Do Tuition Free Universities Still Exist? Can we actaully do without them

Do Tuition free Universities still exist in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Austria, and Iceland and? Do we actually need them? Find out as you read through.

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Europe has been the center of attraction for most international Students seeking for quality education abroad. The reason being that Tuition Free Universities in Europe have been a source of backbone and inspiration for intelligent, zealous but financially needy students from developing and under developed countries to avail themselves the opportunity of quality education abroad. The awareness about tuition free universities have been on the increase especially with the advent of internet and internet savvy prospective students. However some European countries have actually pulled out from the concept and rational behind free tuition. Some countries like Finland, Germany, Iceland, Denmark and Norway still offer free tuition to prospective students from non EU/EEA country. The likes of Sweden by virtue of a law passed by the Swedish parliament in 2010 have stopped free tuition which was replaced by scholarships to be offered by the individual universities and the Swedish institute.

The fact remains that there are higher institutions in Europe offering free education to international students from developing countries. In this blog I shall unveil the stand of these universities and the status of tuition free education across these European countries.

However before I proceed, I would like to state that this pieces of information provided herein  are based on research across the internet. I am of the opinion that reader should contact relevant authorities and individual institutions concerned for more specific information.

Finland

As a rule, universities in Finland do not charge tuition. However, students do have to pay for living expenses and other fees, and students who are not citizens of a European Union (EU) country must be able to prove they can financially support themselves while studying in Finland. According to Finland's National Board of Education, prospective students require a sum of 6,000 euros per year as living expenses and other fees. Estimated living expenses of a single student in Finland average around 700 Euros per month. Additionally, students from non-EU countries must have proof of health insurance during their time in Finland.

studyinfinland.fi says:

Since university education is funded by the State through the Ministry of Education, students enrolled in regular degree studies pay no tuition fees with exceptions.  If you are enrolled as a non-EU/EEA degree student in a Bachelor’s or Doctoral level programme, the higher education institution will not charge tuition fees.  However, students in both universities and polytechnics have to pay for their books and other materials, plus their accommodation and living expenses.

Some Master’s level programmes are free of charge as well, however, a number of them may carry tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students during a five-year trial period 2010–2014. Depending on the programme, tuition fees may be collected starting from autumn 2010, 2011 or 2012.

If your Master’s programme carries a tuition fee for non-EU/EEA students and if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you are advised to contact the higher education institution in question directly for information on the scholarship opportunities they provide.  Higher education institutions that choose to collect tuition fees in their English-language Master’s programmes will also provide scholarship options for non-EU/EEA students enrolled in tuition-fee carrying Master’s programmes.

Sweden

Up until 2010, Sweden has been one of the few countries in Europe that has not charged any types of fees. Students tuition (undergraduate, graduate and post graduate ) regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity have been funded by Swedish taxpayers.

In the year 2010, the Swedish Government via its parliament has passed a law that charges tuition and application fees for students from non-EU/EEA countries starting from 2011/2012 academic year. Higher education in Sweden is funded by taxes and is therefore free for Swedish citizens. As a member of the European Union, the rules for Swedes also apply to citizens of other EU countries For non-EU/EEA, the fees will be set by the institutions themselves. They will cover the full cost of studies. Therefore the fee levels may vary depending on the type of course and institution, and in what part of Sweden the course is given. For students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, there will be an application fee of SEK 900 starting with autumn semester 2011.

However these fees are to be supplemented by Swedish Scholarship Programs. Before this law Sweden has been one of the few countries in Europe where you can study for free. Global competition for talent is increasing sharply and the government wants Swedish universities to compete on equal terms with universities in other countries. In the last decade, the number of foreign students has more than tripled, totaling 36,000 in 2008 / 2009. The government now wants to reallocate some of this money to award higher education institutions that show particular excellence. It is important to note that students who started a program before tuition fees are introduced will be able to complete their studies according to the rules of the old system and students who take part in an exchange between a Swedish university and university in their home country will not be subject to Swedish tuition fees.

Germany

For many years, higher institutions of education in Germany usually do not charge any tuition fees for undergraduate studies.   But after the Constitutional Court of Germany lifted the ban on tuition fees in January 2005, a number of Federal states now charge tuition fees for undergraduate students.  Postgraduate studies such as most Master’s or PhD have been charging tuition fees for some time now. In the past, Germany didn’t generally use to charge tuition fees. But this has meanwhile changed. Some federal states are charging fees, others are about to abolish them. You’ll have to contact the University of your Choice to find out whether it charges tuition fees. Initially, fees were introduced for long-term students, visiting students (i.e. from other universities) and for participants of postgraduate and Master’s programmes. Now, however, some federal states also charge tuition fees of around 500 Euros per semester for first degree (undergraduate) courses, such as Bachelor’s, Diploma, or Magister programmes. Most Master’s programmes charge tuition fees. Tuition can amount to between 650 and several thousand Euros per semester. Students also have to pay the semester fee for each semester. Organizations and institutions also offer Scholarships in Germany for international students

Norway

Foreign students are admitted to universities and other institutions of higher education in Norway mainly through international programs and bilateral agreements with comparable institutions abroad.

No tuition fees are charged at any of the Norwegian universities. At all public institutions in Norway, higher education is free for international students as well as for Norwegian nationals.

This means that, at present, Norway will be the only country in Scandinavia where higher education is still free for all (well in Finland, there is a mix of free universities and paid ones).
However, tuition was suggested in 2011 draft budget by the non-socialist coalition government in Sweden. The suggestion is that all students from countries outside the EU/EEA have to pay a tuition fee, to cover the whole study program, and the specific amount of money is to be decided individually by each of the education institutions.

If Norway will ignore the persuasion to join other Scandinavian countries to introduce tuition fees for foreign students, there is still hope for tuition free universities. However, students can still take advantage of the full and partial scholarships offered in these and other countries to get at least a near free education.

What People are saying about Norway changing its Tuition Free Policy

Here are some reactions across the web on the debate for Norwegian Institutions introducing tuition fees.

• We hope that Norway acts against this attempt at shutting people out of Europe rather than following the example, says Robin Moberg, vice-chairman in the Swedish Student Union, Sveriges förenade studentkårer (SFS).
• The initiative is not good. The planning of tuition does not assure internationalizing or the same rights to education, says Anne Karine Nymoen, president of The National Union of Students in Norway (NSU). She fears that the liquidation of the principle of free education is spreading.
• We consider it a frightening development when this has happened in several European countries, and we are worried it will happen in Norway. If that happens, we will fight it. Anonymous
• The Swedish higher education’s resources will be emptied if we pay for all the international students’ education, says spokesperson Eva-Marie Byberg in the Swedish Ministry of Education.
• Norwegian education isn’t poor in quality, but it needs a distinctive feature to attract international students. Today that feature is that the education is free. If this wasn’t the case, the good students would probably go to England to study instead, points out president in International Students Union in Norway, Farshad Tami.
• The students who consider coming to the Nordic countries will probably put Norway as their first choice if the education is several hundred thousand kroner cheaper. Consequently the number of students won’t necessarily increase, but the level of skill on the students who do come, will undoubtedly be higher.

While some parties believe that education will continue to remain free in Norway, there is still uncertainty as to what could happen in the near future.

Toril Johansson in the Ministry of Education and Research thinks that tuition fees still are kept at a safe distance in Norway.

“The principle of free education is fixed in Norwegian law”, Johansson said, “and it is Norwegian politics’ responsibility to make sure that education remains free of charge. We think that internationalization is important, and with a complete budget of 20 billion kroner we count on the sector to be able to handle the students in a good way, also without the extra income a tuition fee might provide”.

Denmark

So far tuition is free for undergraduate and MSc and MA studies for EU/EEA students as well as for students participating in an exchange program in Universities in Denmark. In 2006 a tuition fee system was introduced for international full degree students outside the EU-European Union- and EEA-European Economic Area- countries to pay a tuition fee. Tuition fees vary, so you will have to consult individual university for details.

The admission requirements depend on the level of study and the application procedures, and deadlines vary accordingly. Scholarships and tuition fee waivers for international students, however, are available from Institutions and government, and Erasmus Mundus scholarships for master’s degrees. So Students outside EU/EEA countries, who want to study in Denmark, will have to pay their tuition fees, except in cases of scholarships or tuition fee waiver.

Scholarships and tuition fee waivers for international students, however, are available from Institutions and government (the Danish Ministry of Education scholarship fund) for master’s degrees. The scholarships in Denmark are given as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants towards covering your living costs.

Austria

If you are a non-EU student, federal/public universities in Austria only charge about 363.36 Euros for tuition fees plus 16.86 Euros for the Austrian Student Union and insurance fee per semester.

If you are a citizen of a least developed country, you are exempted to pay tuition fees at public universities in Austria and only need to pay 17 Euros per semester for the student union fee.

Cost of Studying in Austria: The cost of living for students in Austria is approximately 800 Euros per month which covers accommodation, food, and personal expenses.

Amount of the tuition fees

Tuition fee regulations as of the summer semester 2013

Degree Programme Students (ordentliche Studierende) who are nationals of an EU or EEA country and degree programme students who are granted the same rights regarding employment as Austrians on the basis of another contract under international law and who exceed the scheduled duration of their bachelor or master or doctoral/PhD programme or a section of their diploma degree programme by more than two semesters: 363.36 euros for each semester. If the tuition fees are paid during the additional enrolment period, they increase by 10%.

Non-Degree Programme Students (außerordentliche Studierende) who are only admitted to study a few specific courses at a higher education institution, no matter what their nationality: 363.36 euros for each semester (from the first semester)

Degree Programme Students (ordentliche Studierende) from third countries who are not included in para. 1 or the group of people according to § 1 of the regulation of the Federal Minister of Science and Transport about the definition of groups of people as regards admission to degree programme studies (groups of persons regulation / Personengruppenverordnung), BGBl. II No. 211/1997, as amended by the regulation BGBl. II No. 15/1998, and who possess a residence permit for students according to § 64 of the Settlement and Residence Act: 726.72 euros per semester (from the first semester; but no increased tuition fees in case of payment during the additional enrolment period)

All other Degree Programme students (ordentliche Studierende) from third countries to whom neither para. 1 nor para. 2, 1st sentence apply (especially those who have a residence title other than a “residence permit student” ("Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierender"): 363.36 euros per semester (after the tuition fee-free period).
Students who are admitted to more than one degree programme, or more than one university, only have to pay their tuition fees once.

N.B: The regulations regarding waiver or reimbursement of the tuition fees remain unchanged.

Iceland

Iceland is a sparsely populated island nation in the north west of Europe. One of the world’s most active volcanic regions,while also having large areas covered in glaciers. Iceland is also known for its hot springs, fishing industry and high quality of life.
Iceland has seven universities, of which three are private and four public. The largest are the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University, both in the capital, followed by the University of Akureyri in the northern city of Akureyri.
International students make up around 5% of all students in Iceland, and the country’s universities are generally keen to attract more international and exchange students. Many, especially the larger institutions, offer a growing number of courses taught fully or partially in English, and there are good support systems in place for foreign students.

Student funding

The University of Iceland is a public, government-funded university, and as such it does not charge tuition (although an enrolment fee must be paid). In terms of living expenses, most students at the University of Iceland either work part-time to finance their studies or receive student loans at favourable interest rates from the Icelandic Student Loan Fund.
The Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture annually offers awards to foreign students for the study of Icelandic language, history and literature at the University of Iceland. Scholarships are usually restricted to students from selected countries each year. Awards are tenable for one academic year and aim to cover board and lodging.
The major source of funding available to foreign graduate students is the Eimskipafélag Íslands University Fund, which is open to both scholars and current or prospective PhD students. Each grant from the fund is approximately 2.5 million ISK per year, for a period of up to three years, and is intended to cover living expenses.
The Million Dollar Question: Must one study with free tuition abroad? Is it a pre condition for Oversea Studies?
The ANSWER is definitely NO
In as much as one will appreciate free tuition for oversea studies if it comes ones way, planning for oversee studies is the best approach to studying abroad especially at the Masters Degree Level. At this level it is assumed that the prospective student is mature enough to foot some bill. So at this stage of ones life, one is expected to take responsibility.
How do we financially plan for overseas studies without necessary studying for free? As an undergraduate student one is not expected to be involved in any form of business that will require your personal commitment and time, but one need to earn before we can plan and probably save to actualize ones plan. One way people can earn money with comfort is to join a reputable Network marketing business. Some Network marketing business are so lucrative that some people had to quit there salary job to concentrated more on it and other personal commitment. There are many network marketing business round the globe but some are reputable and technology driven. Therefore I think as a prospective student aspiring to study abroad you should be internet savvy and this is where I think you fit in. Identifying with a reputable network marketing business is one of the keys to financial freedom for a student. In some of this network marketing business that is technology driven, members do not have to sell any thing; they are not faced with the task of looking for someone to buy tangible products and stuffs like that. All that is required of them is to refer people to join the network. However member are given sign up pack, personal and business development cds, and links (sub domain) are created for which they can send to potential prospective member for them to sign up via the link. 

For Membership based Scholarship opportunity that will stand the test of time, please visit

Helping Hands International (H2i)

 
Personally I think that most students that study with free tuition do not perform well at school. The reason is simple they do not take their studies serious because the tuition is free. I think that is the reason some countries are now adopting the idea of tuition fee. In the past some of these universities offering tuition free as at then, end of admitting student who are not interested in studying abroad but with the interior motive which is not studying.
For more Information about other Free Tuition European Countries, visit
http://www.freetuitionuniversitiesineurope.blogspot.com

Disclaimer:

This pieces of information provided herein are based on research across the internet. Despite strong effort to avail you with accurate information, the university and authorities concern can alter, update, and remove information at any time so I suggest you always contact relevant authorities and individual institutions concerned for latest and more specific information. Therefore I shall not be held liable for misuse, misapplication and misinterpretation of information contained herein.