Side by side
Put two or three countries next to each other
Tuition, living costs, proof of funds, IELTS, intakes, work rights and the residence route — all in one table. Pick, compare, decide.
2 of 3 selected — you can compare up to 3 at a time.
| 🇮🇹Italy | 🇨🇾Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
| EU member | Yes | Yes |
| Schengen area | Yes | Not yet |
| Tuition / year | €0–4,000 | €3,500–7,000 |
| Living / month | €450–800 | €500–800 |
| Proof of funds | Roughly €6,000–7,000, shown as evidence of means for one year. No blocked account required. | Around €7,000 for one year. No blocked account required. |
| IELTS | 6.0 typical (5.5 on some programmes) | 5.5–6.0 typical |
| Intakes | Autumn / Spring | Autumn / Spring |
| Popular subjects | EngineeringArchitecture and designEconomics and management | Business and managementComputer scienceHospitality and tourism |
| Study gap accepted | A study gap of two to three years is generally accepted with a documented, honest explanation. | Study gaps are commonly accepted with documentation. |
| Work during study | Up to 20 hours a week of legal part-time work during term. | After the first six months (one semester), 20 hours a week in designated sectors — 38 hours during holidays. The contract must be stamped by the labour office. |
| After graduation | A 12-month job-seeking residence permit after graduation. | Master's and PhD graduates may obtain a one-year job-search permit; Bachelor's graduates typically convert to a work permit through an employer's sponsorship. |
| Route to residence | Long-term EU residence is possible after five years of legal residence. | Long-term residence after five years of continuous legal residence, with A2 Greek and stable income; years spent as a student count at half weight. |
🇮🇹Italy
- Region
- Southern Europe
- EU member
- Yes
- Schengen area
- Yes
- Tuition / year
- €0–4,000
- Living / month
- €450–800
- Proof of funds
- Roughly €6,000–7,000, shown as evidence of means for one year. No blocked account required.
- IELTS
- 6.0 typical (5.5 on some programmes)
- Intakes
- Autumn / Spring
- Popular subjects
- EngineeringArchitecture and designEconomics and management
- Study gap accepted
- A study gap of two to three years is generally accepted with a documented, honest explanation.
- Work during study
- Up to 20 hours a week of legal part-time work during term.
- After graduation
- A 12-month job-seeking residence permit after graduation.
- Route to residence
- Long-term EU residence is possible after five years of legal residence.
🇨🇾Cyprus
- Region
- Southern Europe
- EU member
- Yes
- Schengen area
- Not yet
- Tuition / year
- €3,500–7,000
- Living / month
- €500–800
- Proof of funds
- Around €7,000 for one year. No blocked account required.
- IELTS
- 5.5–6.0 typical
- Intakes
- Autumn / Spring
- Popular subjects
- Business and managementComputer scienceHospitality and tourism
- Study gap accepted
- Study gaps are commonly accepted with documentation.
- Work during study
- After the first six months (one semester), 20 hours a week in designated sectors — 38 hours during holidays. The contract must be stamped by the labour office.
- After graduation
- Master's and PhD graduates may obtain a one-year job-search permit; Bachelor's graduates typically convert to a work permit through an employer's sponsorship.
- Route to residence
- Long-term residence after five years of continuous legal residence, with A2 Greek and stable income; years spent as a student count at half weight.
Still cannot decide?
Run the assessment with your results and budget, and we will tell you which of these is genuinely open to you.
All nine destinations, side by side
Figures are per year unless noted. Every number here also appears on that country's own guide with its review date and the official source behind it.
| Country | Tuition / year | Living / month | Proof of funds | IELTS | Intakes | Work | Post-study | Schengen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy | €0–4,000 | €450–800 | €6,000–7,000 | 6 | Sep, Feb | 20 h/wk | 12 months | Yes |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | €3,500–7,000 | €500–800 | €7,000 | 6 | Sep, Jan, Feb | 20 h/wk | 12 months | No |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | €0–5,000 | €400–600 | €6,000 | 6 | Sep, Feb | — | 9 months | Yes |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | €5,000–11,000 | €600–900 | €10,000 | 6 | Oct, Feb | 20 h/wk | — | Yes |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | €6,000–13,000 | €700–900 | €6,720 | 6.5 | Aug, Sep, Jan | 30 h/wk | 24 months | Yes |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | €1,500–4,000 | €450–700 | €6,000 | 6 | Oct, Feb | — | — | Yes |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | €6,000–16,000 | €800–1200 | €9,800 | 6.5 | Sep, Feb | 20 h/wk | 36 months | Yes |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | €7,000–13,000 | €750–1100 | €1,000 /mo | 6.5 | Aug, Sep, Jan | 15 h/wk | 12 months | Yes |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | €3,000–5,000 | €350–500 | €5,000 | 5.5 | Sep, Oct, Feb | — | — | Yes |
None of these nine countries requires a blocked account — you show evidence of means, not frozen funds. “—” means our published content does not state a specific figure, rather than zero. Tuition and visa rules change; confirm against the official source listed on each country guide before you apply.