Over the past year, Nigerian demand for study abroad has fallen.
Data presented in this report by ICEF monitor shows that Nigerian student interest in studying abroad rose dramatically between 2021 and 2023, peaking at over 200,000 students, but dropped significantly towards the end of 2023 and through 2024 to around 140,000 students.
The reasons? A troubled economy, for one. The second reason could be shifting policies for migrant students and workers in countries like the UK and US, which limit visas, prevent students from bringing in dependants, and overall display unfair treatment to Nigerian students.
For 2025 and beyond, the outlook seems grim.
But not all is lost; Nigerian students can look to tuition-free universities in other countries to continue their education, rather than foregoing their dreams of studying abroad.
While free undergraduate degrees are difficult to come by without external scholarships, there are scores of tuition-free universities worldwide for postgraduate programmes. Depending on the country, degree level, and field of study, some courses may even cover living costs.
There are even tuition-free options for those who hail from certain states or regions, or come from a low-income background. Some universities may lock you into on-campus work or service after graduation for a certain period of time, but still provide you with a living salary to ensure a win-win situation.
If you’re a Nigerian postgraduate student scouting for greener pastures elsewhere, here are a few institutions that don’t charge tuition to international students:
Besides tuition-free universities, Europe has a lot to offer for tourism as well. Source: AFP
Tuition-free universities in Europe
First of all — why Europe as the main focus?
The answer is simple. You’ll find many tuition-free universities here.
Public institutions of higher education here typically only offer free tuition to students from EU and EEA member countries; however, some, like Germany and Norway, offer free tuition to all students regardless of nationality. We’ve listed some of them below:
RWTH Aachen University
A popular choice among students globally, RWTH Aachen University is Germany’s largest technical university with over 15,000 international students from 137 countries. It ranks #99 in the QS World University Rankings 2025, so a degree from this research powerhouse will certainly boost your CV.
Like any other public university in Germany, international students from non-EU countries can study there for free. However, you would need to prove a minimum monthly income of 992 euros (US$1,045.90) in order to have a valid residence permit. There is also a 298.06 euro (US$311.74) semester contribution fee.
Want to earn some extra money to supplement your living costs? Work is permitted for up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year unless you’re employed as an academic assistant, in which case your working days will not be capped. Be careful, as you cannot be self-employed or work as a freelancer, either.
The University of Oslo is Norway’s premier university, often listed among the world’s top 100 universities by multiple ranking tables. Source: AFP
University of Oslo
Norway is another country with stellar tuition-free universities for students outside of the European Union.
As one of the top public universities in the country, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025, the University of Oslo offers postgraduate programmes taught in English, ranging from courses like fluid mechanics and social anthropology to maritime law. It’s the oldest university in the country, and offers outstanding education alongside independent, pioneering, and long-term research.
Arguably one of the most expensive countries to live in, you can work up to 20 hours weekly to support yourself, which gives you ample opportunity to practice your Norwegian. This gives you an added advantage post-graduation, where you’re allowed to remain and work in the country for a year, should you choose to do so.
University of Iceland
A lesser-known gem among tuition-free universities in Europe, this Reykjavik-based campus doesn’t charge tuition for international students. You’ll only be required to fork out 75,000 Icelandic króna (US$535.06) annually to pay for registration fees, along with additional handling and processing fees if needed.
Under certain conditions, the university might waive IELTS or TOEFL if you have sufficient proof of English language proficiency from prior studies. You don’t have to master Icelandic — there is an impressive range of English-taught courses for both the master’s and PhD programmes.
If you’re keen on this university, do take note that the admission period is only once a year, which is from December 10 to February 1 in the following year for non-EU students.
Get a degree from the comfort of your own home. Source: AFP
Want an American degree, but don’t want to go to the US?
University of the People
Founded in 2009 and accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, the University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, online tuition-free university in the US.
The unique factor about this university is that you don’t have to uproot your life and move to the US for a master’s degree — all you need is an internet connection. This saves you the trouble of dealing with American living costs, accommodation, meals, and so on.
The university claims that there is no cost for instruction, books, or traditional campus costs. Its mission is to make higher education affordable and accessible. However, you’ll still need to pay a one-off application fee and minimal assessment fees per course.
In return, you get accredited programmes from prominent academic figures, all who utilise their vast knowledge and experience to guide their students.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on February 18, 2025.