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How international student tuition fees vary across Europe

A French government plan to charge students from outside the EU 16 times more than previously have stoked discontent. But how does this compare to the rest of Europe, both inside the EU and out? Plans to dramatically increase the tuition fees paid by international students  in France have sparked protests and highlighted the problems faced in the European country's higher education sector.  The "Choose France for Higher Education" scheme, initially announced last month, aims to remove an opt out system that French universities often used to keep non-EU students' fees the same as their EU counterparts. As a result, the vast majority of non-EU students heading to France for the 2026/27 academic year must pay annual tuition fees of €2,895 ($3,391) for a bachelor's programme and €3,941 for a master's degree. That's a hike of 16 times the previous prices and the move is expected to net universities an extra €250 million a year. "The proposal represents an alarming step regarding the commitment to equitable access to higher education. By significantly increasing tuition fees for non-EU students, the French government risks institutionalising a system in which access to education is increasingly determined by nationality and financial capacity," read a statement from the European Students Union and the Federation of General Student Associations in France. The reaction is symbolic of France's long-prevailing attitude that education should be accessible to all. But with universities under increasing pressure, and students more able to choose courses outside their homelands, Professor Christian Gollier from the Toulouse School of Economics argues that there is a need for change, in a policy document on the future of European universities released by Kings College, London, this week. "Given the state of our public finances, tuition-free education eliminates the only real option for funding competitive salaries for teaching and research staff. Who is aware that in France, today, young lecturers, having accumulated ten years of higher education plus a few years as a postdoc, are faced with a gross annual salary of €30,000, while the best universities in the world are able to offer five to ten times more to recruit the most promising among them," he wrote. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video France is not the only country grappling with how to fund its universities, with international students often a lightening rod for discussion. While in some European countries, high international student fees fund cheaper homegrown places, in others there are concerns that students who learn in an EU country and then pay income tax elsewhere are offering a poor return on investment for the educating country. One example of this comes in the Netherlands . The price of a bachelor degree for EU students there is about €2500, whereas foreign students pay a much higher price ranging from €13,000 to €32,000, depending on the type of study. The Kings College report found that 57% of international students are still in the Netherlands one year after graduation but this number declines to about some 25% after 5 years. It also found that international students are more likely to stay than students from fellow EU countries. One of the reactions from the Dutch government has been to ensure more courses are taught in Dutch, rather than English, and no new English-language courses are introduced. This policy has seen international student numbers reduced by almost 5% this academic year (2025-26) compared to last year. In direct opposition to much of Europe, the UK has long put a premium on international students, introducing a charge on international students as early as 1981. It, along with other countries where English is the native language , has long held an advantage in attracting overseas students due to the global prevalence of English. Indeed, though Brexit has seen a decline in EU students in the UK , England remains the largest European recruiter of students from abroad. A study by economic consultancy London Economics put the net economic benefits of those students at €43 billion.  Currently, international students make up 23% of the UK university population , though numbers are dropping. Fees for international students can reach as high as €44,000, with British student fees currently capped at €11,300 per year. But rates vary significantly according to which country of the UK you are in and which course you opt for. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another country which operates outside of the EU, Switzerland, has gone in a different direction. Under a bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the bloc signed in December 2024, international and domestic tuition fees will be equalized, bringing down prices for international students. "Switzerland will treat EU students and Swiss students in the same way with regard to tuition fees and all other fees or charges related to studies in the vast majority of public universities,” read a  statement from the EU Commission . Prices vary by establishment but are usually around €800 a semester. Back inside the EU, the wide spread of the Spanish language has made Spain an increasingly popular choice for international students. Data from education market analysts ICEF Monitor shows Spain took on 10,000 more foreign students in 2023/24 than the previous academic year, a rise of 6.5%. Bachelors degrees for EU students at public universities start at about €2,100 and can rise towards €5000 but each institution sets its own fees. That is also true for international students who, generally speaking, pay a little more, though not always.  Neighbouring Portugal is also enjoying a surge in international students, with government figures showing the number more than doubled from 20,000 in 2015 to 42,000 in 2024. About half of those come from Portuguese-speaking communities outside the country, most commonly Brazil. Those international students can expect to pay more than EU counterparts, whose fees are mandated by the government at about €500-700 a year for a bachelor's degree, depending on the university. International students can expect to pay upwards of €2,500. In Germany , fees are generally even lower, wherever you are from. Most public universities charge only small tuition fees of €200-500 per semester, though private institutions can and do charge much more. As with all countries, there will be visa fees for international students but the country has one of the cheapest paths to a degree in Europe. Several other European countries offer cheap or free programmes for EU students, including Austria, Croatia, Ireland, Greece and Sweden , but international fees vary wildly. Sweden and Ireland charge upwards of €10,000 a year for a standard degree, for example, while Austria is about €700 a semester and Greece and Croatia likely come in at just north of €1,000 a year in many cases.