The questions students actually ask

Across the nine countries we handle, first-year totals range from roughly €7,000 in Bulgaria to about €30,000 in Denmark, counting tuition plus twelve months of living costs. The cheapest routes are Bulgaria (tuition €3,000–5,000, living €350–500 a month), Greece (€1,500–4,000 and €450–700) and Italy, where public tuition is income-assessed and can be zero. Separately from these costs you must evidence funds for the visa, ranging from about €5,000 (Bulgaria) to €10,000 (Malta).

Bulgaria has the lowest combined figure: tuition of €3,000–5,000 a year, living costs of €350–500 a month, and the smallest proof-of-funds requirement at around €5,000. Greece is close behind. Italy can be cheaper still if you qualify for the DSU regional scholarship, which can waive tuition and add accommodation, meals and a stipend — but DSU is competitive and should be treated as upside rather than a plan.

Not for any of the nine countries on this site. Blocked accounts are a German and Austrian requirement. Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Finland, Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Bulgaria all ask instead for evidence of means — typically a bank statement and a bank solvency certificate showing you can support yourself for a year. A close relative can usually act as sponsor.

It varies by country: about €5,000 for Bulgaria, €6,000 for Hungary and Greece, €6,720 for Finland, €6,000–7,000 for Italy, €7,000 for Cyprus, €9,800 for Denmark, €10,000 for Malta, and about €1,000 per month for Sweden. These figures are evidence of means, not money you hand over, and they sit on top of tuition.

In several countries, yes. Many universities in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Malta accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate from a previous English-medium institution, and a number run their own online English test instead. Sweden and Denmark are the strictest — they generally require a recognised test such as IELTS 6.5 and do not accept MOI. Always confirm with the specific programme rather than the country.

Typically 5.5 to 6.5 depending on the country and level. Bulgaria commonly asks 5.5; Cyprus, Hungary and Greece 5.5–6.0; Italy and Malta around 6.0; Finland 6.0–6.5; Denmark and Sweden 6.5. Master's programmes usually sit at the upper end of their country's range.

Usually not. Most European universities accept a gap of two to three years, and some accept considerably more, provided you can explain it honestly and support the explanation with documents — work experience certificates, a course you took, or a family reason. What causes refusals is an unexplained or inconsistent gap, not the gap itself.

For a Bachelor's you need HSC or an equivalent qualification; for a Master's, a recognised Bachelor's degree. Beyond that it depends on the programme: competitive fields and Danish Bachelor's programmes often set subject prerequisites (mathematics in particular), and medicine in Bulgaria and Hungary usually requires an entrance examination in biology and chemistry.

Yes, though the limits differ. Finland allows about 30 hours a week, Italy, Cyprus, Malta and Denmark 20 hours, and Sweden 15 hours from 11 June 2026 under new rules. Cyprus requires you to complete your first six months first, and Malta a qualifying period of around 13 weeks. Be realistic: outside English-speaking Malta, part-time work usually needs the local language and rarely covers full living costs in the first year.

Denmark is the most generous at three years, and the permit is issued together with your study permit rather than applied for afterwards. Finland gives two years, Italy and Sweden twelve months, and Hungary nine months. Greece, Malta and Bulgaria offer post-study work subject to conditions rather than an automatic job-search period.

Earlier than most students expect. Finland and Sweden close applications in January for an August or September start — nearly eight months ahead — and Stipendium Hungaricum for Hungary also closes in January. Denmark's non-EU deadline is typically 15 January. For Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Bulgaria you should still allow four to six months. Starting in the summer for that September is the single most common way students lose a year.

It depends on the country. Cyprus is handled entirely from Dhaka, which is one of its main practical advantages. Italy is processed through VFS in Dhaka. Some other embassies require an appointment in New Delhi, which means an Indian transit visa and additional cost — check the specific country's current arrangement before you build a timeline around it.

Once a complete file is submitted, several weeks is typical, though it varies by country and season. In practice the binding constraint is rarely the embassy — it is document preparation: translation, attestation, legalisation, and country-specific steps such as Italy's Universitaly pre-enrolment or a Declaration of Value.

The first consultation is free, and our service fee falls due only after the visa is granted — that is what "no visa, no fee" means. The exact fee depends on the country and programme and is stated clearly before any work begins. There are no hidden charges, and government, university and VFS fees are separate and paid by you directly to those bodies.

No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Visa decisions are made by embassies and immigration authorities, not by consultancies. We do not publish a success-rate percentage either, because it would not be verifiable. What we commit to is preparing the strongest, most honest file we can, and telling you plainly when an application is weak or a country is unrealistic for your profile.

Yes, and for some students that is the right choice. This website deliberately publishes the full country fact sheets, cost tables, document checklists and a ten-stage step-by-step guide so that applying independently is genuinely possible. Use us when you want the file checked by someone who has seen the refusal reasons, or when the process itself is the obstacle.

No. Italy does not use a blocked account. You show that you can support yourself for a year — normally around €6,000–7,000 — through a bank statement and a bank solvency certificate. A close relative can act as your sponsor.

Yes. Many Bachelor's and most Master's programmes are taught entirely in English, so IELTS or an accepted alternative is enough to apply. Italian still matters a great deal for part-time work and daily life, so it is worth starting before you arrive.

DSU is a regional, need-based right-to-study scholarship assessed on family income and assets. If you qualify it can waive tuition and provide a hall place, a meal card and a stipend. It is applied for separately from admission, on the region's own deadline.

Universitaly is the Italian government's official pre-enrolment portal. Completing pre-enrolment there is a prerequisite for the student visa — without it the embassy will not process your application, whatever your offer letter says.

Once the file is complete, processing at VFS in Dhaka typically takes several weeks. The realistic constraint is document preparation — translation, legalisation and the Declaration of Value — not the embassy's own turnaround.

Yes, up to 20 hours a week during term. Be realistic: without Italian, part-time work is harder to find and will not usually cover your living costs, especially in your first year.

No. Cyprus is a member of the European Union but is not part of the Schengen area, so a Cypriot student residence permit does not give you free travel across Schengen countries. This is the most common misunderstanding about studying in Cyprus and it is worth being clear about before you apply.

Correct. The application and student permit process for Cyprus is handled from Dhaka, which removes the Indian transit visa, the travel cost and the scheduling risk that come with a Delhi appointment.

Often, yes. Many Cypriot private universities accept a Medium of Instruction certificate from your previous English-medium institution, or run their own online English test. Requirements differ by university, so confirm with the specific programme.

Not immediately. Students may work up to 20 hours a week in designated sectors after completing their first six months, and up to 38 hours during holiday periods. Your employment contract must be stamped by the labour office.

Around €7,000 covering one year. There is no blocked account requirement — a bank statement and solvency certificate are what is needed.

Full tuition, a monthly stipend, a contribution to accommodation and medical insurance. It is a genuine full scholarship rather than a tuition discount, which is what makes it worth planning a year around.

Applications generally open in the autumn and close in January for a September start. The most common reason a competitive applicant misses out is discovering the programme after the deadline has passed.

Around €6,000 in evidenced funds for one year, alongside tuition of roughly €0–5,000. There is no blocked account requirement.

Not to study — the international programmes are taught in English. Hungarian is difficult and rarely spoken elsewhere, so it matters mainly for part-time work and everyday life.

Yes. Graduates receive a nine-month job-seeking residence permit, which can be converted if you find qualifying employment.

Yes. English is an official language of Malta alongside Maltese, so programmes, administration, part-time work and daily life all operate in English. There is no second language to learn.

Around €10,000 covering one year, evidenced through a bank statement and solvency certificate. Malta does not require a blocked account.

After a qualifying period, normally around 13 weeks, students may work up to 20 hours a week. Because the economy runs in English, finding that work is genuinely realistic.

Yes. Malta is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen area, so your residence permit allows travel across Schengen countries.

Yes, and it is worth being honest about. Malta is a small country with a compact higher-education sector, strongest in finance, IT, tourism management, maritime studies and health. If your field is specialised, check availability before committing.

For an August or September start, the main application round through Studyinfo closes the previous January. This long lead time is the most common reason Bangladeshi students lose a year on Finland — the deadline arrives roughly eight months before teaching begins.

They are real and widely awarded. Most Finnish universities run their own scholarship schemes for international students, commonly covering 50% or 100% of tuition, so a strong applicant often pays far less than the headline fee.

About €6,720 for the year, which works out at roughly €560 a month, for the residence permit. Finland does not require a blocked account, but be realistic: living costs in Helsinki run above that minimum.

Two years on a job-seeking residence permit — one of the most generous stay-back periods in Europe, and enough time to convert a degree into employment.

Yes, on average up to 30 hours a week, which is higher than the 20-hour norm elsewhere in Europe. Bear in mind that many customer-facing jobs still expect Finnish.

Two reasons: English-taught tuition is set low by European standards, at roughly €1,500–4,000 a year, and the Greek cost of living is among the lowest in the eurozone — €450–700 a month covers a normal student life outside Athens. The degree itself carries the same EU recognition.

Around €6,000 for one year, through a bank statement and solvency certificate. Greece does not require a blocked account.

Sometimes. A number of Greek institutions accept a Medium of Instruction certificate or run their own English assessment, though the most common requirement is IELTS 5.5–6.0. Check the specific programme.

Yes. Greece is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen area, so your student residence permit allows travel across Schengen countries.

This is where we would be honest with you: Greece's graduate job market is weaker than Northern Europe's and post-study routes are less clearly defined than in Denmark or Finland. Greece is an excellent choice for an affordable EU degree; it is a weaker choice if your plan depends on employment in-country immediately after graduating.

It is granted together with the study permit rather than applied for separately after graduation, which removes the uncertainty students face in countries where the stay-back is a fresh application that can be refused. Your work rights during that period match those you held as a student.

Around €9,800 for one year. The figure is set in Danish kroner, so the euro equivalent moves with the exchange rate. Denmark does not require a blocked account.

Danish institutions set a higher English bar than most of Southern Europe. For Bachelor's applicants the subject prerequisites — mathematics in particular — are often the harder requirement, so check both before assuming English is the obstacle.

No, and we would rather say so plainly. Tuition of €6,000–16,000 and Copenhagen living costs of €800–1,200 a month put Denmark among the most expensive options here. Its value is the career runway — the three-year job-search permit — not the sticker price.

Yes, 20 hours a week during term and full-time in specified months. High English proficiency across Denmark makes student work genuinely accessible.

From 11 June 2026 new rules cap term-time work at 15 hours a week, which is lower than most of Europe. Limits are relaxed during the summer and for university-related work. If you were budgeting on significant part-time income, rebuild that assumption around 15 hours.

For an August–September start, applications through universityadmissions.se close the previous January. Sweden runs a single national round and there is no late application route, so missing it costs a full year.

Generally no. Unlike many universities in Italy, Cyprus or Greece, Swedish institutions typically require a recognised English test such as IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL. Plan on sitting the test.

About €1,000 a month, set in Swedish kronor, for the residence permit. Because it is calculated monthly rather than annually, the total is higher than it first appears. No blocked account is required.

Yes. The Swedish Institute runs scholarships for international students, and individual universities offer their own tuition awards. Both are competitive and have their own deadlines, generally close to the January application round.

Yes. Tuition of €3,000–5,000 a year plus living costs of €350–500 a month gives Bulgaria the lowest all-in figure in this comparison, and the degree carries full EU recognition. The trade-off is a small local job market and narrower English-taught programme choice outside medicine and business.

Often, yes. A large number of Bulgarian universities administer their own online English assessment, and some accept a Medium of Instruction certificate. The commonly stated requirement is IELTS 5.5, but it is frequently not the only route.

Bulgarian medical and dental degrees are EU-recognised and attract international students. Entry normally requires an entrance examination in biology and chemistry, so it is competitive rather than open. Plan for the exam as part of the application, not an afterthought.

Around €5,000 for one year — the lowest requirement of any destination on this list — evidenced by bank statement and solvency certificate. No blocked account is needed.

Yes. Bulgaria is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen area, so your student residence permit carries travel rights across Schengen countries.