8,965
Views

Free Degrees! And Other Reasons to Study in Nordic Countries

Laura Bridgestock

Updated Aug 16, 2024

8,965 Views

Save

Introduction
Where are the Nordic countries?
Why study in Nordic countries?
Top 10 universities in the Nordic Countries
What’s the catch?
Further information:

Discover which Nordic universities feature in the QS World University Rankings 2020 here

Did you know that…in Norway and Finland, you can complete a bachelor’s degree at a public university free of charge, no matter where you come from?

There is a very small fee in Norway, of about US$50-100 per semester, but that gets you benefits such as campus health services, sports facilities and reduced prices on public transport and for cultural events.

You can also get an undergraduate degree free of charge in Sweden or Denmark, as long as you’re:

A citizen of a country in the EU (European Union),
A citizen of a country in the EEA (European Economic Area),
A citizen of Switzerland
A participant in an exchange program.

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Especially when you consider that these are some of the most developed countries in the world, with some of the best universities, cultured cities and beautiful scenery.

Where are the Nordic countries?

The Nordic countries are a group of countries in northern Europe, including Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland (which doesn’t have free degrees). Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which are self-governing but technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark, are also included.

These countries have some shared history and culture, and they collaborate politically through the Nordic Council.

There’s an overlap with the region known as Scandinavia – which is Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Why study in Nordic countries?

I repeat: no tuition fees! But if that’s not enough, here are some other reasons to head north:

Excellent universities.Nordic countries have a very strong presence in the QS World University Rankings (see the table below), and their education systems are very well respected internationally.
High quality of life. All Nordic countries rank consistently highly in quality of life and development rankings, offering excellent healthcare, material wellbeing and political freedom.
Fantastic student cities.Stockholm, the Swedish capital, ranked 37^th in the most recent QS Student Cities ranking, with three other Nordic cities – Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Helsinki – also included in the ranking.
Incredible natural scenery. Tranquil fjords, wild mountains, fishing villages, ski resorts – if you’re into the great outdoors, you’ll find plenty of it to explore here!

Top 10 universities in the Nordic Countries

Here are the top 10 universities in these countries, with their current position in the QS World University Rankings:

Top 10 Nordic Universities According to the QS World University Rankings 2021
Nordic Countries Ranking	World Ranking	Institution	Location
1	76	University of Copenhagen	Denmark
2	97	Lund University	Sweden
3	98	KTH Royal Institute of Technology	Sweden
4	103	Technical University of Denmark	Denmark
5	104	University of Helsinki	Finland
6	113	University of Oslo	Norway
7	=124	Uppsala University	Sweden
8	127	Aalto University	Finland
9	=139	Chalmers University of Technology	Sweden
10	147	Aarhus University	Denmark

Testimonials

"CUHK’s MBA programme provided me with the stepping stone into a larger sports Asian market wherein I could leverage the large alumni network to make the right connections for relevant discussions and learning."

Read my story

Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

"I have so many wonderful memories of my MBA and I think, for me, the biggest thing that I've taken away was not what I learned in the classroom but the relationships, the friendships, the community that I'm now part of."

Read my story

Alex PittQS scholarship recipient

"The best part of my degree is getting to know more about how important my job as an architect is: the hidden roles I play, that every beautiful feature has significance, and that even the smallest details are well thought out."

Read my story

Rayyan Sultan Said Al-HarthyUniversity of Nizwa student

"An MBA at EAHM is superior due to  the nature of the Academy’s academic and  industry strength. The subject  matter, the curriculum structure and the  access to opportunities within the hospitality industry is remarkable."

Read my story

Sharihan Al MasharyEmirates Academy of Hospitality Management graduate

What’s the catch?

Well, the main one comes back to cost – the region is notoriously expensive, so that free degree might turn out not to be such a good deal after all. Universities should be able to offer guidance on how much you should budget for, and you can see more advice in the links below.

Further information:

This article was first published in March 2012 and most recently updated in June 2020.

Related Categories:

Articles- Student Life

+ 9 others
saved this article

+ 10 others saved this article

Written by

Laura Bridgestock

The former editor of TopUniversities.com, Laura oversaw the site's editorial content and student forums. She also edited the QS Top Grad School Guide and contributed to market research reports, including 'How Do Students Use Rankings?'