Top 5 Cheapest Countries for Study in Europe 2025-26

Study in Europe is a sought-after destination for Pakistani students. Europe has many world-class, top-ranked universities. Pakistani students can enroll and get a top-notch education from these institutes. European universities are equipped with all the latest technologies, modern labs, research centers, libraries, etc.

European universities offer different degree programs for bachelor's, master's, and PhD for study in Europe. Pakistani students can study without IELTS in many European universities. These universities allow international students to work part-time jobs so they can afford their expenses for study in Europe. We will discuss the top five affordable countries for Pakistani students to study in Europe.

For study in Europe Here is the List of Affordable Countries

1. Italy
2. France
3. Romania
4. Portugal
5. Lithuania

1. Italy

Italy is the top destination for Pakistani students. Hundreds of Pakistani students are study in Italy for higher education. Italy is one of the cheapest countries for study in Europe of Pakistani students. Italy is famous for its world-class education and has many to-ranked and prestigious universities for study in abroad.

There are many programs available in the English language. Most Italian universities do not require the IELTS test for admissions. Students can apply and get admission using an English proficiency letter. Some universities ask for an English language test (IELTS) with a minimum of 6.0 bands. They also accept other English language tests like TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo. Some universities have an application fee of 10 Euros to 50 Euros.

There are many scholarship options available for Pakistani students for study in europe. The most common and famous scholarship in Italy is a regional scholarship, which every student can get. There are also some other scholarships available for study in europe, like merit and Italian Ministry Scholarships.

The required bank statement for the last 3 to 6 months is 6000 euros to 6500 euros. The acceptance rate of Italian universities for Pakistani students is around 90%. The admission and traveling costs to Italy are 4 to 5 lacs PKR, which is affordable compared to Canada, Australia, and the UK.

The cost of living in Italy for students is also very reasonable. The average monthly expenses for Pakistani students is 400 to 600 euros.

Top Universities in Italy

Italy has many world-class, top-ranked universities. Some of these universities are:

1. University of Bologna
2. University of Milan
3. University of Milan
4. University of Naples Federico 2
5. University of Sapienza Rome

Benefits of Studying in Italy for those who study in Europe

There are many benefits to studying in Italy for Pakistani students. Some of the benefits are:

Tuition-free education: One of the best advantages of Italian universities is tuition-free education for Pakistani and other national students.

Schengen visa: Students are provided with a Schengen visa. With this visa, students can travel to all Schengen states without acquiring any other visa.

Low CGPA requirements: Italian universities also have very low CGPA requirements. For a bachelor's degree, 50% marks and a 2.5 CGPA for a master's degree and PhD are required.

Scholarships: Students have many scholarship options, such as regional, merit, and ministry scholarships.

Low tuition fees: Italian universities tuition fees are also very affordable and low, ranging from 156 euros to 3000 euros per year

Part-time work: In Italy, students are allowed to do part-time work. They are allowed 20 working hours weekly. They can easily work and meet their expenses.

Degree recognitions: Italian degrees are accepted and recognized worldwide.

Study Gap: Italian universities also accept study gaps for Pakistani students.

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Eligibility Criteria

• Admission to Italian universities is easy as the eligibility criteria are very low.
• For bachelor's, the minimum required marks are 50%
• For master's and PhD, the minimum required CGPA is 2.5
• Having English proficiency like IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL will increase the chances of successful admission.

Required Documents

• A valid passport
• All educational documents are colored PDF and scanned (degrees and transcripts)
• Recommendation letters
• English Proficiency letter
• Motivation letter
• CV (Europass) 

2. France

France is a highly developed European country with a great reputation for top-notch universities, world-class education, and all types of modern research facilities. For students who wish to study in Europe, French universities offer many different courses in the English language in the fields of IT, engineering and technology, health care, fashion, cinema, and business. making it an ideal choice to study in europe.

IELTS is not necessary for most French universities, but some require a minimum band of 6.0. Different types of partial and fully funded scholarships are also available for Pakistani students to study in europe. French universities are affordable for Pakistani students because of their low fee ranges. The average fee for public universities is 243 euros to 5000 euros, for private universities, fees range from 5000 euros to 31000 euros per year.

The required bank statement to apply for France is around 7000 euros for the last three to six months. The average living cost for Pakistani students is 800-1000 euros per month, but it may vary slightly according to the city. Pakistani students are allowed to work part-time for 20 hours weekly. Post-study work options are also available for students to study in europe after completing their education in IT, banking, medical, and creative work fields.

Top Universities in France

Many high-standard universities in France provide high-quality education to national and international students. Some of these universities are:

1. PSL University
2. University of Aix-Marseille
3. Paris Scaly University
4. Paris Cite University
5. Sorbonne University

Benefits of Studying in France for those who study in Europe

There are many benefits of study in France for Pakistani students. Some of the benefits are:

Tuition Fee: The tuition fee in French public universities for study in europe is very low compared to other Western universities, starting at 243 euros.

Quality Education: For study in europe France is known for its high-quality education worldwide, with the latest research facilities and modern labs.

Cultural diversity: A long, rich cultural history attracts many viewers. Different types of people live peacefully.

Schengen Visa: Students studying in France receive a Schengen visa for study in europe. With this visa, they can easily visit all Schengen states.

Scholarships: The French government provides fully funded scholarships for study in europe which attract more students

Future opportunities: There is lots of work, and future opportunities for students to study in europe in different fields are available for Pakistani students.

Eligibility Criteria

The selection criteria for French universities are very simple: the minimum required mark for a bachelor's degree is 55%, and for a master's and PhD, a 2.5 CGPA is required.

Required Documents

• All educational documents (degrees and transcripts)
• Letter of recommendation
• English proficiency certificate
• CV (Europass).
• Motivation letter
• A valid passport and color photo

3. Romania

Romania is a European country that is very affordable for Pakistani students for study in europe because of its low tuition fees and quality of education. Romania's study and research facilities are of very high quality and possess all the latest and modern technologies. Romania has many top-notch universities for study in europe.

IELTS is optional for study in Romania, but some universities require a minimum of 5.5 bands for study in europe. The average tuition fee for Romanian universities is also very affordable, ranging from 1500 euros to 4000 euros per year.

The required bank statement for students is 6000-8000 euros for the last three to six months. The visa acceptance ratio for Pakistani students is also very good, over 80%. Students are allowed to do part-time jobs while they are studying in Romania. Students have 20 working hours available weekly. The average living cost in Romania is also very low, 400-500 euros per month for Pakistani students to study in europe.

Top Universities in Romania to study in Europe

Some of the best universities in Romania for Pakistani students are:

1. Babes-Bolyai University
2. University of Bucharest
3. Polytechnic University of Bucharest
4. Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
5. Alexandru Loan CUZA University

Benefits of Studying in Romania

World-recognized degrees: Romanian university degrees are accepted and recognized worldwide.

High-quality education: Romania's education system is of high quality for study in europe, like that of other European countries. This is a great opportunity for Pakistani students to study in Romania.

Scholarships: There are different full and partial scholarships available for Pakistani students for study in Europe.

Schengen states entry: Students will have a Schengen visa. With that, they can easily travel to all Schengen states for study in Europe.

Low living cost: The average living cost in Romania is very low, ranging from 400-500 euros monthly. With weekly part-time job options, students can easily cover their expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for studying in Romania are very simple. Students who fulfill all the requirements can easily get admission to Romanian universities for study in Europe.

The minimum required marks for a bachelor's degree are 60%, and the minimum CGPA for a master's degree is 2.5. Having a CGPA over 3.0 will increase one's chances of getting admission, and if students provide an IELTS certificate, this will boost their application.

Required Documents

• A valid passport
• Passport-size color pictures
• All educational documents
• CV (Europass)
• Recommendation letters
• Motivation letter

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4. Portugal

Portugal is an integral part of Europe and operates under Schengen state rules. Study in Portugal is a great opportunity for Pakistani students. Over 40 universities in Portugal accept Pakistani and other national students in mathematics, medicine, humanities, management, and IT.

IELTS is optional for studying in Portugal, but some universities require IELTS with bands of 5.5 or above. Different partial and fully funded scholarship options are available for international students. The average tuition fee for international students is 950 euros to 4000 euros.

The bank statement for Portugal shows 6000-7000 euros for the last six months. Part-time work is also allowed for Pakistani students in Portugal. Students are allowed to work 20 hours weekly to cover their expenses. The visa acceptance rate is also very good for Pakistani students, around 70-80%.

The average living cost for Pakistani students in Portugal is very affordable, around 500-800 euros per month.

Top Universities in Portugal

Portugal has many top universities in Europe. Some of the universities are:

1. University of Coimbra
2. University of Aveiro
3. University of Lisbon
4. University of Porto
5. Polytechnic University of Porto

Benefits of studying in Portugal

Fully funded scholarships: The Portuguese government offers fully funded scholarships for international students, which attracts the students' attention.

High-quality education: The quality of education is as high as that of other European universities, and the university has all the latest and modern facilities.

World-recognized degrees: Portuguese university degrees are accepted and recognized worldwide.

Employment options: Students have different employment options while studying and after completing their education in the country.

Eligibility criteria

Getting admission to Portugal is straightforward. The minimum required mark for a bachelor's degree is 50%; for a master’s degree, the CGPA must be 2.0 or above.

• The higher CGPA students have will increase their chances of getting admission

Required Documents

• A valid passport and color pictures
• CV (Europass)
• All educational documents (degrees and transcripts)
• English proficiency and recommendation letters

5. Lithuania

Lithuania is a small, beautiful country in central Europe. Study in Lithuania is a great opportunity for Pakistani students because of its affordability and quality education system. Over 300 English language courses are available in Lithuania for Pakistani and international students. If the last degree program was taught in English, students could study without IELTS. Some universities require IELTS or TOEFL to study in Lithuania.

Lithuanian universities are offering courses for bachelor's, master's, and PhD. There are different partial and fully funded scholarships available for international students. The average tuition fee is very affordable, ranging from 1000 euros to 4000 euros. The average living cost in Lithuania for Pakistani students is also very manageable, at 500-600 euros per month. A 7000-8000 euros bank statement is required for the last three to six months.

The visa acceptance ratio is also very good, over 95%. Students are allowed 20 working hours weekly to work and cover their expenses.

Top Universities in Lithuania

Here are some of the top universities in Lithuania.

1. Vilnius university
2. Kaunas University of Technology
3. Mykolas Romeris University
4. Vytautas Magnus University
5. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Benefits of Studying in Lithuania

Friendly people: Lithuanians are very welcoming and friendly for study in Europe. Most people can speak English, creating a comfortable environment for locals and international students.

English-taught programs: Lithuanian universities offer over 300 English-taught programs for international students, giving students many options.

Low living cost: The average living cost in Lithuania is also very affordable, around 500 to 600 euros per month.

Quality education system: Like all other European countries, the education system and quality are world-class, with all the latest and modern facilities.

Work options: Pakistani students have many job options while studying and after completing their education.

Eligibility Criteria  

The requirements to get admission to Lithuania are very simple. Students need to provide all the documents and meet the minimum marks requirements.

• A bachelor's, a minimum of 60% marks, and a master's, 2.5 or above GPA are required.
• Students with IELTS in 5.5 bands or above will have more chances to secure admission.

Required Documents

• A valid passport
• 3 color pictures
• All educational documents
• Motivational letter
• Recommendation letter
• CV (Europass)

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FAQs

Q1) Which country is cheapest to study in Europe?

Answer: There are many affordable European countries where studying can be done. Lithuania, Portugal, Italy, Poland, and Norway are cheaper than other European countries.

Q2) Which European country is best for Pakistani?

Answer: Italy, Germany, and Portugal are some of the best countries in Europe for Pakistani students to study.

Q3) Which country has fully funded scholarships?

Answer: Italy, France, Lithuania, Portugal, and many other European countries have fully funded scholarships for Pakistani and international students.

Q4) Is Italy cheap for students?

Answer: Yes, Italy is very affordable for living and studying. The average student's monthly living cost is 400-600 euros.