How Much Does a Master's in Europe Cost?

How much does a master's in Europe cost in tuition?

Anywhere from nothing to more than €100k. Across 289 programs at 85 universities in 15 countries in Mastcher's database, full-programme tuition goes from €0 to €114k. The median is €21k, so half the programs cost less than that and half cost more.

These figures cover the whole programme, not a single year. That matters because length varies a lot. Programs in the UK, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Ireland typically last 12 months, Portugal's typically last 18, and Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland usually run for 24.

A tuition-free two-year master's can end up costing more in total than a paid one-year master's once you add rent and food. Keep that in mind when you read the country figures below.

Master's tuition by country in Europe

Here is the full-programme tuition range and median for each country in the database. The median is the number to focus on, because a few expensive business school programs stretch the top of most ranges.

• —United Kingdom: €17.5k to €82k, median €45k
• —France: €6k to €71k, median €36k
• —Italy: €5k to €44k, median €30.5k
• —Spain: €1k to €114k, median €23k
• —Ireland: €17.5k to €20k, median €19.5k
• —Switzerland: €2.5k to €11.5k, median €9.5k
• —Portugal: €1k to €20.5k, median €8k
• —Netherlands: €2.5k to €24.5k, median €2.5k
• —Germany: €0 to €42k, median €0
• —Denmark: €0 to €26k, median €0
• —Sweden: €0 across all 5 programs

Why the UK, France and Spain cost more

Since Brexit, Portuguese students no longer pay home fees in the UK. None of the 65 UK programs in the database is tuition-free for EU students, and the UK median of €45k is more than double the European median. You can compare options on the master's in the United Kingdom page.

France and Spain are expensive in this database mainly because many of their English-taught programs are run by business schools. Spain has the widest spread of any country, from €1k to €114k, so its median of €23k is a better guide than its range.

The Netherlands looks pricey at the top end, but its median of €2.5k reflects the reduced fee EU students pay at most public universities. Browse master's in the Netherlands to see how wide the choice is at that level.

Where can EU students study a master's for free?

31 of the 289 programs charge no tuition to EU students. Most are in three countries: Germany (11 of 22 programs), Denmark (11 of 12) and Sweden (all 5). The master's in Germany page lists the German options.

Free tuition is not free study. German public universities usually charge a small semester contribution for administration and services, and Denmark and Sweden are among the more expensive places to live in Europe. Check each program page for the exact fee rules.

Free programs are also selective. In Denmark and Sweden the typical minimum grade is 16 out of 20, against 15 for Europe as a whole, and Denmark's typical IELTS minimum is 7. With a média of 14, these are harder targets, so pair them with safer options.

Does the subject change the price?

Yes, often more than the country does. Business subjects cost the most: median full-programme tuition in the database is €33k for finance, €32.5k for marketing, €31.5k for management and €28k for entrepreneurship.

Quantitative and technical subjects are cheaper, as more of them tend to be offered by public universities. Data science has a median of €16.5k, engineering €5k and economics €2.5k. If you are torn between a business school MSc and a public university programme in a related field, the gap can be tens of thousands of euros. See data science master's in Europe for the cheaper end of quantitative programs.

The living costs students forget

Tuition is the number everyone checks. The costs below are the ones that catch students out, and almost none of them appears on a program page.

• —Rent upfront: first month, deposit and sometimes an agency fee, often paid before you arrive. Rooms near campus go fast in late summer.
• —Programme length: a 24-month master's means two years of rent and food, and an 18-month one means an extra semester.
• —Application costs: application fees at some schools, an IELTS test, and GMAT or GRE fees. 63 programs in the database require the GMAT and 21 require the GRE.
• —Visa and health cover in the UK: Portuguese students now need a student visa and pay a health surcharge. In EU countries, check whether your European Health Insurance Card is enough or local insurance is required.
• —Setup costs: bedding, kitchen basics, a local phone plan and a transport pass.
• —Travel home: flights for Christmas, summer and family events add up over one or two years.
• —Currency: the UK, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden do not use the euro, so exchange rates can move your costs.

How to set a realistic master's budget

Work out the total cost of each option, not just the tuition. Then rank your shortlist by that total. These steps take an afternoon and save bad surprises later.

• —List 5 to 8 programs and write down full-programme tuition from each official page.
• —Find each university's own monthly living cost estimate. Most publish one.
• —Multiply that monthly figure by the real length of the programme, plus any months you move early.
• —Add one-off costs: deposit, visa, tests, application fees, flights and setup.
• —Add a buffer of around 10% for price rises and surprises.
• —Set the total against what you have: savings, family support, scholarships, part-time work and any student loan.
• —Drop or downgrade options you cannot fund, and keep at least one cheaper safe choice.

Next step: build a shortlist that fits your budget

Start from the money, then pick programs. If you want help, Mastcher's free matching gives you a shortlist based on your subject, média and budget, so you only spend time on programs you can afford.