help you save money and still have a good future.

Top 10 Cheapest Countries for Indian Students in 2025

Country	Tuition Fees (per year) & INR Conversion	Living Costs (per month) & INR Conversion
Germany	Public: €0–3,000 (INR 0–2.7L) Private: €10,000–20,000 (INR 9L–18L)	€842–1,150 (INR 75K–1L)
Norway	NOK 80,000–150,000 (INR 6L–11L)	NOK 11,500–13,790 (INR 83K–1L)
Taiwan	NT$1,680–5,830 (INR 1.5L–5L)	NT$24,400 + rent (NT$5,500–14,000) (INR 64K–98K)
Mexico	Public: $0–625 (INR 0–54K) Private: $8,994 (INR 7.2L)	$470–1,500 (INR 40K–1.3L)
Poland	€2,000–7,000 (INR 1.8L–6.3L)	€330–800 (INR 30K–72K)
Malaysia	MYR 25,176–73,377 (INR 4.5L–13L)	MYR 1,200–2,600 (INR 22K–47K)
Hungary	€450–4,500 (INR 40K–4L)	€375–700 (INR 34K–63K)
Czech Republic	€2,000–10,000 (INR 1.8L–9L)	€300–750 (INR 27K–68K)
France	EU: €170 (BA), €243 (MA) (INR 15K–22K) Non-EU: €2,770/BA, €3,770/MA (INR 2.5L–3.4L)	€1,000 (INR 90K)
Finland	Free (EU/EEA) (Free) Non-EU: ≥€5,000 (≥INR 4.5L)	€800–1,200 (INR 72K–1.1L)

Exchange rates used:

• €1 ≈ ₹90
• $1 ≈ ₹86
• NOK 1 ≈ ₹7.2
• MYR 1 ≈ ₹18
• TWD 1 ≈ ₹2.6

1. Germany

Germany is one of the most popular countries for Indian students. Public universities in Germany don’t charge any tuition fees for most courses. You just need to pay a small admin fee every semester. Education in Germany is really good, especially in engineering, technology, music, and the arts.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public: €0–3,000 (INR 0–2.7L) Private: €10,000–20,000 (INR 9L–18L)
Cost of Living	INR 70K – INR 1 Lakh monthly (includes food, transportation, internet, study materials, etc.)
Top Fields of Study	Engineering and Technology. Business Administration. Medicine and Life Sciences.
German Scholarships	DAAD Scholarship Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Erasmus+ Program EMS Graduate Scholarship Heinrich Boll Scholarship
Job Opportunities	Strong job prospects in engineering, IT, healthcare, management, and finance in Germany’s thriving economy
Top Tuition-Free Universities	University of Stuttgart University of Mannheim University of Bremen

Why is Germany affordable?

• No tuition fees at most public universities (only semester fees apply).
• Living costs are more affordable in smaller cities like Leipzig or Dresden compared to Munich or Frankfurt.

2. Norway

Public universities in Norway are free for international students, not just locals. That means you don’t have to pay any tuition fees even if you're from India. It is a safe country and has strong programs in renewable energy, marine sciences, and climate studies.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public universities: No tuition fees for international students Other: NOK 80,000–150,000 (INR 6L–11L)
Cost of Living	NOK 12,000 – NOK 20,000 per month (INR 90K – INR 1.5 L approx.)
Top Fields of Study	Environmental Science and Sustainability. Engineering and Technology. Business Administration
Scholarships	Quota Scheme Erasmus+ Scholarships BI Presidential Scholarship
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed (20 hours/week); strong in energy, marine sciences, IT
Top Universities	University of Oslo Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) University of Bergen

Why is Norway affordable?

• Norway offers tuition-free education at public universities for all students, regardless of nationality.
• Numerous scholarships are available to help international students

3. Taiwan

Taiwan is a great choice in Asia. Universities here teach in English, and the cost of living is much lower than in Western countries. You can also apply for Taiwan scholarships made for Indian students.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	INR 1.5 lakh–5 lakh
Cost of Living	INR 64K–98K
Top Fields of Study	Engineering and Technology. Medicine and Life Sciences. Mandarin Language Studies.
Scholarships	Taiwan Scholarship ICDF Scholarship MOE Scholarships for Indian Students
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; opportunities in technology, business, and language teaching
Top Universities	National Taiwan University National Tsing Hua University National Cheng Kung University

Why is Taiwan affordable?

• Low tuition fees for international students.
• Affordable living costs, especially outside Taipei.

4. Mexico

Mexico is another cheap country to study in. It offers programs in both Spanish and English, and living costs are quite low. India and Mexico also have an Academic Exchange Program (AEP), so there are some reserved seats for Indian students.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Public: $0–625 (INR 0–54K) Private: $8,994 (INR 7.2L)
Cost of Living	MXN 12,000 – MXN 18,000 per month (INR 55K – INR 85K approx.)
Top Fields of Study	Business and Management. Medicine and Healthcare. Arts and Humanities.
Scholarships	Mexican Government Scholarships Academic Exchange Program (AEP)
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; jobs in tourism, language teaching, and business
Top Universities	National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) Tecnológico de Monterrey IPN

Why is Mexico affordable?

• Low tuition fees at public universities.
• Affordable cost of living, especially in cities outside the capital.

5. Poland

Poland has English-taught programs and low tuition fees. It’s good for degrees in IT, medicine, and engineering. Also, students can work part-time to manage costs.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,000–7,000 (INR 1.8L–6.3L)
Cost of Living	€330–800 (INR 30K–72K)
Top Fields of Study	Engineering and Technology. Medicine and Healthcare. Business and Management.
Scholarships	Polish Government Scholarships Erasmus+ Scholarships
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; strong in IT, engineering, and medicine
Top Universities	University of Warsaw Jagiellonian University Warsaw University of Technology

Why is Poland affordable?

• Low tuition fees compared to Western Europe.
• Affordable cost of living, especially in cities like Krakow and Lublin.

6. Malaysia

Malaysia is popular among Indian students because of its low tuition, cheap flight tickets, and UK or USA partner universities. You can even get a Western degree from a campus in Malaysia.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	MYR 25,176–73,377 (INR 4.5L–13L)
Cost of Living	MYR 1,200–2,600 (INR 22K–47K)
Top Fields of Study	Business and Management. Engineering and Technology. Hospitality and Tourism.
Scholarships	Malaysian International Scholarship Commonwealth Scholarship
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; opportunities in business, IT, and hospitality
Top Universities	Universiti Malaya Universiti Sains Malaysia Taylor’s University

Why is Malaysia affordable?

• Low tuition fees compared to Western countries.
• Affordable cost of living, especially in smaller cities.

7. Hungary

Hungary is a safe, peaceful country in Europe and is good for students who want to study medicine, engineering, or science. The cost of living is low and degrees are recognized in all of Europe.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€450–4,500 (INR 40K–4L)
Cost of Living	€375–700 (INR 34K–63K)
Top Fields of Study	Medicine and Healthcare. Engineering and Technology. Arts and Humanities.
Scholarships	Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Erasmus+
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; jobs in medicine, engineering, and sciences
Top Universities	Eötvös Loránd University University of Debrecen Semmelweis University

Why is Hungary affordable?

• Low tuition fees for Indian students.
• Relatively low cost of living compared to other European countries.

8. Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, you can study for free if you choose a program in the Czech language. But even English-taught programs are affordable. Living in Czech Republic is also cheaper than other European countries.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	€2,000–10,000 (INR 1.8L–9L)
Cost of Living	€300–750 (INR 27K–68K)
Top Fields of Study	Engineering and Technology. Business and Management. Natural Sciences.
Scholarships	Czech Government Scholarships Erasmus+
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; opportunities in engineering, business, and sciences
Top Universities	Charles University Czech Technical University Masaryk University

Why is Czech Republic affordable?

• Tuition fees for English-taught programs are generally reasonable
• The cost of living in the Czech Republic is relatively low compared to other European nations.

9. France

France gives government support to students, so public universities have very low fees. Many courses are taught in English, and Indian students can apply for Charpak and Eiffel scholarships.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	EU: €170 (BA), €243 (MA) (INR 15K–22K) Non-EU: €2,770/BA, €3,770/MA (INR 2.5L–3.4L)
Cost of Living	€1,000 (INR 90K)
Top Fields of Study	Business and Management Engineering Medicine Law
Scholarships	Charpak Scholarship Eiffel Excellence Scholarship French Government Scholarships
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; strong in hospitality, engineering, business, and arts
Top Universities	Sorbonne University University of Paris École Polytechnique

Why is France affordable?

• Low tuition fees due to government subsidies
• Scholarship Opportunities

10. Finland

Finland is one of the most peaceful countries with a strong education system. Tuition fees can be high for some courses, but many universities give full or partial scholarships to Indian students.

Category	Details
Tuition Fees	Free (EU/EEA) (Free) Non-EU: ≥€5,000 (≥INR 4.5L)
Cost of Living	€800–1,200 (INR 72K–1.1L)
Top Fields of Study	Computer Science and IT Engineering and Technology  Business and Management.
Scholarships	Finland Government Scholarship University-specific Scholarships
Job Opportunities	Part-time work allowed; strong in education, IT, and engineering
Top Universities	University of Helsinki Aalto University University of Turku

Why is Finland affordable?

• Tuition fee policies for EU/EEA students
• Public services like healthcare and education are funded by tax revenue

How to Choose the Right Country for Cheap Study Abroad

Here are some tips that will help you choose wisely:

• Career goals – Choose a country that is strong in the subject you want to study.
• University rank and courses – Check if the university offers the right program and helps with placements.
• Job opportunities – Look at rules for part-time work and post-study work visas.
• Budget planning – Make a money plan. Don’t forget to check for scholarships, grants, and part-time jobs.
• Language – Make sure the course is in English, or learn the local language if needed.

Is Quality Compromised in Affordable Study Destinations?

It’s understandable to wonder if the quality of education in study abroad with low budget destinations low-cost countries is as good as in more expensive ones. The truth is, that many countries that offer affordable education also have top-notch universities and programs. Here’s why:

• Government Support: Countries like Germany and Norway provide heavily subsidized education, which keeps tuition fees low without compromising on quality. In Germany, tuition fees for public universities are often as low as €1,500 per year (₹1,35,000), and in Norway, education is free for international students at public universities.
• Globally Ranked Universities: Affordable countries still offer globally recognized universities:
  • Germany is home to top universities like Technische Universität München, which ranks in the top 100 globally for engineering and technology.
  • Norway has universities like the University of Oslo, known for its high-quality education in fields like social sciences and law.
  • Hungary has excellent programs in medicine, with universities like Semmelweis University ranked highly for medical studies.
• Specialized Fields: Some countries excel in certain areas. For example:
  • Germany is renowned for its engineering and technology programs.
  • Poland is recognized for its medicine programs, and many international students choose to study here for their medical degrees.

How upGrad Can Help You Study in These Countries

upGrad Abroad helps you find the best affordable universities, prepare for entrance exams, and explore cost-effective study options. Here’s how:

• Find the Cheapest Study Destinations – upGrad guides students to the cheapest country to study abroad for Indian students, ensuring affordability without compromising quality.
• University Selection & Applications – Get assistance in choosing budget-friendly universities and applying hassle-free.
• Entrance Exam & Admission Support – Prepare for required exams with expert guidance and resources.
• Scholarships & Financial Aid – Explore cost-saving options like scholarships and grants.
• Visa & Relocation Assistance – Receive step-by-step support for visa applications and moving abroad.
• Career Guidance & Job Support – Connect with global job opportunities after graduation.

With some good planning, you can make your dream of studying abroad come true without spending too much. Don’t forget to look for scholarships and plan your expenses smartly. This way, you can study abroad cheaply and smartly. One can even connect with upGrad experts for a better detailed solution.