Would you like to get a Masters University free of tuition fees? It is possible. Most universities around the world, especially in Europe, offer free Masters degree for international students.
Students may need to be from a specific state, region, or low-income community. Some schools require work or services on campus after graduation.
Studying for a Master’s degree is a completely different experience than your first undergraduate degree.
When deciding where to go to graduate school, the key factors that you consider are very different from those that you considered for your undergraduate studies. This includes the financing of the course.
Many people choose to stay at the same university to get their Masters. Everything is known, you know the city, the faculty, and you probably have friends who will still be in college so it’s an easy option.
However, you may also want to consider where else to study if there is a chance you can get your Masters for free.
In this post, we’ll equip you with everything you need to know about the free master’s degree for international students and countries that offer such opportunities.
Can I get a master’s degree for free?
Over the past three decades, the average cost of going to university has risen and continues to rise at a rate that outperforms financial aid.
Higher education is indeed in crisis, and as students continue to graduate from college with debt in an unstable economy, many wonder how to continue their education without running into such debt.
While it may come as a surprise to some that such a thing exists, there are actually a number of universities that offer high quality educational experiences with free tuition.
Free tuition schools fall into different categories, but all have the basic characteristic of engaging graduates without having to borrow large amounts in their scholarship packages.
Free master’s degree for international students
A master’s degree does not have to be a huge financial investment. There are ways to graduate without debt! All you need to do is do some homework to find the right path for you.
Let’s explore the list of free master’s programs for international students
MSc Management of Intellectual Property at Queen Mary University of London School of Law
The MSc in Management of Intellectual Property examines the fundamentals of this area of law in relation to patents, trademarks and the other core areas in this area.
This Master of Science is primarily aimed at graduates in the natural sciences and engineering who are aiming for a career as patent or trademark attorney.
However, it is also open to graduates of all academic backgrounds who wish to study intellectual property (IP) at the postgraduate level.
MSc Management of Intellectual Property can study full-time for one year or part-time for two years. Classes usually start in September with exams in May or June.
Your courses take place in Queen Mary’s Charterhouse Square and Lincoln’s Inn Fields campus.
MIT Media Lab’s Program in Media Arts & Sciences
MIT accepts 50 students per year for Masters and PhD programs. The students come from various fields including computer science, neuropsychology and architecture.
The subjects of study include human-computer interaction, design and entrepreneurship. Media arts and science students are fully funded, including tuition, scholarships, and health insurance.
Curtis Institute of Music, Master of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA has long had a scholarship-only policy. This means that regardless of their financial circumstances, all students will use the scholarships offered by the school to fund their education for the entire Masters’ program.
This degree is very selective and only accepts 4% of applicants.
University of the People
This fully accredited U.S. university works entirely online and offers a number of non-teaching programs to choose from, including two non-teaching Masters degrees, MBA and M.Ed.
The MBA program lasts approximately one year and is a fully US-accredited online program offered to graduates in all disciplines who have two years of work experience prior to commencing the program.
The subjects of the course include management, accounting, marketing, and business law, and ethics.
UoPeople’s Master of Education in Advanced Teaching offers two specializations: Primary / Secondary Education and Secondary Education.
Students also have the opportunity to do an internship at various International Baccalaureate Schools.
MSc Human Rights and Multiculturalism
At Buskerud and Vestfold University College in Norway, students can earn an MSc in Human Rights and Multiculturalism through a two-year full-time Masters on the Drammen campus.
This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for work in a variety of professional fields, including government, non-profits, education, research, private business, and the media.
Classes focus on human rights in the context of cultural diversity with topics such as globalization, migration, civil wars, nation building and more.
In addition to interdisciplinary research, students are qualified to continue academic research in these areas.
Tuition is free, but scholarships are occasionally offered to cover living and travel expenses.
MPhil Theory and Practice of Human Rights
Oslo University’s MPhil Theory and Practice for Human Rights is a two-year, full-time program that offers students the opportunity to study human rights from a legal, political, social science, philosophical and historical perspective.
All courses focus on human rights, including different approaches, regional focus, methodology, practice and more. In addition to their courses, students take part in internships, discussions, and mock tests.
As part of their final thesis, students complete a master’s thesis in which the methodology and practice of human rights are brought together. Tuition in this program is free.
MSc International Human Rights Law
The Department of Human Rights and the Legal Department of Abo Akademi University offer a two-year full-time MSc program in International Human Rights Law.
This Masters degree takes place on the university campus in Turku, Finland and offers students the opportunity to work in a variety of human rights careers including public administration, international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
The course topics vary from women’s rights to refugees and war to humanitarian law. In addition to the courses, students complete a research seminar and a master’s thesis.
The lessons for students from EU / EEA countries are free of charge.
From 2017 the tuition fees for non-EU / EEA countries will be € 10,000. Scholarships are available for students paying tuition, including a full scholarship plus the cost of living, a full scholarship, and a study scholarship that covers half the tuition fees.
LLM International Human Rights Law
The LLM International Human Rights Law degree from Lund University in Lund, Sweden is a two-year, full-time program that aims to prepare students to work in law firms, international organizations, courts, private companies, and various other sectors in the U.S. area of human rights.
Students take several courses on human rights issues and hear from guest speakers and lecturers with extensive expertise and experience in the field of human rights.
Previous speakers even included a former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. Lund University offers several scholarships for international students to cover tuition fees.
LLM Public International Law
The University of Oslo in Norway offers an LLM in International Public Law, a 1½ year Masters course with options for four programs:
- Public Law and PIL, specializing in International Criminal Law and Humanitarian Law;
- environmental and energy law
- International trade, investment, and trade law
- human rights
This full-time on-campus program is divided into three 30-credit semesters, with the final semester specifically focusing on a master’s thesis.
In addition to the courses, students have the opportunity to study topics such as lunches, guest lectures, and seminars that introduce professionals and practitioners. The lessons are free for all applicants.
MSc Social Work and Human Rights
This two-year international master’s degree in social work and human rights at Gothenburg University focuses on the interface between social work and human rights.
By linking the two areas, students should have a unique perspective on human rights issues and social development at all levels of society.
Students with degrees in social work and/or human rights will be given preference over students with degrees in related subjects.
Countries that offer Free Masters Degree for International Students
You might be shocked to know that many countries, especially in Europe, have institutions that offer a free Master’s degree for international students.
These institutions have government and organizationally funded programs that allow local and international students to continue their Master’s degrees without paying tuition fees. Some of these countries include the following:
Norway
If you can catch a cold, Norway is the perfect place to look at options for free master’s degree study abroad. Completely free tuition for everyone and no fees. Norway also offers high-quality English programs at no additional cost and a great standard of living!
Czech Republic
Studying in the Czech Republic is completely free for all citizens, but there is a very small fee for English programs.
The Czech Republic offers a Free Masters Degree as well as a high quality of life compared to the low cost of living. Perfect for students.
Germany
With a strong history of innovation – Germany led the Enlightenment and the industrial revolution – you’ll find yourself among intellectuals if you choose to study there.
You will likely get away with no debt. Tuition in Germany is free and the administration fee is between 50 and 250 euros per semester.
Iceland
An annual registration fee of approx. A course of study in Iceland costs € 600, but no noteworthy administration or tuition fees. Iceland is also a beautiful place to study, with rich and unique scientific research opportunities.
English is also widely spoken, so you won’t have to dust off this second or third language from high school.
Belgium
There are French and Flemish universities in Belgium, both of which offer English classes.
International students are charged a fee of only € 835 per year, which is worthwhile for studying at an excellent school in Western Europe.
France
France is known for its unique culture and is deeply rooted in the arts. It’s also a great place to study for budget travelers. The average cost of a master’s degree for citizens outside the European Union. If you speak French, so much the better, but most programs offer English as well.
Conclusion
Finding an opportunity to do a free master’s degree abroad is a noble and challenging achievement due to the finances and logistics involved. However, it doesn’t have to be that way for you.
You now have access to information to help you obtain a free master’s degree for international students. Use it now and apply.