One reason why some Nigerians choose to study abroad is if they plan on taking up a particular course – perhaps a special postgraduate program. Whatever is your reason for studying abroad, you must prepare financially.
You have your tuition, accommodation, and day to day expenses to deal with when you arrive in the country. However, you begin spending before you even depart Nigeria.
You need to apply for a visa, provide multiple documents, and if your application is successful, you still have your flight ticket to pay.
With all of these, it’s only sensible that you consider cost when choosing where to study. If you plan to study in Europe, here are some of the cheapest countries you can pick:
1. Italy
Italy is an affordable living and tourism country, which is why it attracts thousands of international students and tourists annually.
As the home of Europe’s oldest university, Nigerian students can take on many interesting bachelor’s and master’s degrees and enjoy affordable tuition fees and low living expenses.
- Average tuition fee in Italy: 0 – 2,000 euros/ academic year (public university)
- Average cost of living in big cities: 900 – 1,500 euros/month
- Average cost of living in student cities (Pisa, Padua, Turin): 600 – 1,100 euros/month
The cost includes accommodation, food, public transportation, local travel, and recreation.
2. Spain
Spain is an attractive country for international students because of its Mediterranean climate, friendly locals, affordable prices, not to mention the opportunity to learn or improve Spanish skills.
There are more than 70 universities to choose from, and you will likely find the right course in Spain.
- Average tuition fee in Spain: 300 – 3,500 euros/ academic year (in public universities, international students)
- Average cost of living: 600 – 1,000 euros/month
This includes all your monthly expenses, such as food, bills, social activities, and transportation. In some Spanish cities, you can also use this money to pay for accommodation.
3. Germany
Germany is one of the hottest learning destinations in Europe for Nigerian students. German universities are famous for providing world-class education and cutting-edge research opportunities as part of their master’s programs.
In Germany, you can find about 300 universities (10 of which are among the world’s top universities) with more than 900 international master’s degrees to choose from.
In some German cities, the cost of living may be higher than in other European cities. However, Germany is a very affordable country in terms of tuition fees.
- Average tuition fee in Germany: 0 euros/a school year (public university)
- Management fee: 100 – 350 euros/term
- Average cost of living: 800 – 1,100 euros/month
The cost includes accommodation, food, bills, health insurance, social activities, and public transportation.
4. France
France is a destination for studying abroad, especially favored by students who love French culture. With many higher education institutions in more than 40 cities, France is an affordable country that can study for master’s degrees abroad.
- Average tuition fee in France: 170 – 650 euros/a school year
- Average cost of living: 700 – 950 euros/month
Expenditures include housing, food, travel, recreation, and transportation. The fee for an engineering or medical degree is slightly higher, between 450 and 600 euros/year.
Read Also: Top Tips For Getting Through Your Year One In The University
5. Lithuania
Lithuania is a little-known European country, especially in Nigeria. However, the school boasts more than 15 institutions of higher education. It also offers many master’s courses taught in English and welcomes more than 3,000 international students every year.
Lithuanian universities focus on theoretical and practical aspects of teaching and provide students with the possibility to engage in educational, professional, or scientific/practical work.
- Average tuition fee in Lithuania: 1,150 – 5,000 euros/a school year (public university)
- Average cost of living: EUR 200 – 380/month
The cost of living in Lithuania is the lowest in Europe. The capital Vilnius is an exception, where the cost of living can reach 850 euros/month. The above expenditures include accommodation, groceries, social activities, and public transportation.
6. Hungary
Covering a wide range of learning options, relatively low cost of living, and prosperous cultural life, students can receive a high standard of academic education in Hungary.
- Average tuition fee in Hungary: 1,000 – 8,000 euros/ academic year (public university)
- Average cost of living: 350 – 550 euros/month, including housing, food, travel, entertainment, and social activities
These living expenses include housing, food, bills, travel, recreation, and social activities.
7. Portugal
Portugal has five universities among the world’s top rankings, which is a strong presence for a relatively small country. Portuguese universities have a long tradition of research and higher education and are also attractive destinations for international students.
- Average tuition fee in Portugal: 500 – 1,500 euros/a school year
- Average cost of living: 500 – 750 euros/month, including accommodation, food, and leisure activities
Bottom Line
You can get world-class education in Nigeria, specifically with private institutions in the country. However, most Nigerians would prefer to study in a foreign country. There’s nothing wrong with that so long as you can afford it.
You’ll agree that any Nigerian who moves to study outside the country, especially in a continent like Europe, is rich. However, studying abroad does not have to be a burden on your budget.
Even if you are overly rich, it’s still ideal to analyze cost when choosing a country to study. In that regard, you can go with any of the cheapest countries to study in Europe listed in this article.