Baroque library hall of the former Jesuit College in the Old Town of Prague
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With tuition fees on the rise once again next year, many are weighing up the cost benefits of higher education and wondering whether university – and all the opportunities it affords us – is truly worth the debt.
Students in England said to leave university with some of the highest levels of debt in the world, so it’s no wonder many students will consider skipping further education altogether in favour of following alternative routes into work.
But before you write university off completely, it might be worth remembering that the UK is just one option for British students seeking a top quality education.
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
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At the moment, UK students have the right to study abroad in any EU member state for the same price as residents. It’s also possible to spend a year out as part of an Erasmus exchange programme for little to no extra cost.
Since 2014, Germany has been a no-fee zone for students regardless of where they’re from. Sadly, this is soon to change - a recent ruling by the German government states that non-EU students must pay fees of €1,500 (£1,256) per semester at some south-western universities from Autumn 2017.
This means Brits are due to see a hike in costs from next year. Nonetheless, courses are far cheaper than in the UK – and Germany offers some world class institutions, and a number of courses taught in English.
Top QS ranked public universities: Technical University of Munich; Ludwig-Maximilliant-Universität; Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg
Courses in English: Yes
France
While certainly not all education in France is free of cost, (we’d recommend avoiding the Grandes écoles on a budget) fees are generally considerably less than for UK institutions, and living costs in the French capital also work out far cheaper than London, according to comparison site Numbeo.
There are some admin fees to be aware of, but these rarely exceed €180 (£150) per year. It’s worth noting that specialised programmes are more expensive, and you’ll have to do some hunting around for a course taught in English – although that’s not to say the option isn’t readily available.
Top QS ranked public universities: Ecole Polytechnique; Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC); CentraleSupélec
Courses in English: Yes, but limited
Student news in pictures
Show all 34
Student news in pictures
1/34
South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye
EPA
2/34
South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea.
The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye
EPA
3/34
Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine
EPA
4/34
Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van
EPA
5/34
A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students
6/34
A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City.
A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students
AP
7/34
Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartÌnez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island
8/34
Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn.
There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS.
PA wire
9/34
University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela.
Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election
AP
10/34
University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela
AP
11/34
Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams
AP
12/34
Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.
The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action
13/34
Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.
The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action
AP
14/34
Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use
AP
15/34
Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain
EPA
16/34
South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech
AP
17/34
Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa
Reuters
18/34
South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa
AP
19/34
A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa
AP
20/34
An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa
Reuters
21/34
Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai.
A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami
Getty
22/34
A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea
EPA
23/34
Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams
Getty
24/34
Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi
Getty
25/34
Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi
Getty
26/34
Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi
Getty
27/34
Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand
EPA
28/34
Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok
Getty
29/34
A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok
Getty
30/34
St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend
PA wire
31/34
St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme
PA wire
32/34
Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba
Reuters
33/34
Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba
Reuters
34/34
Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba
Reuters
1/34
South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye
EPA
2/34
South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea.
The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye
EPA
3/34
Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine
EPA
4/34
Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van
EPA
5/34
A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students
6/34
A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City.
A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students
AP
7/34
Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartÌnez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island
8/34
Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn.
There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS.
PA wire
9/34
University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela.
Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election
AP
10/34
University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela
AP
11/34
Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams
AP
12/34
Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.
The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action
13/34
Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.
The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action
AP
14/34
Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use
AP
15/34
Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain
EPA
16/34
South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech
AP
17/34
Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa
Reuters
18/34
South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa
AP
19/34
A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa
AP
20/34
An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa
Reuters
21/34
Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai.
A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami
Getty
22/34
A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea
EPA
23/34
Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams
Getty
24/34
Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi
Getty
25/34
Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi
Getty
26/34
Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi
Getty
27/34
Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand
EPA
28/34
Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok
Getty
29/34
A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok
Getty
30/34
St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend
PA wire
31/34
St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme
PA wire
32/34
Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba
Reuters
33/34
Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba
Reuters
34/34
Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba
Reuters
Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland
As long as you’re proficient in Norwegian, you’ll be welcome to study in one of the four Nordic nations offering free education to external students. If not, you’ll be pleased to know EU students are also entitled to free higher education in Denmark and Sweden, and in Finland you won’t pay a penny for your study wherever you come from.
That is, until August 2017, as much like Germany, it was recently announced international students will be required to pay a minimum of €1,500 (£1,265) per year for a Finnish education. This looks to be bad news for students hoping to transfer from the UK, as we’re yet to know the effect Brexit will have on EU/international study costs.
Noted for their liberal politics and high quality of life, Nordic countries are popular with students unphased by the steep living costs, and last year saw Copenhagen, Hensinki and Stockholm ranked among the world’s top 50 student cities.
Top QS ranked public universities: University of Oslo (Norway); University of Copenhagen (Denmark); Lund University (Sweden); University of Helsinki (Finland)
Courses in English: Yes, but some native language proficiency required
Austria
As long as you’re an EU student you have equal education rights as native Austrians, meaning you are entitled to free (or very cheap) education for two semesters, followed by a fee of €360 (£300) for every term to follow.
But again, international students are required to pay more – averaging costs of €730 (£615) per semester, with no free teaching. Courses are mainly taught in German and Austrian German, but a number of Masters degrees are offered in English. Vienna in particular is famous for its high quality of living, and the country also boasts stunning architecture and various rich green spaces.
Top QS ranked public universities: University of Vienna; Vienna University of Technology; Universität Innsbruck
Courses in English: Yes, but predominantly postgraduate
Belgium
While topuniversities.com is quite right to recommend Belgium for its fantastic waffles, the city also has plenty to give in the context of higher education.
For EU students, as in France and Germany that border it, Belgium offers state-funded education with an additional (and variable) annual registration fee for every year of study.
EU students will pay up to €835 (£705), while internationals may be charged as much as €4,175 (£3,520). It’s important to note that the cost of tuition varies according to whereabouts in Belgium you study – whether that be a Flemish, German-speaking or French community; so it’s worth doing your research properly.
Thankfully for UK students, Belgium offers a variety of courses taught in English, as well as a choice of ‘professional’ (semi-vocational) or ‘academic’ degrees.
Top QS ranked public universities: KU Leuven; Ghent University; Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Courses in English: Yes
Czech Republic
Studying costs in the Czech Republic are entirely dependent on language ability, but luckily for UK students who may not proficient in Czech, nobody is excluded.
For those fluent in the native language, higher education is completely free – regardless of your nationality.
Those on English Language programmes, however, are required to pay a fee just over a third of what most UK universities ask, at CZK 108,334 (£3,380). Living costs in the Czech Republic are also far cheaper than in the West, meaning studying here can save you on both tuition and maintenance. If you speak Czech, even better.
Top QS ranked public universities: Charles University in Prague; Czech Technical University in Prague; Masaryk University
Courses in English: Yes, but at an extra cost
Greece
The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016
Show all 10
The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016
1/10 10. Seoul
2/10 9. Berlin
3/10 8. Hong Kong
4/10 7. Montreal
5/10 6. Singapore
6/10
5. London
7/10 4. Sydney
8/10 3. Tokyo
9/10 2. Melbourne
10/10 1. Paris
1/10 10. Seoul
2/10 9. Berlin
3/10 8. Hong Kong
4/10 7. Montreal
5/10 6. Singapore
6/10
5. London
7/10 4. Sydney
8/10 3. Tokyo
9/10 2. Melbourne
10/10 1. Paris
Among the cheapest places to live in Europe, Greece delivers on both low living and tuition costs – and your university is even likely to cover the cost of your study resources.
Domestic and EU students receive higher education free of charge, and international students pay only a fraction of the UK’s costs, averaging €1,500 (£1,265) per year.
The downside is the vast majority of teaching is in Greek, although Erasmus students enjoy an English-taught exchange, and specialised English study programmes are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
An iconic holiday destination despite its recent economic turmoil, Greece is made up of more than 2000 islands, and boasts gorgeous weather, stunning scenery, and iconic tourist destinations such as Athens and Crete.
Top QS ranked public universities: National Technical University of Athens; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Courses in English: Yes, but limited
Italy
Public education in Italy is not free, but university is markedly cheaper than in the UK – averaging between €850 (£720) and €1000 (£840) per year in tuition fees. Just be careful to distinguish between public and private universities – as the more prestigious institutions may charge up to 16 times the cost of state-funded higher education.
The country itself is obviously rich in history, and typically beautiful – with 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and famously excellent food.
It’s not the cheapest in terms of living costs, but the good news for international students (which, as we know, will almost certainly soon include Brits) is that they are eligible for the same scholarships and grants as local students and EU nationals.
Top QS ranked public universities: Politecnico di Milano; Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna; Sapienza University of Rome
Courses in English: Yes
Spain
In Spain, much like in the majority of other prime European destinations, public education is free for both local students and EU nationals, while international students are required to pay a little more.
If you do come from outside the EU, the cost of a bachelor’s degree from a public institution can vary from €680-€1,400 (£570-£1,180) per year depending on the speciality of your chosen course; but as with Italy it’s worth watching out for the private schools, who can charge anywhere up to €18,000 (£15,185) for a year’s tuition.
Interestingly, the majority of Spain’s universities are privately funded, with just 24 out of 76 belonging to the state.
In terms of living experience, Barcelona and Madrid both featured in the QS Best Student Cities 2015 ranking, but they also happen to be among the top 50 most expensive places to live in the world.
Top QS ranked public universities: University of Barcelona; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Courses in English: Yes, but limited
Argentina, India, Taiwan
If you’re looking to travel further afield than Europe, there are a handful of universities that offer very cheap education for international students.
External students attending university in Argentina, for example, will pay only a small fee to attend public institutions – somewhere between ARS 8,000 and 24,000 (£500-£1,185) per year. In India too, costs are a fraction of the UK’s asking prices, at roughly Rs 75,350-Rs 332,400 (£2,025-£3,840) for a year’s tuition.
Living costs are especially cheap in Taiwan, with Taipei ranking 5th most affordable student city by QS – and international students are expected to pay no more than NTD 50,460-62,100 (£1,240-£1,525) annually.
While Argentina offers no English-taught courses whatsoever, English is widely studied and understood in both India and Taiwan, making them very popular destinations for international students.
Top QS ranked public universities: Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) (Argentina), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (India), National Taiwan University (NTU) (Taiwan)
Courses in English: No (Argentina), Yes (India, Taiwan).
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Independent Minds Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Minds. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent minds. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.
The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Minds. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.